Losing to Girls

Here are some fun narratives I'm picking up regarding the 2016 Democratic Primary:

• Bernie is only losing because he's been too nice:

"Bob Kerrey, a former Nebraska governor and senator who ran for the Democratic nomination in 1992 and who has endorsed Mrs. Clinton in the current race, said Mr. Sanders might be winning now if he had relentlessly pressured Mrs. Clinton since last fall over her closed-door speeches to Wall Street banks, her role in the finances of Clinton Foundation programs, and other vulnerabilities. Mr. Sanders did not raise the paid-speech issue, after long resistance, until late January."

• Bernie is only losing because he wasn't even trying that hard anyway (especially in the states that he's lost):

Tad Devine, Sanders' strategist:: “Essentially, 97% of her delegate lead today comes from those eight states where [Sanders] did not compete.”

• Bernie is only losing because "the establishment" has rigged the system against him:

I see this claim mostly at far left and far right websites (sometimes two peas in a tinfoil-hat-wearing pod), which I do not want to link to - although they can easily found by searching "Rigged Election 2016 Hillary." Although voter suppression is likely attributable to Republican-led legislatures, many hard core Bernie supporters believe that Hillary, who to them represents "the establishment," has a top secret "in" with voting officials in the state where she's won, thus resulting in unfair election wins for her.

• Bernie isn't even losing, and even if hypothetically he were to lose the popular election, he'll still win at the convention:

Despite the fact that Clinton is leading the popular vote (and will likely win the popular vote nationwide), yesterday Sanders' campaign manager Jeff Weaver said he hopes and believes Sanders will come out of the Democratic Convention the nominee anyway.

When Barack Obama ran, people questioned whether he was an authentic US citizen (and they still do), which played off the narrative that only white people with certain kinds of names are authentic citizens.

With Hillary Clinton, the narrative seems to be that she is incapable of legitimately beating a man, and that even if she does beat him, the man is still entitled to come out the victor.  After all, a man wants something, and if he's "only" competing against a woman, it's unthinkable that he shouldn't just have it.

Sorry not sorry for bringing up the faintest hint of sexism in Election 2016.  I know it's an unspeakable offense. #REVOLUTION