I'm not with her

Last week I suggested Bernie supporters do three things: (1) fight like hell for Bernie until he either gets or loses the nomination, (2) if Hillary gets the nomination, fight like hell for her, and (3) regardless of who wins the nomination or the election, continue to build a powerful progressive movement.

Several of you disagree with (1), saying Bernie has no chance, and his continuing candidacy is just hurting Hillary, so he should bow out of the race. I’ll get back to this point in a subsequent post.

Here I want to address those of you who disagree with (2). As I understand your arguments, they fall into four categories:

1. Some of you say that by refusing to fight for Hillary (if she gets the nomination) you’ll show the political establishment you want the changes Bernie has been advocating. The problem with this logic is the “political establishment” is nothing but a bunch of people in comfortable and often privileged positions who will continue doing what they’re doing because they like the status quo, and won’t even be aware you’re not fighting for Hillary – unless, that is, Hillary loses to Trump. Which leads to the next argument.

2. Some of you say there’s no real difference between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. The problem with this logic is it's wrong. Regardless of what you may think of Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump is a true menace to this nation and to the world. He’s a narcissistic, xenophobic, hatemonger who, if elected, would legitimize bigotry, appoint Supreme Court justices with terrible values, and have his finger on the nuclear bomb. Need I say more? Which brings us to the third argument.

3. Some of you say a Trump presidency would be so horrible it would galvanize a forceful progressive movement in response. The problem with this argument is twofold. First, Trump could do huge and unalterable damage to America and the world in the meantime. Second, rarely if ever in history has a sharp swing to the right moved the political pendulum further back in the opposite direction. Instead, it tends to move the “center” rightward, as did Ronald Reagan’s presidency.

4. Finally, some of you say that even if Hillary is better than Trump, you’re tired of choosing the “lesser of two evils,” and you’re going to vote your conscience by either writing Bernie’s name in, or voting for the Green Party candidate, or not voting at all. I can’t criticize you for voting your conscience, of course. But your conscience should know that a decision not to vote for Hillary is a de facto decision to help Donald Trump.

What do you think?"







My reply was as followed:
I greatly respect you but even if she gets the nomination I cannot in good conscience vote for her. Everyone will have to make up their own mind of course but I cannot throw my support behind her, or a trump for neither has earned my vote.

I am the son of a Vietnam vet so someone who sees Kissinger as a good source for foreign policy advice already has me at an ehhhh feeling

She wants a no-fly zone over ISIL territories.. coming from a large military family. a no-fly zone would mean thousands upon thousands of more troops on the ground to maintain that no-fly zone.

She has already said in the first debate she would not fight for single payer healthcare, as well as she would not fight for a publicly subsidized, tuition-free public colleges and universities.

Then there is her constant pandering and placating. As a young black male, when she started speaking about police brutality and its disproportionate black victims, when she started speaking of police reform, and justice reform I was like ABOUT TIME.. then I realize the sad truth, that was just because the South was about to vote with its large Black population. right after that she gave several major speeches and did not touch on these things, not a once... that is until right before New York Primary was to take place and then suddenly it was in her stump speeches again.

She wants to walk around claiming to be a Progressive, that is fine but I recall when in 2000 she was running to be the Senator of my state and she ran away from the titles liberal and progressive and cast herself as the moderate voice that can bring both sides together.. I recall in 2008 when she was running against Obama and once again ran from the titles liberal and progressive and..once again cast herself as the moderate voice to bring both sides together.. and now suddenly she has a progressive challenger, she suddenly sees it as politically advantageous to call herself a progressive.

There are other reasons I cannot support her, be it her suddenly thinking in 2013 gays should have full equitable rights in this country, to her supporting damn near every bad trade deal in the last few decades, to her millions in speeches to Wall Street.

Now, Mr. Reich, I am sure you remember 2012.. in 2012 the Dems went hard after Romney when he made 374K in a single year giving speeches to these financial institutions, and also refused to tell us what he said and that was a big thing.. and now we have someone, Clinton who has been given millions to give these speeches to the very institutions that have paid billions because of their role in the market bust and... she is saying just trust me.. you do not have to see what is in these transcripts. She originally said she would release it when everyone else did.. when it became down to Sanders and Trump, neither have given paid speeches so then she changed to .. oh when Trump releases his taxes.

If you are trying to build yourself as the most trustworthy candidate changing why or rather when you would release the transcripts does not help.

Then there is this California Debate. Clinton agreed to a CA debate back in February and now is going back on her word on doing it. I personally do not care if it is on Fox or not.. when you are running for the Presidency not every venue will be to your liking... I mean if only the Clinton of 2016 had the same view of the Clinton in 2008 that you should be willing to debate anytime..anywhere.



Now, as I said, everyone will have to make their own choices, since neither she nor Trump has earned my vote, neither shall get it.. but I am in New York which is no one's swing state. I understand she has the entire establishment behind her and that is fine, we all have to make our own choices.. and I have made mine.

With greatest respect and care, brother.
But your conscience should know that a decision not to vote for Hillary is a de facto decision to help Donald Trump.

No, my vote not to vote for Hillary or Trump is a vote not to vote for Hillary or Trump. if I follow your logic and reasoning then.. if I choose not to vote for Clinton and that is a "de facto decision to help Trump." Then my also refusal to not vote for Trump is the logic remains is then de facto decision to help Clinton.

So if you and others wants to get out and help her until your heart is content, as I said.. we all have choices.

But that is my two cents.. have a good one.