After a hard-fought primary campaign against Hillary Clinton that clenched 1,893 delegates and rustled the Democratic Party, Bernie Sanders has turned into, at best, a tepid Hillary campaign surrogate. It seems all the support that Sanders can muster is coated with a bitter layer of “at least she’s not Trump.” Now, he’s taken on the Sisyphean task of convincing his faithful supporters — who aren’t quite sold on Hillary’s ideological purity — to vote for the Democratic nominee.
But political progress is measured in results, not just soaring ideology. If Bernie’s ideas are ever to come to fruition, it starts with a Clinton presidency. A once seemingly insurmountable revolution is now tearing apart at the seams despite his attempts to launch a spinoff campaign group, “Our Revolution.” What’s caused this fracture in Bernie’s base? It’s not a primary defeat or Donald Trump; rather, it’s apathy.
The sheer callousness of Sanders’ supporters following his loss have led many people to change their passion for Bernie’s uncompromising agenda into a rationalization of Jill Stein. But Jill is no leftist liberator. She may have a Harvard degree, but she sure doesn’t act like it when she’s the harbinger of the dangers of wifi to kids’ brains and panders to anti-vaxxers. Initially, Stein recklessly welcomed the Brexit vote, but changed her stance afterward without explanation. Her reliance upon scare tactics is all the more reason to give pause about her agenda and competence, not to mention her inability to win as a third party candidate.
But hey, give the girl a break. At least she’s consistent on running for public office — and losing. But why would Bernie supporters vote for Jill? I sense that a Stein vote isn’t because of the coalescing of their values, but rather the merging of their reasoning that Hillary and Trump are equivalent.
Secretary Clinton isn’t perfect, but that’s no excuse not to vote for her come November. Her policies are sound. Her experience is impeccable (and might even get her into McCombs). Her willingness to fight for everyone, especially college students, is humbling. But even more than that are the stakes in this election. As President, Hillary would have the unprecedented ability to shift the Supreme Court and the federal judiciary blue. She would seal Obama’s legacy, protecting healthcare and civil rights from Republican obstructionism once he is out of office.
Now, if you’re a Bernie supporter, I know what you’re thinking. Who is this Hillary fanboy telling me how to vote? I was a Bernie delegate to the DNC, where I witnessed Bernie concede the nomination firsthand and I was waving my rally signs during his speech. But I also felt the moment when Bernie lost control of his supporters. “This was never about Bernie, it was about a movement,” I heard delegates say. He begged and pleaded, but even Bernie himself could no longer control the direction his movement wanted to go. Now is the time to rectify that.
If you want someone unfit to be President, vote Green. If you want a Trump presidency, by all means, vote for Jill Stein.
But if you want to win — if you want a future movement — cast your vote and passion for Hillary Clinton.
Marshall is a government freshman from Mabank.