TPM Reader MS is losing patience and taking a dark view of Sanders’ resistance to shifting gears in the primary race …
Sanders’ behavior has two sources:
1. He is not a Democrat and he has no interest in the party’s or its likely nominee’s ultimate best interest or even in the party’s survival. He doesn’t want the party to win — he wants to win the party. And may even believe, as some of his surrogates have implied, that a Trump win will be better for that ambition, in the sense of leading to a Sanders-style, or led, “revolution.”
2. Simple disrespect for women. Candidate and supporters.
Any woman who has ever had success as the first in some area has experienced this kind of challenge. A man who simply refuses to recognize your accomplishment and hard-earned authority. Who, in a sense, acts as if you simply aren’t there, at least not legitimately — he goes over your head, behind your back, ignores tradition and precedent to treat you with unique discourtesy, not recognizing your position and the usual conventions of respect and courtesy it deserves.
It is behavior that would never be aimed at another man, because it is meant to say, to you and the institution, that your accomplishment uniquely (because you are a woman – but that will never be said or acknowledged publicly) has no meaning, and will not be respected.
It is in other words simple chauvinism. And a challenge that the perpetuator believes, although he will never admit it, he can win not because he has some rightful claim but because he knows that in a direct power challenge a woman is always at a disadvantage — she loses by responding aggressively. Even in situations in which an aggressive response is appropriate, and would be required for a man, knowing he loses authority by not putting a quick stop to such outrageous and open disrespect.
For a woman, countering this effectively, without being seen as a “bitch,” requires subtlety — and shaming — in the sense of giving him enough rope to thoroughly embarrass himself.
Clinton’s only real defense is patience — knowing that if he keeps this up, Bernie’s arrogance and, yes, chauvinism will cause him to push too far and inevitably embarrass himself, and, unfortunately the party if it lets him.
The thought that, recognizing he has lost, Sanders will change direction, support the party and its nominee,work to bring his supporters on board, is futile. The more hopeless his chances, the more he will double down. The more people acknowledge Clinton as not only the winner, but also as a leader, the more he will refuse to provide such acknowledgement himself, and the more disrespect he will show her.
The party establishment should, in its own best interest, be doing everything it can to protect itself — right now –from the spectacle that Sanders wants to create — and not just leave it to Clinton to counter entirely. But it won’t, because many of its members too are conflicted, or at least nervous, about putting the very first woman forward as a major party nominee.
