The election is growing nearer and nearer; it's approximately 100 days away. The abundance of media coverage is overwhelming and even a bit of overkill at times (a point this article furthers, I'm sure). Nevertheless, the "Bernie or Bust" movement, popular among Bernie Sanders die-hard followers, has been growing problematic lately. As you probably know, Bernie has recently endorsed Hillary Clinton in her candidacy for president. Many of Sanders' followers were dismayed with his sudden endorsement of his previous opponent with whom he disagreed on various issues. I'll admit that, at first, I was disappointed in Bernie. I felt as though he had sold out and given in to the corporations he was fighting so hard to debunk, rather than standing by his principles. But then, I saw the bigger picture.
Bernie Sanders was not "selling his soul to the devil" as Donald Trump claimed in his speech in Colorado on Friday. He is doing the best thing he can do in his position. He is being realistic. He knows he cannot win. He knows that a third party win is highly unlikely. He knows that it is a dichotomy between Trump and Clinton. He'd rather pass on his strong following over to Clinton and push for her presidency than advocate for a smaller third party candidate with the same values as him who is less likely to win.
A third party candidate does seem increasingly appealing in this election, but in the sad truth, it is not a feasible option. Gary Johnson is polling at 13 percent which is very impressive for a third party candidate, almost enough to be able to debate among Trump and Clinton during the presidential debates. Even if he does reach the debate stage, his chance at beating the major parties is slim to none. Many "Bernie or Bust" activists are leaning toward the Green Party's candidate, Jill Stein, who holds many of the same values as Sanders but doesn't poll high enough to even reach the debate stage. I'm not saying your vote will be wasted if you vote third party, but every vote for a third party is a vote that could've gone to Hillary and prevented the election of Trump.
Given, Hillary Clinton is not an ideal presidential candidate in the least. Between her ties with the corruption within the Democratic Party and the email controversy she has been infamously involved in, I understand that she is not the exemplar option for our first female president. But when compared to her opposition, she is without a doubt the lesser of two evils. Hillary Clinton is not even close to the woman I dreamed would hold the prestige of becoming the first woman to hold the office of the presidency. However, if it means our country doesn't fall under the rule of a man who wants to "make America great again" yet speaks disrespectfully to women, immigrants, disabled individuals and fellow citizens of our United States, then she has my vote. I strongly urge those of you with the "Bernie or Bust" mindset to ponder the weight of your options in this monumental election.
