The Slow Bern

Bernie Sanders is in a tough spot. Now facing the end of his self-styled political revolution, he is tasked with ensuring his supporters vote for the woman they fought so hard to defeat. Months of railing against Hillary Clinton only put Mr. Sanders in a position to offer a tepid endorsement and attempt fruitlessly to convince his rabid fans that the former Secretary of State represents the lesser of two evils. While he may reap long-term benefits, Mr. Sanders' current situation is partially a beast of his own creation.

From the Wikimedia Commons

While Mr. Sanders could never have anticipated the massive support he received during the primary, his bravado in carrying on once the contest was decided was not his most honorable moment. Against any normal Republican nominee,  Mr. Sanders' insistence in making a political point may have seemed admirable, however, Donald J. Trump is not a normal presidential candidate. If Mr. Sanders truly sees a Trump Administration as dangerous, as he says, he should have threw his wholehearted support behind Mrs. Clinton once Mr. Trump's nomination became inevitable. Instead, he waited until two weeks before the convention to offer his halfhearted endorsement, reportedly until his demands toward Mrs. Clinton's campaign were fulfilled.

Thus, the backlash from Sanders supporters this week in Philadelphia is far from surprising. Mr. Sanders encouraged enthusiasm throughout his mostly admirable campaign. And while he understandingly does not want to chastise his supporters, time is growing short for him to build the strong coalition he claims is necessary to defeat Trump in November. The political revolution he spearheaded is slowly gaining legitimacy, but he cannot be its torchbearer. Unfortunately for Mr. Sanders and his supporters, if they want their ideas to flourish, a Clinton Presidency is the first step. The only alternative is to wash their hopes and dreams crash and burn at the hands of Donald Trump.