Sanders missed the mark in his response to convention

Bernie Sanders should be ashamed at the behavior of his supporters at the Nevada state Democratic convention May 14. But the Vermont senator and Democratic candidate for president has shamed himself instead by turning a blind eye, a deaf ear and a dose of arrogance to the vandalism and intimidation committed in his name. Sanders has every right to continue his campaign for the Democratic nomination until Hillary Clinton has secured enough delegates to win. But he needs to take responsibility for the tone of a campaign that has no realistic path to victory and has become anything but presidential.

The chaos in Nevada began after nearly 60 of Sanders’ potential delegates were deemed ineligible. While Clinton won the state’s caucuses in February, the Sanders campaign had hoped to pack the convention and leave with additional delegates. But his supporters were disqualified after a dispute over the rules, prompting Sanders backers to throw chairs, deface the Nevada Democratic headquarters with graffiti and bombard the party chairwoman, Roberta Lange, with abusive and threatening phone calls and text messages.

Sanders waved off several opportunities to apologize for the mayhem. In a statement, he breezily wiped his hands of any responsibility for the violence, pivoting instead to lecture the Democratic establishment. “The political world is changing,” he said, and “millions of Americans are outraged.”

Left unsaid was the role that Sanders has played in ginning up that outrage. His calculated use of sharp language to rail against the “greed” on Wall Street and a “corrupt” and “rigged” political system has touched a raw nerve, swelling his insurgent campaign with energy and activism from young voters and the far left.

And that chasm between what Sanders is selling and what his followers believe happened May 14 exploded into full view last week, as the voicemails and text messages sent to Lange in the aftermath of the convention showed. “You should be hung in a public execution,” one caller said. “I hope you burn for this.” Several cursed her as a woman in the most crude, despicable terms. “Rot in hell,” one woman said. “I would pack your bags right now,” yet another warned. Several predicted violence at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia in July.

The presumptive Republican nominee, billionaire Donald Trump, has been justifiably criticized for months for the violence, overt bigotry and ugly tone he has set at his campaign appearances. His comments also have shown a demeaning attitude toward women, Hispanics and the disabled. Yet, when Sanders supporters cross the line, the Democratic candidate refuses to draw a distinction between the character of his campaign and the opposing party’s choice. It was an ugly episode and a lost opportunity for Sanders to show that he represents a fresh and liberating way forward.

Sanders has no obligation to alter his message, bow out of the race or offer unrestrained support to Clinton. Though she is virtually assured of winning the party’s nomination, Sanders has brought the important issues of political inclusion and income equality to the fore, and he has made the Democratic Party more appealing to the next generation of voters. But Sanders also has a responsibility as a presidential candidate to keep his campaign in line with the high honor of presidential office. He should be winding up with a positive pitch, not a sour note.