“As I see the crisis gripping the nation, I cannot in good conscience continue to mount a campaign that cannot win and would interfere in the important work required of all of us in this difficult hour.” That was Bernie Sanders taking the high road in announcing the inevitable end of his candidacy. Then he doubled down with an early endorsement of Joe Biden. It was, of course, well received by the Democratic establishment and theBiden campaign. What is not certain is how it will be received–and acted upon–by Sanders’ motivated progressive base. He’s not just their candidate, but their political patron saint.
Biden, to be sure, is not their preferred candidate, nor is he the ideal candidate for Democrats across the board. He happens to be gaffe prone and not nearly as progressive as many prefer. But he is well-informed, competent, likeable, governmentally experienced, geopolitically connected, non-threatening and decent–in short, everything that Trump is manifestly not. He’s also made commitments–from dropping Medicare’s age eligibility to 60, forgiving a lot of college debt for the lower and middle classes, and assuring that ability and demographics will be reflected in his choices for vice president and the Supreme Court.
The sobering bottom line is not unlike that of 2016. If you don’t vote for the Democratic nominee, however imperfect and flawed, you are de facto enabling another Trump term–with all its existential threats to America and the world. “We’ve got to make Trump a one-term president, underscored Sanders. “I will do all that I can to make that happen.”
Now what say you, AOC & Co., country or ideological ego first?