I’m once again asking you to consider the viral picture that features Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).
Weigh the consequences of an image that shows a politician who isn’t informing anyone about politics. While attending the inauguration of the 46th U.S. President Joe Biden on Jan. 20, Sanders sat cross-armed and cross-legged, bundled warmly in his practical Burton jacket and charming knitted gloves. His picture stole the headlines that day. As someone who has begun to rely on warm sweatshirts and fuzzy slippers these past few months, I tip my hat to his modest fashion statement. As the image became widely circulated on social media, it turned into a pop culture phenomenon. But the extent to which this meme has grown is troubling. Sanders is grossing more media coverage and popularity as the subject of a photoshopped image than as a serious political figurehead.
Sanders deserved this magnitude of attention when he campaigned for raises in minimum wage and fought for a universal health care system — not just when he’s “relatable.” The viral meme skewed his reputation as a leader. Sanders’ relatability stems from his grass-roots foundation, not from the media’s exacerbated portrayal of his Burton jacket. His casual ski jacket and knitted mittens solidify that he isn’t here to impress the masses with wealth. Yet the $34.5 million dollars his campaign raised in the fourth quarter of 2019 say more about his dissent from the corporate establishment.
Relatable is fine. It may even be beneficial. However, describing a politician as “relatable,” “quirky” and “funny” quickly turns into a one-sided story. No matter how charming Sanders is, unidimensional points of view exclude important details. Sanders certainly has familiar attributes, but he also has unique values and policies. Voters are attracted to candidates who will win in a national election and, in this case, being known as “the candidate from the memes” may be debilitating. Yet behind that magnified characteristic is a person with a substantial campaign and authentic values worth learning about and voting for.
Since the 1970s, Sanders has been in the public eye as an activist and politician. He ran in both the 2016 and 2020 presidential primary elections. Despite his popularity among the Democratic electorate in early surveys, he failed twice to secure the Democratic nomination. Perhaps it is because he is anti-establishment, or maybe it’s because no one is listening. His ideas have structure and support but that isn’t dispersed in the media — what is popularized is a photograph of him sitting in a plastic chair. As a result, he is portrayed as a meme. What a quick and degenerative transition from humanitarian activist to America’s comedic relief.
While the images of Sanders featured in “Bernie” de Milo, “Bird Box,” or in the album cover for “Meet the Beatles” made me laugh, it also caused me to wonder: why is this humble senator adored as a viral sensation, but not as a presidential candidate?
Sanders fought for civil and LGBTQ+ rights before it was mainstream. He built his political policy around principles of inclusion, diversity and equality. While this may sound like airy promises made by nearly every politician, Sanders has devised substantive plans that support his pledge to the American people. A few of his primary ideas are concerned with expanding COVID-19 relief, converting to 100% renewable energy which would create approximately 20 million jobs, expanding health care coverage to every American and making this country a safe place for every race, for every person.
The transformation of political leaders into pop culture is misleading. It hides a lifetime of activism behind a single photograph. It pollutes the media and misinforms the public. We should be asking ourselves why our beloved politician hasn’t been elected. In a world of Twitter threads and cell phones, media spreads fast. Unfortunately, resources to stay informed do not. U.S. citizens have easy access to the Bernie meme but do they know what he stands for. Before using Outsnapped’s “Sit with Sanders” generator, learn more about Sanders as a politician and an activist. Learn and engage in our nation’s future as passionately as you create and photoshop 79-year-old Bernie Sanders into Weezer.
