by Aidan F.

January 29, 2020

The Democratic Primary is a joke, worse than the 2016 Republican Primary. Why might I say that? It all has to do with Bernie Sanders receiving some very important endorsements. 

Earlier in January, Bernie Sanders received the coveted Sunrise Movement endorsement, from a youth climate change organization that was inspired by Bernie Sanders’ 2016 Presidential Campaign. The endorsement was expected to be won either by Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders, and Sanders won it in a lanside with over 70% of the vote. Bernie’s next endorsement comes from Washington Representative Pramila Jayapal, one of the House Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs, the other being Mike Pocan, who also endorsed Sanders. 

The endorsement from Jayapal meant that Sanders had won the majority of the Progressive leaders in the House. Fans of Jayapal were not happy about this. The foolery of the Democratic Party was highlighted on the Sunday when Jayapal endorsed Sanders. Much like Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, Jayapal faced some backlash. Her tweet was filled with almost Trumpian comments. These were Democrats saying, “#BernieisaRussianAsset” and “Bernie is only a Democrat when it suits him.” These comments are similar to those from Trump supporters, who make outlandish conspiracy theories and chant “Lock Her Up.” While much of Trump supporters’ anger is based around sexism, racism, and xenophobia; the Democrats have formed an anger that is plain ignorance of true progress that isn’t covered in identity politics.  

This type of disgusting attitude is not just found in Trumpland or by some lifelong Democrats, but can also be found in Bernie’s support as well. There have been times when I scroll through social media and see this disgusting hate-filled vitriol being spewed by so-called Bernie Sanders supporters, but I have also met some of the most kind and understanding people from the Sanders campaign who go above and beyond what I have seen from other Democrats. 

The Democratic Party has been fueled by the “Vote Blue No Matter Who” idea, but this notion is an indirect attack at Bernie Sanders and the Progressive movement. It has been brought up many times, even in our own newsroom at J.P. McCaskey High School when I mentioned that I was interested in the Green Party Candidate Howie Hawkins, and his call of EcoSocialism. “Vote Blue No Matter Who” is for the Democratic Establishment to keep Bernie Supporters in line and have a scapegoat when they lose the Presidency. 

Let us go back to November of 2008, when Barack Obama was the Democratic Nominee and was going up against John McCain the Republican Nominee. There was no, “Vote Blue No Matter Who,” but let’s just say there should have been because what happened was that an exit poll showed that 15% of Clinton supporters ended up voting for John McCain in 2008. What happened to unity? Hillary Clinton recently commented in an interview, “Nobody likes him,” she said of Bernie Sanders. Well guess what’s happening? “#Ilikehim” and “#IlikeBernie” is trending on twitter. That is not this unity that so many Democrats have to shove down my throat and every other Bernie supporter. 

What if I said that Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, or Elizabeth Warren is anti-semitic? What if I said that? 

Well, people would call me a liar and challenge me, saying how amazing they have been to the Jewish community, but what about Bernie? He is Jewish, and has gotten thousands of hate filled comments. Are all of these anti-semitic? Do they hate Jews? Does Hillary Clinton hate Jews? Of course not. There is no part of me that believes that there are any Democratic candidates or former Presidents that are anti-semitic, and guess what? Bernie Sanders has never used his faith as a weapon against his opponents. He doesn’t even use the fact that he marched with Dr. King while so many of his colleagues were either Republicans or supporting Segregation at the same time. 

Bernie Sanders is an actual good person that cares more about the people than himself. Yet we have sadly had to see multitudes of hate being spread about an honest and good man. That, that is why the Democrats are a joke.