Virgin Islands Democratic Caucus Megathread June 4, 2016

Not begrudging you anything. I have serious reservations about Clinton's record, especially as it relates to transparency and her tendency to openly advocate for military response to situations rather than viewing that as a last option. The vast majority of issues, I agree with her on, and Bernie. But I view her as heavily burdened by baggage that Trump is going to be more than happy to pounce on. My issue is that so many people are perfectly willing to say that if I don't support Clinton I'm voting for Trump. Which is bullshit. Trump is frigging insane. But I'll vote my conscience, because I would prefer Stein to Clinton. It's that simple. Everyone should be able to vote their conscience without being accused of collaboration with that bigoted jackass the GOP is stuck with.

But to say that having progressive views completely ignored for 20 years in an attempt to appeal more to moderates, an approach that has ultimately lost both houses of Congress, is merely annoying is putting it lightly. The vitriol on /r/politics seems to have reversed over the past month or two, and by far most of the hateful rhetoric lately that I've seen, or been on the receiving end of, has been by Clinton supporters. And it's wrong, just like it was wrong when some of Bernie's rabid fans were being assholes. It's also incredibly stupid and short sighted. It's what has led to serious divisions among the left, at a time when the GOP is at its most vulnerable. But there's a large faction in the Democratic party that would rather keep the status quo, if the alternative is to open the party to the more progressive Sanders supporters.

And having canvassed with the Sanders campaign and been to a few rallies, I have yet to meet one person who has said that they will vote for Trump. It's Bernie, Stein, or stay home. Those are the choices I've heard discussed. Trump represents everything wrong with the Republican party, from a progressive viewpoint.

/r/politics Thread Parent