The Bernie Sanders revolution came to Tacoma. It looked and sounded downright reasonable
The revolution came to Tacoma on Monday night.
It was Presidents Day, and the people descended on the Tacoma Dome in droves — 17,000 strong — to see the cranky, disheveled senator from Vermont who they hope will be the next occupant of the office.
Many, like 37-year-old Travis Apodaca of Hilltop, brought their kids to see Bernie Sanders.
Some, like 18-year-old Wilson High School senior Noah Brown, brought their parents.
They arrived in fuel-efficient crossovers and jam-packed older model cars, waiting in lines that stretched hours and blocks, inspired by an unapologetic candidate and a host of familiar reasons.
Health care. Education. Student loan debt. Climate change. The glaring wealth and income disparity.
Though each person had their personal motivations and policy preferences, addressing these issues hardly represents rantings of lunacy. On the contrary, in broad strokes, most enjoy broad support.
Together, the crowd largely shared a grander vision — a vision of Bernie, yes, but mainly a vision of something better.
Considering the circumstances, it’s hard to knock them for it.
Sanders is the candidate they trust and support to get it done, many said, because he’s honest, and his heart is in the right place.
“If a candidate is going to really adhere to those things, then that’s something I want to be a part of, regardless of what party they’re in,” said Tabetha Lewis of Federal Way, who along with her husband Christopher brought her son Jamie to the rally.
Lewis, a fourth grade teacher, said she’s always considered herself to be politically “moderate,” but Sanders strikes a compelling chord.
“What I like about Bernie is it seems like he cares about the well being of people and of the environment,” Lewis said. “He wants everyone and everything to be healthy. … I support anyone who wants equity and equality for everyone.”
If these are the revolutionaries, it’s a reality we need to face up to — because it speaks volumes about the predicament we’ve gotten ourselves into.
Or, at the least, we need a better word for what’s afoot.
After all, what does it say when those calling for access to health care and education are relegated to fringe status by a system and a rigid discourse that can’t think of any other way to describe it?
What does it really say when a Tacoma Dome full of people can stand with the indigenous Puyallup Tribe and demand real action on climate change, only to be largely characterized as delusional radicals?
For starters, and regardless of which Democrat eventually emerges with the party’s nomination, it just might say those who endured the crowds, the lines, and the Tim Robbins cameo appearance aren’t as dangerous as they’re often made out to be.
Rather, they just might be kind of normal.
Of course, none of this is to say that what transpired Monday night at the Tacoma Dome will provide a turning point or rewrite the narrative.
For anyone interested, there was plenty of fodder to tell the same tired story.
Seattle City Council member Kshama Sawant was one of the first speakers to take the stage. By the time you read this, detractors will likely be splicing her talk of a socialist revolt into effective attack ads.
Meanwhile, some of the loudest jeers of the night were reserved for the Democratic establishment, which seems nearly certain to stoke well-worn party anxieties.
All of this happened, and there’s reason it gives people pause.
For the most part, however, Sanders’ Tacoma appearance wasn’t about the politicians on stage or their place in the progressive hierarchy.
As the candidate would likely admit, it wasn’t even really about Sanders himself.
Instead, it was about the diverse throng of people in the audience, and the reasons that compelled thousands of them to come to town.
Amber Esslinger made the drive from Bothell with her two kids, Zach and Lexi.
A registered nurse, Esslinger, 34, described health care as her “passion.” Along with education, she listed it as her top concern.
Politically, Esslinger described herself as “pretty far left,” though, like many, she acknowledged she’s “not sure where the middle is.”
“For me, it’s that his ideals have never changed,” Esslinger said of her support for Sanders. “He’s always been on the positive side of history.”
Like Esslinger, Apodaca said it was important to bring his kids to the event. His son Kye is 11, and his daughter Lilliana is 9.
Before embarking on their walk to the T-Dome, they piled out of the car and posed for pictures with handmade signs.
“We see a future through Bernie’s eye,” one of the signs read.
“A president we can look up to,” implored the other.
Apodaca said he’d been a Sanders supporter since 2016, and with mixed feelings, copped to being one of the Sanders faithful that rightfully give the Democratic party the most heartburn.
Last time around, Apodaca couldn’t bring himself to vote for Hillary Clinton.
The nomination process felt rigged, he said, and it left him bitter.
This time?
Sanders is still his candidate, make no mistake, but Apodaca has seen enough.
He’ll be voting for whoever gets the Democratic nomination, he said.
“We just can’t have four more years of this nonsense,” Apodaca said. “I never expected to see something like that.”
The revolution came to Tacoma Monday night.
And you know what?
Despite what you’re likely to hear, it looked and sounded downright reasonable.
This story was originally published February 18, 2020 at 10:08 AM.
