Mr. Sanders goes to Washington

I’ve been worried about the Bern. I was all for his inspiring anti-greed campaign from the start, but then fear entered the picture.

I recoiled in horror as Donald Trump shambled alone from the toxic waste of the GOP primaries — not only unhurt, but apparently stronger than before. Somehow, even the hair got bigger.

The unthinkable has now become thinkable. Trump could win this. The most ignorant, bigoted, narcissistic asshole of modern times could be in charge of drones and nuclear weapons. And until today, Bernie did not appear to notice, like one of those horror-movie extras who don’t see the killer is right behind you. Some said Bernie had become more enamored with his celebrity than in defeating an existential threat to America as we know it.

Then he got beat in California, and traveled to Washington to see President Obama. They didn’t reveal what they talked about, but they didn’t need to. The President was paying his respects before endorsing Bernie’s Democratic opponent. I imagine he was also suggesting, quietly, that if a Pyrrhic victory is bad, a Pyrrhic defeat is even worse.

Sanders deserves respect. He’s proven that he’s not a man you can threaten or cajole or insult into submission. He’s fought for what he genuinely believes in, and he’s probably made Hillary a bit less cozy with corporate fat cats. In the process, he’s earned enough popular support to make him a force for years. I salute the guy.

When Bernie emerged from the White House, he didn’t endorse Hillary and didn’t acknowledge the mathematical certainty of her nomination. He vowed — again — to keep fighting until the Democratic convention in July. That’s Bernie. But he did say, finally, what a lot of us have been waiting to hear:

Needless to say, I’m going to do everything in my power, and I’m going to work as hard as I can, to make sure that Donald Trump does not become president of the United States.

No ifs or buts in that statement. I feel better now. I don’t know if Bernie Sanders would have made a good president, and I don’t know if Hillary Clinton will make a good one either. But I do know that Donald Trump has lowered the bar right down to the turf. I’ll definitely vote for Hillary. After all the smoke has cleared, I hope Bernie’s people do too.