The Filthy Smear Campaign Being Conducted Against Sanders [View all]

[davidthegnome]

You know, it's interesting... every day I check in to read the posts here - and every day, I see something even more ridiculous than I read the day before. Posts implying, or even outright stating that Sanders and his supporters are made up of angry, white, racist bigots. It is implied that we are all misogynistic in addition to being racist, it has been implied and even outright stated that Sanders support all comes from the white male patriarchy.

You would think that Sanders was leading some kind of movement or protest from the right wing. You would think that, perhaps his history, voting record... stated positions and/or policies were in some manner, racist and sexist in the extreme. After all, if there is any weight - any truth to these accusations then something must be behind them, right?

So... out of curiosity... what's so bad about universal health insurance? Does that, in some manner, benefit white males over everyone else? What about higher education funded by the public? Does that, in some manner, benefit white males over everyone else? What about raising the federal minimum wage? Acting to reduce climate change by reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and investing in clean energy?

What about making the wealthy 1% pay more - a lot more - in taxes? Does that... in some way, benefit white males over everyone else?

Do any of these policies... does anything he has actually said or done, indicate that Sanders is some kind of racist/misogynistic hate monger? You know, I haven't seen anything to indicate that, despite the frequent accusations and implications based, typically on: "Well, someone who is voting for Bernie said this one time..." the facts remain the facts.

Sanders is leading a political movement that comes from the left, not the right. It is a movement that is all about equality a movement that addresses the root of what causes so much of our inequality... specifically, financial inequality. Inequality in regards to opportunity, education, treatment for injuries or disease. This is why people are so excited. He is saying out loud what a lot of us here at DU have been saying for years. That the game is rigged.

Now I'm not going to bash all Clinton supporters, because a few of them said ridiculous things. I AM however, offering an invitation to those who did: Please explain. Elaborate. How is anything about Sanders or what he is doing promoting racism and/or misogyny?

The policies being proposed here, being promoted by the Sanders campaign... the facts about the overwhelming wealth and power of the 1%... are real - and I challenge anyone to prove to me that he is a liar.

I do not support racist politicians. I do not support misogynistic politicians. I do not contribute my own hard earned money (what pathetic little of it I have left) to their campaigns. I do not volunteer on their behalf. What I see with Sanders is an opportunity for honest growth, for honest repair... from where it really needs to happen... from the bottom up. Universal health insurance, education, wage increases and/or workers rights benefit ALL of us.

This needs to be about more than which side we're on, because, generally speaking, I believe all of us here at DU at least lean left. We are on the same side. We want many of the same things. We are not a party or a group that promotes racism and misogyny. We are not a party or a group that promotes lies and deliberate smears - either. We don't Swiftboat our own, do we? Sanders is one of us - and has been for years... not, I do not mean a DUer, I mean a DOer. I mean someone who has spent decades fighting for things we desperately want and need. It goes beyond that though, this revolution is beyond political, it is a matter of thought, of heart, of spirit, of people saying enough is enough... and demanding the return of what was stolen from us long ago: Hope.

We are the alternative to all kinds of insanity, hate and ignorance. We are what stands in the way of Trump and his white supremacists, of Cruz and his religious, tea party fanatics.

I'm all for having an honest argument about policies and positions. I'm all for putting our candidates in front of a spotlight and examining them until we get down to bare bones (metaphorically speaking). I support Sanders, because I'm just plain poor. Yes, I'm a white millenial - but what does that really matter? I'm not a member of the 1%, I'm not some racist, misogynistic shmuck looking to bring you all down. I'm a regular person who wants to heal the world and make it a better place for ALL of us. Just like Sanders.