DISCLAIMER: This is not an endorsement of Hillary Clinton.
After Bernie Sanders formally endorsed Hillary Clinton, Bernie stans went crazy.
Clinton and Sanders meeting. Sanders speaks first, takes the podium like a boss. Hillary stands to the side like a bitch. #NeverHillary
— Plow Plot (@PlowPlot) July 12, 2016
Fuck you Bernie. 😂#SelloutSanders pic.twitter.com/mXC9nvsDIz
— RockPrincess (@Rockprincess818) July 12, 2016
Their anger is understandable.
Sanders’ candidacy represented a significant group of Americans fed up with wealth inequity and large corporations’ influence on the government. But despite Sanders’ best efforts, he lost. While some voters have reluctantly decided to vote for Clinton in the fall, others have gone to another extreme.
Used to be a Bernie fan but now that he’s joined Hillary, who supports everything he’s supposedly against, I’m a Trump fan. #NeverHillary
— Ashley Marie (@music_freak180) July 13, 2016
Bernie Sanders finally endorsed Hillary Clinton, so why are Bernie Bros supporting Trump? @gravesmeredith reports: https://t.co/4zwpbz4yK6
— MTV News (@MTVNews) July 13, 2016
Trump and Sanders are similar in some ways. They both positioned themselves as outsider candidates at the onset. They are not afraid to speak their mind. But Trump’s very existence is against everything the Sanders campaign stood for. Trump is part of the “one percent” of wealth and has the fervent support of white supremacist organizations. Although he positions himself as an outsider candidate, he’s been part of the “white boys club” for most of his life. While it is true he has few friends on Wall Street, his interests lay with big money and the advancement of capitalism. So why would people once supporting a Democratic socialist vote for Trump?
The short answer is because they can.
Contrary to popular belief, racism is not reserved for conservatives. White Bernie bros have the reputation of being very sexist and harassing black people on the Internet. Their livelihoods will probably be unaffected if Trump, a racist islamophobe, takes the Oval Office. The ability of these “bros” to throw the Democratic Party the middle finger by voting for Trump is white privilege. But the thing is, millions of people across the country do not have the luxury of waiting out Trump’s inevitable reign of terror. If Trump takes the office, many people face the potential of deportation and violence.
I’m not telling Sanders stans to vote for Hillary. I’m telling them to vote their conscience.
There are a million reasons to hate Hillary Clinton. Her relationship with drone warfare, her ties with Wall Street and white feminist tendencies are valid reasons to not want her in office. But dumping the Democratic party to vote for Trump out of spite is barbarous.
If Sanders’ supporters are looking for a similar candidate, Jill Stein is the logical candidate to support. Her outspoken words against racism and capitalism make her similar to Sanders. But joining the Trump Train just because you hate Hillary Clinton is foolish.
The latest national polls show Clinton and Trump in a virtual tie. We don’t have the room for people to make symbolic votes like citizens of the UK did for Brexit. We have one chance to cast ballots, so vote wisely. While I recommend people to vote for the lesser of two evils, I also want people to vote their conscience. If your conscience tells you to vote for Jill Stein then vote for Jill Stein, but do not play Russian roulette with people’s future livelihoods just because you can.
Again, this is not an endorsement of Hillary Clinton.
