Sorry Bernie, but you have no credibility

In the recent weeks, Bernie Sanders has been speaking out against various things that the US government is doing.  What's interesting to note is how his opinion is being received.  Sanders used to get a huge amount of attention and respect on his views, but nowadays, his audience has nearly disappeared (outside of fanatical Democrats who still believe that Trump will be impeached for no reason and Hillary will take the reigns of the country.)

What happened?

During the Democratic primary campaign, Bernie Sanders proposed a lot of good ideas for the country.  He also did a fantastic job in his debates with Clinton, showing her as the self-serving career politician that she was.  Most of Bernie's ideas for how the direction the country should be headed were in sharp contrast to Clinton's.
 

Sanders made it clear that he was not just "another Clinton".  He had a different vision, a different direction, one that he said would greatly improve the country.  His plan was keyed on not following the same approach as Clinton; if anything, his approach was radically different than hers.

And many voters liked it.  They bought into Bernie's plan because it wasn't the standard "business as usual" politics that Clinton was offering - Sanders was a viable change and a move in a different direction.

And Bernie's personal integrity was excellent; unlike Clinton, he didn't have a history of using his political position for personal gain; he wasn't bought and owned by the banks (he was actually very much opposed to the control the financial institutions have on the country).

In short, Sanders was nearly the perfect the anti-thesis of Clinton.  Someone who was for the people, the 99%, not the elites, not the political dynasties.

But looking at the response to Sanders these days, one would hardly know that; he's lost nearly his entire audience.

So what happened?

Leading up to the days of the DNC, evidence began coming in that clearly showed that Clinton and the DNC had rigged the primaries against Sanders.  We all watched with curiousity to see what his reaction would be.

And Sanders didn't disappoint: he refused to conceed the nomination to Clinton before the DNC started.  Smart move.

Then, at the DNC, Sanders insisted that all of his votes be counted, even though it was clear that Clinton was going to get the most votes. Again, another smart move.

So at this point, it was clear: Sanders was still fighting.  He was making it clear that he represented a different viewpoint, and his supporters were strong and fiercely loyal to him and what he represented (one of the key things being an alternate to Clinton).

But then...

The results were tallied, and as expected, Clinton received more votes.  It was Sanders time to give a speech.

This was Bernie's moment.  This was history calling.  This was the moment for Bernie Sanders to forever change the face of American politics in an honest and truthful way.

Bernie took the podium and began to speak.

But he didn't speak to his supporters, encouraging them to support his vision and continue to work towards it.

He didn't speak about all his key fundamental beliefs, and how he still held strong to them and knew that they would take the country in the right direction.

He didn't speak about being cheated by the DNC, and request a full investigation into how the primary had been conducted so unfairly against him.  That would have caused a huge uproar, but it would have been the RIGHT thing to do, because the primary had been rigged against him.  It would have been the honest thing to do, and would have shown his complete integrity.

Instead, Bernie did a complete reversal of everything, and spoke in support of Clinton and the very same policies and ideas that he had just campaigned against.

Sanders supporters were stunned.  Many of them left; they couldn't stand to see the person who they had placed so much trust in turning around and basically saying that EVERYTHING HE REPRESENTED WAS A LIE.

All of Sanders integrity, all of his honesty, all of the things that allowed people to trust him - evaporated instantly as he spoke.  He told his followers to support the very SAME person that he had spent months exposing as a self-centered, rich elite career politician who was completely unfit to be president.

Bernie, really, what did you think would happen?

You campaigned on a different vision than Clinton; you showed the voters what a terrible person she was, and how she would make a terrible president -- and then you thought that somehow, you could reverse your stance entirely?

This was Bernie Sanders defining moment.  But he failed.

He failed to continue support his own beliefs.

He failed to denounce Clinton.

He failed to demand an investigation into the DNC.

He failed to stand up for all the people who supported him.

And he failed to understand that you can't just reverse your entire viewpoint and then think that the people who supported you will do the same.

Sanders sold out, because he believed that it was better to sell out than allow the Republicans to win the election.

Guess what, Bernie?  NO.  It's WORSE that you sold out.  It's WORSE that, in the moment of your calling, you let everyone down.

That's what integrity is.  It's doing the right thing, NO MATTER WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES.

And that was the moment that the world saw the truth: Bernie Sanders actually has no integrity, no honesty, no courage.

He should have done what was right and spoke against Clinton.  But he didn't.

And the irony of it all?  The Democrats lost the election anyways.  So if Sanders had spoken his truth, and had been honest, and not sold out, it would NOT have cost the Democrats the election.

There's the bitter pill for you, Bernie: not only did you sell out, but you got NOTHING for it.

And what's also why no one listens to you any longer.  You can talk all you want, but the people have seen that when the moment is calling, you will NOT do the right thing.

So please, do us a favor, and give it up, Bernie.  You had your moment in history, but you lacked the courage to do the right thing, and you'll go down as a complete and utter letdown and failure.  I guess the one comfort in it all is that at least you can still go for drinks with your "good friend" Hillary.

LKvi