One of the Internet's recent meme obsessions as of late is the "Bernie or Hillary?" meme. It shows a fake campaign poster comparing the two Democratic presidential candidates on an "issue," which is usually something mundane, silly, or related to pop culture. Most often, it shows Sanders having a knowledgeable opinion and Clinton with a misinformed opinion that is often associated with someone who is pretending to know about the subject matter.
The ongoing joke is a product of Sanders's wide support from youth and millennials and Clinton's failed attempts to appeal to them and earn their vote.
"The goal of the post was to poke fun at the foibles of both Bernie and Hillary. Believe me, if Bernie had tried to dance the Nae Nae with Ellen Degeneres on TV, I would 100 percent be making fun of him for trying too hard to be hip. This is not a comment on women in general, it is a comment on Hillary Clinton." -- NPR.org
However, people who are getting annoyed with this meme (as people so often do with memes and an abundance of political talk) are beginning to think that it is sexist against Clinton. They argue it is a reflection of the idea that girls who talk about nerd culture have no idea what they are talking about, referring to things like the Idiot Nerd Girl meme.
This criticism is also an extension of the recent accusation of "BernieBros," a fringe subgroup of Sanders supporters who criticize Clinton supporters for only liking her because she is a woman. They make sexist and misogynistic comments about her. Sanders recently called out these types of people by saying, "We don't want that crap."
However, this meme is not simply a misogynistic rally against Clinton. It is a criticism of her failed attempts to win over young voters and of her perceived untrustworthiness as a candidate and politician.
There are also criticisms of Clinton that she plays the "I am the woman" card too frequently and inappropriately, assuming an ad hominem fallacy upon herself. In the most recent Democratic debate, she responded to Sanders's accusation of being a part of the political establishment by claiming, "Sen. Sanders is the only person who I think would characterize me, a woman running to be the first woman president, as exemplifying the establishment. And I've got to tell you that it is really quite amusing to me." Although women and minorities are not abundant among politicians, this not what the "establishment" refers to. It is representative of when a large group dominates the government in a way that affects policy-making. While this could include men, Sanders meant for it to include bought politicians and the lobbyists and billionaires who he finds to run politics.
Criticizing a woman does not make the critic sexist. Although women in politics are held to a different standard than men, that is not the purpose of this meme in particular. It is meant to expose Clinton's tactics in a way that many people will understand, find enjoyment in, and can easily spread for the purpose of education and thought-provoking discussion.
