Bernie or Bust! It's a slogan going around amongst the furthest left of the Democratic Party. What it essentially means is all or nothing. It's the political embodiment of a spoiled child that feels if they don't get everything they wanted for Christmas, then the holiday should be canceled all together. Never mind the fact that your parents gave you every gift they could afford. Never mind that they will give you the rest of your gifts on your birthday. Are you so use to having your way that even progress is considered a shortcoming? When did progress amongst progressives become a relentless affront to their moral code? Bernie supporters obviously wanted Bernie to win so supporting him with enthusiasm and excitement is expected. Still, it must be understood that losing is a test of maturity and compromise is the will of mixed agendas. Bernie himself voted for a crime bill that he publicly opposed saying that it would hurt minority communities. He later justified his vote by saying he liked the parts within the legislation that would protect women. This is the nature of politics, religion, or even life for that matter. Tough decisions are essentially moral trade-offs. At times you must trade one aspect of your morality to serve another aspect you deem more significant and essential in progressing your agenda.
Why Bernie Matters
Bernie Sanders during an election bid has pulled the Democratic establishment further left than it had been pulled since the Civil Rights Movement. He energized young voters similar to the way of then Senator Barack Obama in 2008. Which is impressive for a 70+ year old candidate that identifies himself as a socialist. He's done it by advocating for affordable college education, campaign finance reform, and a raise of the minimum wage. Sanders has enlightened many to the political process, how it works and explained how we can have a truer democracy by getting big money out of politics. He has started a movement that can not and should not be ignored. BUT, he has now lost in a tough primary to become the Democratic nominee for president. The word "Democrat" should be emphasized because Bernie Sanders before opting to run for president was an Independent who would often correct interviewers who referred to him as a Democrat. As a result, he decided to make another "moral trade-off" to become a part of one of America's major political parties to improve his chances of becoming President. He went from calling himself a socialist, to calling himself a Democratic Socialist. This change was to attract establishment voters, yet retain his independent base.
Why He Must Concede
Now fast-forward to June 2016. Hillary Clinton reaches the magic number of 2,383 delegates to clinch the Democratic nomination. A process Bernie Sanders along the way has deemed unfair because many unpledged superdelegates chose to commit their delegates to Hillary Clinton before Sanders announced his run for the presidency. Here's the biggest reason the word "Democrat" matters. Bernie's mistake (if he intends to continue this fight with any honor) was starting a revolution by joining forces with the establishment that he resented for so long. He wanted the Democratic Party's resources, he wanted their platforms such as being included in their debates, and as a result he must submit himself to the normalcy of the Democratic Party's primary election process. Unfortunately, the leading concern for a runner-up Democratic candidate is traditionally to concede the nomination to the candidate who reaches 2,383 delegates and unite your base with the winner to prevent the rival party from winning in the fall. Yet, instead of conceding on the historic night Hillary Clinton became the first woman to clinch the nomination of a major American political party, Sanders vowed to fight on all the way to the convention. In defeat, Sanders' true party is revealed. He is an independent! An Independents commitment is to his/her ideals, not an allegiance to any particular political party. So at this moment Bernie Sanders is feeling the sting of his own "Bern".
So What's Next?
Bernie Sanders perhaps needs more time to allow the battle between Bernie Sanders the Independent Socialist and Bernie Sanders the Democratic Socialist to play out. For the sake of the Democratic Party, the winner of the fight within must be the Democratic Socialist. He must submit himself to the commitment of preventing a Trump presidency. He must understand that it was his decision to join the Democratic Party and to not play spoiler to Hillary’s nomination by continuing to fight the inevitable. Bernie's supporters need to realize that the "Bust" in the Bernie or Bust slogan is not just another politician. It is Bernie's ideological and politically revolutionary opposite, Donald J Trump. Trump has his own revolution fueled by bigotry, racism, prejudice and greed. Bernie supporters will not see the bigger picture unless Bernie himself paints that picture for them. He should concede victory to Hillary Rodham Clinton and be proud that he pulled the establishment further left than any man in decades and trust that his political revolution will affect establishment politics.
