About a year and a half ago, a Senator from Vermont entered the presidential race. At 75, the Brooklyn native and self-proclaimed Democratic-Socialist became a popular choice among Democrats and Independents alike, particularly among Millennial voters.
Bernie Sanders ran on a platform unlike any we have seen in recent political history. He called for free healthcare and college for all, a sharp increase in the minimum wage, drastic immigration reform, and a military policy that puts hawkish American interventionism on the backburner.
The race for the Dem ticket boiled down to a close race between Hillary Clinton and Sanders. Well, it was close if you don’t factor in the superdelegates, that essentially gave Clinton a 500 delegate lead before the primary election even began.
With the help of these superdelegates, and a handful of DNC backdoor dealings, Hillary won the Democratic nomination, leaving Bernie’s supporters at a major crossroads; get behind the woman who embodies corruption in politics, or cast a vote for racist (and misogynistic) Donald Trump.
Many ex-Bernie lovers gushed over his refreshing campaign policy finance: his refusal to accept money from Super PACs. Others condemned Hillary’s aggressive militaristic history, including her role in the Honduran coup. And of course, Sander’s supporters were quick to point out the infamous Benghazi email scandal, in defending their choice to support the arm-waving left-winger (very, very far left).
It is understandable that these voters, who had been so enthusiastic about the idea of a Sanders presidency, would have a hard time getting behind the Democratic nominee. But to those reluctant to cast their vote for Hillary Clinton on November 8th, it’s time to get over the hesitation. The country needs you.
Sure, Hillary is no Bernie, but Donald Trump is in complete opposition of everything Bernie stands for. For the Bernie supporter that was reached by Bernie’s position on health care accessibility: Trump wants to repeal Obamacare immediately, leaving the millions of people ensured by these government programs completely uncovered. Hillary wants expand the Affordable Care to help move the country in the direction of the single-payer system this country desperately needs.
To the Bernie supporter wary of Hillary’s corruption, particularly with her emails: pay attention. Trump was just as deceptively escaped paying taxes for nearly two decades, after cutting a nearly one billion dollar loss in the 90’s.
And to every Bernie supporter, the man who has championed equal pay for women, protection of women’s reproductive rights, and paid family leave since the beginning of his political career, how could you possibly cast a vote for a man who calls women pigs, rates their appearance, and proudly claim that he grabs women “by the p***y.”
Now sure, many undecided Bernie supporters are considering voting for third party candidate, either Jill Stein of the Green Party or Gary Johnson, the libertarian. To you guys: this is not the year for that.
Yes, the United States two-party system is flawed, and leaves many Americans feeling unrepresented in government. This system must change, and must provide more options for voters, who cannot be cast into two very general political parties.
But as much as this system needs to go, to vote third party in this election, instead of voting for Hillary, could be the factor that swing the election in favor of Trump, an administration that would pulverize the status and hope for social advancement of minorities, immigrants, poor people and women.
So to everyone who #FeltTheBern, and to the mass of undecided voters nationwide; your vote is essential in this election. Hillary is not, by any means, great, but she’s the best option we have. Before you cast a vote for Donald Trump, or for Jill Stein, or Gary Johnson, or whomever you may write in, think of why you supported Bernie in the first place.
If every Bernie supporter of days gone by do not vote for Hillary, then Trump will win. Hillary is no Bernie, but a Trump presidency, in the name of all of the social progress we have made and should continue to make, is one we cannot afford.
