Why this Sanders voter can no longer support Clinton

It took me a long time to write this. I had to dig deep into my being to come up with these words.

I’m recanting my endorsement of Hillary Clinton for president.

{mosads}I’m aware of how vindictive Clintonians can be. I’m not speaking about the Clintons themselves, but of those surrounding them. Perhaps the saying is true: dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres. Your staff, your donors, your surrogates, and those you surround yourself with are a reflection of who you truly are, no?

If not, why not curb any unacceptable behavior? Silence, indifference or inaction is as incriminatory — at least to me.

There has been no repudiation, let alone denunciation, of what was said in those emails; just denial, finger-pointing and doublespeak. To appoint the very same folks who carried out many malicious behaviors to tip the scales for Clinton is just as unpardonable.

Why reward unethical behavior? It’s mind-boggling.

I rebuke with my heart, mind and soul all the twisted narratives of sexism, misogyny, racism and classism laid at our feet. Though some of them are legitimate, most were used to derail valid grievances from our communities and completely erase us. Our voices were drowned out by empty accusations, by a nefarious usage of identity politics recommended by one of our own, no less. 

That is a bamboozling of people of color and unsuspecting allies.

This is why Clinton doesn’t deserve our vote, among many other reasons.

Many of us have been groundlessly accused of being politically illiterate, of having a conscience and of being idealistic for expecting fairness.

As if caring about our fellow human beings was such a bad thing.

Without our love for others, without empathy, we are nothing but empty vessels, carcasses without souls, worthy of none of the things we cherish the most. Fairness is ingrained in our brains.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), during his run for the Democratic nomination, was treated horribly by the Democratic National Committee, the Clinton crew and the Obama administration, and by proxy, many of us were also stung. Without any apologies.

In fact, we received nothing but contempt from the Clinton campaign and her surrogates.

Then they expected us to fall in formation. Many of us did.

I said I would endorse Clinton if she won the primary fair and square.

And I did, but that was before I got a hold of all the highly unethical things that happened to get her to win.

I’m not telling you not to vote for her. I’m aware of what is at stake. The Supreme Court and a petulant man-child who might quicken the Apocalypse, I know.

I’m telling you that I’m no longer endorsing her. Vote with your conscience. Vote strategically.

Or don’t. It’s your prerogative.

I’ve seen how our heroes, activists, journalists and celebrities have completely sold their souls to support something no person with an iota of morality would do. I’ve seen them say and do things to derail candidates who would have been a million times better for those less fortunate around us.

It’s unfortunate most pretend to fight the establishment, to act like they love the people more than they love the struggle and the relevance that it brings them.

I am not one of those and I won’t continue to be until the good Lord takes me.

Yes, I am heartbroken, I am angry, I am defeated, but I will rise and continue to advocate for you, for my people, for those that don’t have a voice.

But I refuse to be a pawn, a conduit of their oppression, of their disenfranchisement. That’s what a Clinton endorsement means to me.

You may vote for whomever you wish. Or don’t.

But please, think of the repercussions before you cast it and never stop holding elected officials and their water-bearers accountable for how they’ve treated, treat, and will continue to treat you and me.

César Vargas is a writer, director, strategist and advocate. He founded UPLIFTT and was named one of 40 under 40: Latinos in American Politics. His op-eds and quotes can be found on The Huffington Post, Latino Rebels, Okayafrica, Okayplayer, NBC, LATINO magazine, Fox News, Sky News, NBC, Salon, The Hill and The Guardian. Find him on Facebook and Twitter @CesarVargas365.

The views expressed by contributors are their own and not the views of The Hill.