This is NOT about a “celebrity endorsement”...I only include Sarah Silverman because she articulated my story of coming to support Bernie Sanders.
“Democratic woman president? Yes, please!”—but her neighboring senator from Vermont has helped change her mind.
Silverman says she always viewed Clinton’s decision to take donations from big-money interests as a “necessary evil” in the era of Citizens United. But now that Sanders has shown you can run a remarkably successful campaign on small donations alone, she has seen the light. “I’m not against Hillary,” she says, delivering a heavy sigh. “I’ve just met someone I have more in common with.”
[emphasis added]
Sarah Silverman does a good great job explaining why I support Sanders over Clinton.
When anyone chooses an alternative to a candidate it is unavoidable that will be interpreted as a criticism of the candidate you don’t choose...that works both ways.
For some of us the reason we support Sanders is because Sanders finally offered us an option that we thought we would NEVER have: Single Payer Health Care, $15 minimum wage, tuition free public college, open criticism rather than pandering to the financial sector that caused our economic collapse in 2008, no Super PACs, grassroots fundraising instead of courting wealthy corporate donors…
I know there is a “fact” being repeated that the candidates voting records are 93% the same...but frankly I think the issues listed above show there is slightly more than a mere 7% difference!
Sanders is the ONLY presidential candidate to run on a message that virtually every voter in the US understands and supports but NO major politician has had the courage to actually make a core issue.
We have a rigged economic and political system that favors the wealthy and that needs to change!
No excuses, no apologies, no unnecessary “necessary” evils!
This isn’t a “purity” test...or a question of being self-righteous or overly pious...is is simply a preference.
In the past Democratic politicians have been afraid to acknowledge our rigged economy and politics because of the fear of the inevitable “class warfare” arguments from the right...They have ceded the narrative on too many issues to the GOP. The reality is that “class war” has been waged for years against the average American...and WE ARE LOSING!
Our political system is so skewed that politicians as a whole LITERALLY don’t care what the public thinks!
“The preferences of the average American appear to have only a minuscule, near-zero, statistically non-significant impact upon public policy."
www.upworthy.com/...
And often I feel that applies even to those politicians who are supposed to care about progressive values. Especially regarding the concerns most Sanders’ supporters and I share...which is basic to the movement Sanders’ represents.
The study cited above uncomfortably points out:
If there's one thing that still reliably gets politicians' attention, it's money. While the opinions of the bottom 90% of income earners in America have a "statistically non-significant impact," Gilens and Page found that economic elites, business interests, and people who can afford lobbyists still carry major influence.
That means NO truly progressive agenda can be implemented or even very few issues important to the general welfare can be addressed as long as politicians ignore their constituents and focus on those “economic elites” and corporations. The purchase of political influence is LEGAL and accepted by politicians even as the public sees it for what it is...an unfair system that drowns out our voices.
I have no doubt that Hillary Clinton is sincere in her belief that she isn’t influenced by her corporate donors and of course neither is Sanders...but it is much simpler than that. Given a choice between two equal candidates some of us prefer the candidate that doesn’t rely on corporate donors. It isn’t an accusation or a smear...it doesn’t even imply anything negative against Clinton...it certainly shouldn’t be taken personally by her or her supporters.
Sanders simply better represents my views...and as Sarah Silverman stated he inspires me for the stands he’s taken...that isn’t because I think he’s “perfect” ...he isn’t...or that Hillary Clinton is fatally flawed...she isn’t…I have disagreements with some of her positions and prefer Sanders’.
I recognize that Clinton’s supporters feel the same about her...but we need to stop accepting the narrative that because I feel my candidate is better and vice versa that means the other candidate is bad.
Neither of them are perfect candidates ...that’s because a “perfect” candidate doesn’t exist...and never will. The important thing to remember is that neither are terrible candidates or in anyway as flawed as ANY of the Republican candidates...please ignore any poster who tries to imply the contrary…
It is one flaw I admit I sometimes see from other Sanders’ supporters...NO..NO...NO...it isn’t even remotely true!
The important way to give implementing a truly progressive agenda a fighting chance it to elect the most progressive candidate available in the general election whether that Sanders OR Clinton. It is the only politically practical strategy and if that candidate is less progressive than we prefer then wait until next time
Do any Sanders supporters really think that Sanders would have had a chance if Romney rather than Obama were the sitting president? Do you really think a candidate like Sanders would have a chance in 2020 if Trump is elected this year? The reality is that the political pendulum just doesn’t swing THAT far!
If Sanders weren’t running in this primary my description of Clinton would sound like I thought she “walks on water” in comparison to ANYTHING the GOP has to offer...SERIOUSLY...