Someone asked me “What do Bernie Bros really want?” in a BlueDelaware.com FB thread.
I said, “Fairness.”
Leaving aside the lame attempt at disparaging me by calling me a “Bernie Bro” (I now own that label with pride) – let me expand on that answer for any BlueDelaware fans who are truly curious.
But first let’s imagine a Democratic nominee for the Presidency of the United States who upon accepting the nomination says something like this…
It’s time we come together as a party and as a country. And part of that is all of us accepting that there are elements to the “stop and frisk” policing policy that actually worked to reduce crime. We want opportunity for all, but some of us have to be more compliant when being interviewed by the police.”
Or imagine a nominee saying…
As Democrats we believe that all people should be treated with dignity and humanity, but our borders are sacred and if you attempt to seek the freedoms of the United States you should know that you will be separated from your children at the border and you may not get them back.”
Those things could never be said. For one thing, they are ludicrous and for another – African Americans and Latinos are regarded as important Democratic constituencies. Knowingly aggravating and alienating important Democratic constituencies would be regarded as disastrously stupid and destructive.
And yet, we can imagine a candidate saying, “sure there are quirks, but our financial system is working fine.” We can imagine candidates saying that if we “work hard and play by the rules” you can get ahead. We can imagine a Democratic candidate knowingly insulting, aggravating and alienating an important Democratic constituency group because it happens all the fucking time.
So what do Bernie Bros really want? We want you to figure out a way to acknowledge Democrats like me who see that the rapacious greed of late stage capitalism hasn’t been so great. We want a Democratic Party that doesn’t lie to our faces about “rising tides raising all boats.” We want a government that works for people not for profits and a party that regards us as an important Democratic constituency. Is that too much to ask?
I hope not. Because continuing to bully, berate and betray this constituency is not going to end well for anyone.
