Jim Hightower: Why Bernie Sanders Will, Should and Must Refuse To Drop Out--

[eridani]

--Against Hillary Clinton

http://inthesetimes.com/article/19083/why-bernie-will-should-and-must-stay-in-the-race

Yes, passion—an outpouring of genuine excitement that is (as we say in Texas) “hotter than high school love.” All this for a 74-year-old Democratic Socialist who is openly taking on the corporate plutocracy that's been knocking down the middle class and holding down the poor. Sanders is the oldest candidate in the race—yet, politically, he's the youngest candidate, exuberantly putting forth an FDR-sized vision and agenda to lift up America's workaday majority. And, guess what? It turns out that workaday Americans really value democracy over plutocracy, so that's where his passionate support comes from.

Need I mention that the moneyed powers—and the politicians hooked on their money—hate this affront to their cozy politics-as-usual/ business-as-usual system? Especially shocking to them is that Sanders' supporters have found their way around the usual Wall of Big Money that the establishment always throws us to thwart populist campaigns. This time, though, a counter-force of common folks has created a widely-successful campaign fund of their own to support their Bernie Rebellion. How successful? A whopping $182-million has been raised in millions of small donations. How small? They average $27 each.

That's a revolution, right there! Every revolution needs a slogan, so here's one that used to be on the marquee of a vintage, locally-owned motel just down the street from where I live in Austin: “No additives, No preservatives, Corporate free since 1938.” That perfectly sums up the unique people's campaign that Bernie-people have forged for themselves.

The keepers of the Established Order fear this grassroots uprising by no-name “outsiders,” and they know that this year's Democratic nomination is still very much up for grabs, so they're stupidly trying to shove Sanders out before other states can vote. But Bernie and the mass movement he's fostering aren't about to quit—they'll organize in every primary still to come, be a major force at the Democratic convention, and keep pushing their ideals and policies in the general election… and beyond.

As Sanders puts it: “I run not to oppose any man or woman, but to propose new and far-reaching policies to deal with the crisis of our times… It may be too late to stop the billionaire class from trying to buy the presidency and congress… But we owe it to our children and grandchildren to try… We need to face up to the reality of where we are as a nation, and we need a mass movement of people to fight for change.” That's what real politics should be—not merely a vacuous campaign to elect a president.

[silvershadow]

1. Hightower is a legitimate liberal. A protege of the great Molly Ivins.

It is my earnest hope he can have a position of higher profile in a Sanders administration (if he would want it). His resume certainly supports that he would be an ideal candidate for an Ag position or Food Safety, having held been the elected State Ag Commissioner in Texas. I read his writings all the time.

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. I heard him spea many years ago at the old Full Circle Fair. He was

amazing! Really got us fired up.