Dear Hillary, and by implication, the Democratic Party,
I don’t think you guys quite get it. When I first got on the Bernie train, it wasn’t because I thought he would win. Indeed, I was pretty sure that the Democratic establishment, and their rich donors, were going to eat him alive. What I hoped was that he would change the discussion. It was, dare I say it, pragmatism. I knew a long time ago that the Democratic Party had gone to rich liberals who were only interested in the subset of liberal policies that directly impacted them. Global warming is going to kill their portfolios, hence, they are definitely interested. But the kind of things that Bernie wants, aren’t much to their liking, so I knew he’d get beat down.
In terms of my pragmatic goals, Bernie has succeeded wildly. Hillary flipped from a Pro-trade (I know, she waited to commit to the TPP, and that in and of itself was telling) and she flipped on a number of other issues; I hear she no longer views young black men as super predators, but that could be a media myth. I am astounded and pleased. However, the job isn’t done. Nope, I don’t think Bernie is going to win, but I want him and his message in your faces up through, and if I could, past the convention. I think if he does that, for the first time, you might realize just how mad we are at you.
In the mid 1980s I went to dinner with a girlfriend’s family. Her father stated emphatically, the Democratic Party counts on getting the Black vote. They do nothing for African Americans, but they know we have no where else to go. Indeed, the Democratic Party counts on this sentiment across the board. Those poor and middle class who can think realize that they have nowhere else to go and are stuck with the Democrats.
Bernie is our loud and clear message, we’re tired of being abused, and it isn’t going to go on much longer. I don’t want Bernie to get on the Democrat train and stand behind Hillary at the national convention. I want him to call her and the Democratic Party out. Indeed, if he doesn’t, I won’t be voting for Hillary, I’ll vote down stream, but I won’t vote for Hillary. If he does get to speak his mind, well, then I will hold my nose and check the Hillary box. I don’t think it’s too much to ask to be heard, just for one time.
Now I know what the Democratic party response to this is. “You’ll make Donald Trump President!” No, I won’t, you will have made Donald Trump President. Starting with Bill Clinton, the Democratic Party changed. You became the party of the rich liberal. You pretended to support the rest of us, but you only really cared about the well to do. You’ve been rude to us, jailed us disproportionately, shipped our jobs overseas, shipped the countries wealth off shore, and sent our children to fight in wars of acquisition. You made Donald, you earned him, and lets be frank, he is smart enough to go after the issues near and dear to you and your rich patrons, while leaving the issues near and dear to the rest of us alone. Yep, he’s a biggot, but he gets it better than you do. When you’re being out thought by a biggot, a racist, and a womanizer, one has to wonder where do you do your thinking? Yes, as with all bullies, you want to blame the victim for the problem you’ve created. Well no thanks, Donald is yours.
In hopes that you can figure this out before you condemn us all to the trash heap of history, I want Bernie on the stage. I want him to eat you alive, you know, like you’ve eaten us alive. I want him pointing out that by the greater goal of democracy, you’ve failed. I want to give you one more chance to listen to reason. Bernie is your chance, you might want to listen.
For those who want a better perspective on this, go to Moyers and Company online. His latest interview with Eddie Glaude Jr. on the Black vote is telling and should be a wake up call.