I’ve heard for nearly every major recent political blunder the United States of America has made, you can find a video of Senator Bernie Sanders trying to put a stop to it.
At 74-years-old, Bernie has been fighting for social, economic, and racial justice for virtually his entire life. He is a rarity among politicians today — a public servant whose honesty, integrity, and record shows without a doubt he only wants what’s best for you and me.
Bernie has been fighting the progressive cause for the working and middle classes as long as he has been able and will until he can no longer — no matter what. He wants nothing more than for all of us to live out our days happily with the people we love, and he would never, ever do anything to jeopardize that.
Every great religion in the world — Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism — essentially comes to do unto others as you would like them to do unto you…I believe that we are in this together.
He has inspired millions — including me. Bernie has brought so many disillusioned Americans into the political process, given them a voice, and has changed the game of politics forever. He’s made it clear millions and millions of Americans support a bold, progressive agenda, and that, together, we can create a government and economy that works for everyone.
It is for these reasons my friends and family have come to know me as a very, very avid Bernie Sanders supporter for the last 15 months — as I will always be. Long before he announced his presidential campaign, I believed Bernie represented the best in American politics, always fighting for what’s right for us — not for powerful special interests.
Google Bernie’s House and Senate floor speeches if you haven’t yet, and you’ll see what I mean. But, as of today, what you won’t find is a video of Bernie Sanders trying to stop Hillary Clinton from becoming the next President. Instead, you’ll find him fighting for the complete opposite.
Though the current electoral process needs immense work — like reducing the influence of big money, giving independent voters a real voice, making sure third party candidates have an actual chance, and getting rid of undemocratic functions like superdelegates — and though, like many, I certainly have my concerns about Hillary Clinton, I have no reason to doubt Bernie Sanders now or ever.
So, if Senator Bernie Sanders tells me — given the dire prospect of a Donald Trump presidency and the way the political system is currently structured — that it is in the best interest of you and me and the future of our country to elect Secretary Hillary Clinton as the next President of the United States, I’m with her, too.
My hope is that when future historians look back and describe how our country moved forward into reversing the drift toward oligarchy, and created a government which represents all the people and not just the few, they will note that, to a significant degree, that effort began with the political revolution of 2016.
Recent events and this election have made clear we need political, electoral, economic, and social reform now more than ever. We need to open the doors of political participation to all and close the many gaps of inequality in our society and our communities. We need to make sure everyone has the education, resources, and opportunity to live a decent life.
We need to make sure that the American Dream holds true no matter who you are.
To do this and more, we must elect progressives at local, state, and federal levels and continue to build upon the revolution Bernie Sanders made mainstream. For now, a growing progressive coalition amid a Hillary Clinton presidency is our best path toward making this vision a reality. We have the power to do it now.
That said, this should not be wholly viewed as an endorsement of Hillary Clinton — instead it is a recognition of what we must do together right now to move America forward as it stands today. But just as Bernie always said, it isn’t about him — it’s about all of us—and no President can do this alone.
I trust him now and always, and today he has proclaimed loudly and clearly because we are stronger together, we will build a future to believe in.
