Bernie Sanders–Some thoughts

Bernie Sanders ran on the Democratic ticket for the first time this year.  Americans owe him a debt of gratitude for running on the Democratic ticket. His campaign highlighted the issues ordinary people are facing today. He brought a needed change to the party. He took us back to a time when politicians were relatively honest and idealistic. I was reminded of the progressive promise of a chicken in every pot. He encouraged us to be our best selves. He highlighted our problems even if he did not have any solutions. I remembered when it was $50.00 a semester for tuition in Texas. It is now $20,000.00 a year for the same tuition. Why? What has changed?  He reminded us that money is and always has been in a few hands in this country. We appreciate the Warren Buffets of this world. Of course, Bernie had his set backs. He reminded us that few things have really changed. We are still sore losers when we lose.

I was not a Bernie Sanders supporter. He lost me when he had Cornell West on his team. Cornell West has forgotten the rules of the tribe. His public comments about President Obama attest to this fact. He lost me when he stated that his litmus test for a Supreme Court nominee was one who would support taking super pacs out of politics. My priority is that a fair and impartial jurist be appointed–a man of integrity and principles. The problem with the appointment of justices in the past is that we made appointments based on agendas. Bernie only listens to what he wants to hear. His agenda is not one that Blacks can support in total. We can support a change in minimum wage, getting Wall Street under control, money out of politics and changes in the justice system.  The Black agenda is more closely aligned to Hillary Clinton.  I am not a total Hillary Clinton supporter. However, she appears to have learned from Bernie Sanders. The longer Bernie stayed in the race, the more I liked Hillary Clinton. Unfortunately, the more I saw Bernie, the less I liked him. I could never imagine Bernie as president. I liked some of his ideas but I did not like him as a person. I did not like his response to the violence of his supporters and his intent to allow them the opportunity to create some type of violence at the Democratic Convention to give Donald Trump the election. This is what a contested convention brings with violent supporters that we cannot and will not try to control. We have seen this with Hubert Humphrey and Eugene McCarthy. Democrats do not want to see this again. Hillary Clinton tried healthcare for all. She lost this battle in the first Clinton administration. We are thankful to Ted Kennedy for his fight for healthcare. Bernie Sanders was a mixed bag for the Democrats. He brought out voters and awakened us to the issues of the day that should matter. Maybe this was enough. We do not need Bernie as president. He has sadly never accepted this fact. The voters did not lie. They made their choice. Bernie needs to accept their decision.