Feel the truth

This past Monday I felt the Bern when I joined the huge crowd at Bonney Field for the Bernie Sanders rally.

As I stood in line for three hours with an ever-growing, snaking line of rally-goers, it was impossible not to feel inspired and motivated. Once inside, I listened intently and watched as thousands cheered him on from their seats or places on the soccer field.

We weren’t alone. Throughout the afternoon and night, news helicopters hovered, satellite trucks got their live feed and countless photojournalists’ cameras lit up the air with flashes.

That’s why it was so frustrating the next day when people in my social media circles complained about a lack of local media coverage.

Let’s not lessen the power of a great night by perpetuating the myth that there was no “mainstream” press coverage of the event. The Bernie Sanders rally was covered by all of the major local TV stations, and made the front page of The Sacramento Bee. It doesn’t get any more mainstream than that.

And, yes, SN&R covered the rally, too. (See “#FindtheBern” by Blake Gillespie, page 21).

It’s one thing to be frustrated by the type of coverage. Complain about misinformation (but check your facts), vent about bias (but check your own leanings).

Either way, nobody—Bernie Sanders included—benefits from the kind of outrage that’s gained via misleading information.

Real political change is driven by truth, not myth.