I would suggest we all blunt the political edge while discussing Sanders and the Vatican Conference
It is a real and substantive event. Yes politics is swirling around, maybe on two continents, but there is a world beyond politics also, and this conference is about that world. It wouldn't surprise me if there were some located at the Vatican who are profoundly suspicious of the motivation of all politicians - having no doubt met quite a few of them. And yes there are ideological divides that play out in Rome as well, where some American Cardinals might express strong feelings. We should not let that obscure the purpose of this conference.
I am proud that a candidate who I support for President wants to be in attendance there. But that doesn't mean that Hillary isn't supportive of the conference goals just because she won't be there also. I would be proud were I a Hillary supporter if she were attending an international conference on Woman's Rights now, which I know is something she has done before and no doubt will do again in the future. Should she do so without Sanders also being present I would not employ that as evidence that he didn't care about that cause either.
Yes Bernie is in the middle of an election campaign, but he is not running just to win elections. He has his own sense of his life mission, and attending this conference is consistent with that. Should he become our next President or even if he doesn't he needs to extend his personal connections to other leaders, both political and otherwise, in the world who also care deeply about the issues that most concern him. He should attend events like this, and I have no problem admitting that Hillary Clinton at this stage in her career no doubt has a wider web of international connections than does Bernie Sanders. So it is appropriate that he make this trip and advance his process of hopefully becoming a world and not just national leader - whether or not he wins the Democratic nomination for President. I believe he will come home profoundly moved by this experience, and that will be to the betterment of all of us.
This stuff is all too important for Sanders supporters to try to make political hay over, or for Clinton supporters to try to denigrate because it involves her current political rival. It may or may not help or hurt Sanders for him to be outside of New York during a critical day and a half in Europe when he could be staging rallies and talking to local media. That's not the point though - it is good that he is going there either way. It only cheapens the meaning of this event for Bernie supporters to act elated over it thinking he can score some political points, or for Hillary supporters to look for a way to play this all to her advantage instead.
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She needs to get out there, turn on that southern accent thing she does, get her some POC lined up behind her and TELL IT.
RENOUNCE!
