Bernie's (Mis)Understanding of Tonight's History
There are rare moments when you get to witness history. I know technically she already clinched, but tonight will be the celebration, watching the first major party female nominee give the victory speech.
We witnessed history 8 years ago, and we are on the precipice of doing so again.
And 8 years ago, Hillary had the option of going nuclear. Of protesting, of claiming Super Delegates don't count. Of making an argument of staying in the race on a technicality.
She obviously went a completely different route. And when she appeared, it was only to praise, vociferously, President Obama. Hillary understood the history of the moment. Super Delegate Bill Clinton VOTED for Obama. They knew the moment was much bigger than them. That an African-American nominee had fairly won the election (which was much closer than this, and where she actually won the popular vote), and that the time for campaigning had ended. That stepping on that moment in any way would be unconscionable.
Sanders finds himself in the same boat tonight. He could try to drag this out to the convention. I don't actually think it will impact the general election. He'll look like a buffoon arguing against math, and be the definition of a 3rd wheel, be on an island unto himself, while here in the real world, Hillary goes on with the business of whipping Trump, which she'll do, just like in 2008 Obama would have whipped McCain anyway.
But the unforgivable crime would be if any bandwidth tonight is dedicated to Bernie Sanders doing anything other than conceding. If we have the first female major party nominee having to split time with a white male because he won't accept that she won. And make no mistake, she won, clearly, by any accounting.
And when I say any accounting, I mean any accounting. Because Sanders is not, as is being reported, arguing that Super Delegates should not count. Not counting them means that when Hillary clinches a majority of pledged delegates, which she will tonight, that she is the nominee. No, what Sanders is arguing is that Super Delegates should count, but their votes should not. Yes include them in the total delegate count, no don't include them in the delegate vote totals. It is such an absurd logical pretzel that no one should take it seriously.
If he uses that to justify not conceding, not clearing the stage for Hillary, it will be a stain on him that won't wash off. The impact of doing so will wash off, she'll still win the nomination, she'll still beat Trump. But we'll never forgive Bernie for deciding that he was more important than history, more important than the moment, that keeping his charade running for another month is worth stepping on history, for not recognizing the gender bias that still exists in our society and how extraordinary what Hillary has accomplished is.
But Bernie also has an opportunity. Although he's exhibited very little dignity and class, he can now. Imagine if he concedes before she speaks. Admits that he's been beaten. That he clears the stage. All of the animosity will instantly wash away.
That is the choice he is faced with. I think he does not believe Trump can realistically beat Hillary, and that any damage he does fighting for the nomination, he can later undo. That is probably true. Hillary was nasty with Obama in 2008, and wiped it away later, graciously, emphatically. But she was very careful to not step on Obama's moment, by not hanging on a minute too long, because she was aware of the history of the moment. It remains to be seen whether Bernie has that same sense of history.
= new reply since forum marked as read
