If nothing else, we have learned that one’s reaction to a crisis exposes their inner character.  And yesterday was no different.  No, I am not talking about Donald Trump.  We did not need a pandemic to understand what makes him tick.  Yesterday, Bernie Sanders was the one who had to deal with an unpleasant reality.  He took the stage to thank his supporters for their hard work.  He restated the obvious; Donald Trump is an existential threat to democracy. And acknowledged Joe Biden is the presumptive Democratic nominee.  Following Sanders mid-day announcement, we got an unfiltered look at a wide range of reactions to the news.

Anthony Scaramucci, the 11-day wonder, an exile from the Trump administration, tweeted Biden’s 2020 campaign logo and then retweeted a link to The Atlantic article, “Americans Are Paying the Price for Trump’s Failures.”

The three co-founders of The Lincoln Project, all former Republicans, including KellyAnne Conway’s husband George, tweeted, “We are proud to endorse @JoeBiden for President. As America contends with unprecedented loss, we need a leader who can steady the ship, heal our common wounds, and lead us into our next national chapter. Joe Biden has the humanity, empathy and steadiness we need in a leader.”

Katie Porter, Democratic congresswoman from California, who endorsed and campaigned with Elizabeth Warren, tweeted, “Today I endorse @JoeBiden  for president. This trying time for our country has made crystal clear that elections matter and that we need a strong, honest, and compassionate leader in the White House. Donald Trump is not that person; we must defeat him in November.”

The Republican mayor of Sterling Heights, Michigan Michael Taylor had previously endorsed Biden.  “Biden is the candidate who can unify all of the Democrats, and … who can appeal to moderates and Republicans like me who don’t want to see four more years of President Trump.”

I guess all these folks were listening to Sanders when he said the prime directive is to defeat Donald Trump in November.  And now that Biden is the presumptive nominee, they were quick to unite behind him.  Too bad Bernie was too busy talking and not listening to himself.

In his mind, what was the best way to get down to the business of making the case against Trump?  During the remarks accompanying the suspension of his campaign, did Sanders ask his supporters to get behind Biden?  No.  Instead he implored them to continue “the revolution.”

While Vice President Joe Biden will be the nominee, we must continue to assemble as many delegates as possible where we will be able to exert significant influence over the party platform.

Do we really need a repeat of Sarah Silverman and Al Franken at the Democratic Convention begging Bernie supporters to get behind the nominee?  Does Bernie not realize when his fans shout down speakers at the convention, the only thing they are doing is starring in video clips which will soon appear in Trump campaign ads?

Only in America, in the middle of a pandemic, could we have three realities.  One defined by data and facts.  And not one, but two Bizarro Worlds, created by individuals who claim to represent the national interest from admittedly different perspectives, yet whose actions reveal just the opposite.

Yesterday, Sanders claimed he and his supporters had won the ideological battle.  In what world is 33 percent of the electorate a victory?  But, for argument sake, assume he is right.  Bernie, you realize what you just said.  I am the failed leader of a movement embraced by a majority of Americans.

Which exposes Sanders’ true colors.  He tells us the two things that matter most to him are defeating Donald Trump and advancing his progressive revolution.  If that were the case, here is what he should have said yesterday.

Today I am endorsing Joe Biden and urge every one who voted for me to do same.  But rejecting Trump is not enough.  We must reject Trumpism.  And that means voting “blue” up and down the ballot in November.  Everything we tried to do in this campaign goes down the drain if Trump is reelected, Mitch McConnell is still majority leader, Kevin McCarty is speaker of the house and there are more federal judges who support GOP efforts to suppress the vote.

But he chose not to do that.  Which tells you all you need to know.

For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP