Someone I know recently compared Bernie Sanders to a 1960s hippie, projecting idealism and a vision through rose-colored glasses. Been there, done that.
The murders of President John F. Kennedy, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and Robert F. Kennedy pretty much removed the roses from my vision.
Anyone who pays attention to the mostly contentious American political system realizes that idealism must be couched in reality and compromise. The Founding Fathers apparently meant it to be so, to allow for and protect divergent points of view.
For a time now, Bernie Sanders’ dreams have seemed historically unlikely to become reality, given the current divisions in the American electorate, and his continued candidacy may be a boost to someone who has exhibited traits (by his own published words) of a demagogue and racist.
Hillary Clinton, by contrast, is steeped in political reality, given her long history of service to the country and the “Tricky Dick”-style treatment her detractors have unceasingly visited upon her.
I believe that Clinton can coalesce idealism with reality.
She has been a U.S. senator from a substantially populated and politically and socially diverse state and knows how to generate results from our political system.
She has worked tirelessly in her career for civil rights, women’s rights and children’s rights while standing toe-to-toe with some of the nastiest world leaders in recent history as our nation’s secretary of state.
It’s time for Sanders supporters to decide if they would trust the survival of any of his agenda to he who would build walls or to a proven and capable leader.
Steve Lentner
Florence