For Bernie supporters: [View all]

[JDPriestly]

Tomorrow is the California primary. As one who has been canvassing in California, I think Bernie will do very well.

Still, Hillary has a lot of delegate support, so she may win the nomination.

I have been through many campaigns including the dreadful and historically disastrous McGovern and Kerry campaigns and losses. America paid dearly for both of those losses.

If toward the end of this week, it looks like Bernie may not win the nomination, please take my advice below seriously:

Don't give in to depression and sadness.

Just support Bernie no matter what happens.

One thing that always happens on the left is that we get angry. When we do that, our emotional energy is spent on the anger and we feel once the anger has gone, that we are helpless.

Cynical people, and people on the right whether Democrats or Republicans tend, really to be more cynical than we are, do not get as deeply depressed and discouraged and disabled by political losses as we do. That is because they do not see as clearly how political decisions affect the course of humanity and the environment. They just see their own interests, not those of the vast reality that is life beyond their own lives.

Bernie has not fallen into that cycle of depression and despair in his own life. I would bet that like all of us, he sometimes feels discouraged and disappointed. But, he stays positive and out of that positive energy builds what is possible and good for our society.

Remember. He lost the first elections in which he ran locally in Vermont. And I think his first win was only by about 10 votes. (Correct me if I am wrong, Bernie experts.)

We must follow Bernie's example.

There is no guarantee that Hillary will get the Democratic nomination even if she has the majority of the delegates. And since she does not have enough pledged delegates to meet the required threshold by the first vote at the Convention, we can continue to back Bernie until and for those of us who wish to even after the nomination.

There is still a chance that Bernie will be the nominee. Most Hillary supporters will vote for Bernie if he is the nominee. Many, many Bernie supporters will not vote for Hillary should she be the nominee.

It's in the interest of the Democratic Party to nominate Bernie, not Hillary.

Anything can still happen.

The pressure on Bernie to quit the race is damaging the Democratic Party. It is offending Party grass-roots volunteers like me who will not be there to get out the vote for Hillary. The Democratic Party has to remember that. In the 2012 campaign for Obama's re-election, only a few people really did the work in my area of Los Angeles. I was one of those few. I do not foresee Hillary supporters as doing the grunt work required to elect their candidate. Bernie supporters are young, vigorous and willing to volunteer. That is a factor that the Democratic Party should seriously consider. You cannot run a campaign to get out the vote with crews of people in their 70s and 80s and little youthful support. I know. I'm in my 70s, and I am out there for Bernie, but I don't cover the territory I used to cover back in the 1990s, for example.

We Bernie supporters are volunteering. We are dedicated to building a movement, not just aiming to win an election.

So, if you are a Bernie supporter, do not give way to feelings of depression or anger. They are self-defeating.

I have had a marvelous life but faced many difficulties. Stay positive. From personal and political disasters and difficulties we learn strength and how to organize ourselves more effectively.

This is just one election. It's the most important election of my lifetime. But when I see how many young people are out working for Bernie, how enthusiastic young people are about voting for Bernie, I know we will see many elections in the spirit of Bernie's campaign. We will win the way to a better America.

Remember also: DU is just one website in a world of real and potential websites.

Keep the faith.

Bernie is the best candidate. We all know that. Many Hillary supporters also know that. Hillary has just been hyped as the inevitable candidate. And she is a woman. Many women over 45 fought hard for their equality, and they see Hillary as representing the success of their movement. Understand that, and be patient with it.

Don't worry about it.

Keep working for Bernie and the things you believe in like compassion, love, sharing (just enough not too much), being yourself, helping others, the environment, the joy of education, and all the other good things you believe in.

Focus on the good, not on the bad.