While I come down on Edgar Allen Beem’s side on many issues, his relentless flogging of Hillary Clinton as the candidate who “should have won” the 2018 presidential election has become tiresome. It has been borne out multiple times that there are inescapable truths about Clinton and the mainstream Democratic Party.

First, there has been evidence presented that Sen. Bernie Sanders was undermined as a candidate during the primary process. Second, while the Democrats espouse a more “people-over-corporations” philosophy, theirs is still very much a party of the moneyed elite. Thirdly, Clinton is despised by much of the undecided electorate. Her idea that she has earned not only a shot at the presidency, but that she assumed she was a shoo-in, is offensive to much of the country.

Beem surprised me then, when he expressed excitement for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s victory. She shares the same ideals as Sanders, as far as I can tell. Was it too soon for a Progressive candidate two years ago?

Jonathan Priest
Windham