Robert Simmons

Since the election, I’ve been able to put my Bernie button back on. I like that you are standing with the people protesting Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), and that you are speaking out, holding Donald Trump to the few decent promises he made. Seeing you speak among the protesters in front of the White House made me feel good inside.

What I don’t like to see is you playing ball with the DNC, Chuck Schumer and the Democratic establishment. I really believe they will just assimilate you, and that your chances of transforming the Democratic Party from within are slim to none. Schumer is a total corporatist, isn’t he? Didn’t he tell you whom you could and could not campaign for in the down ballot races, if you wanted a chairmanship?

You are the most popular politician in America right now, maybe even the most popular politician on the planet. In my view, you don’t have to bow to anyone, and when you do so, you squander your power, which is the people’s belief in you. They believe in you because you told the truth, and you stood with them.

When you stand with politicians like Schumer, and Clinton, you lose some of what makes the people love you. You lose some of your authenticity.

It appears that the Democrats who have power in the party are determined to stick with their same old strategy and their corporate donors. Please don’t join them. Start a new party. Call it the Progressive Party, or whatever you want. Then maybe the Democrats will see where the country wants to go, and follow them. Or maybe that party will die out, as perhaps it needs to.

If you do this, a lot of people will follow you. It would be great if you could transform the Democratic party, but I don’t believe they will let you. Instead, like Clinton, they will offer you half a loaf in exchange for using you to co-opt your message and influence your followers. And your followers will be sorely disillusioned if this is what happens, and our revolution won’t occur.

If you form a new party, you’ll be called a traitor. That’s a badge of honor. They called Franklin Roosevelt a traitor to his class.

The Democrats have become Republicans. The only thing to the right of Democrats is Donald Trump and the edge of the abyss. There is a lot of room on the left, and you know that’s where the people are.

I was never “with Her,” but I’ve been with you all the way. I wrote you in on my ballot, because that was the only choice my heart would stand for. Somehow, I feel free to offer you my unsolicited advice. Unsolicited advice is rarely welcome, but it comes from my heart, and I hope you will always be guided by yours. That’s where the truth is.

In solidarity,

Robert Simmons lives in East Montpelier.