Analysis | Bernie Sanders warms his hands and our hearts, donates to charity
A viral photo of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in his recycled mittens took social media by a storm, as meme creators superimposed the image in different fictional and real locations. Photo illustration by SAM ANDRUS, Photo Editor
Disposable mask comfortably wedged between his mouth and the rims of his spectacles, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders stole a glance at the ongoing Jan. 20 presidential inauguration in between bursts of condensation that filled his lenses with each impending breath. He sat cross-legged with his arms snugly drawn inward, careful as not to let his body heat escape, lest he be overtaken by the bitter frost of the new year.
The casualness of Sanders’ aura in both dress and downright presence stood as a stark contrast to the designer-curated outfits boasted by President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and First Lady Jill Biden. Even so, Sanders’ modest black dress pants, oversized gray coat and hand-woven mittens ended up being the highlight ensemble of the event after a photo of the 2016 and 2020 presidential candidate sitting alone in the bleachers began circulating social media.
“There was something interesting in that (Sanders) was isolated and kind of on his own (in the image),” said Ian Gurvitz, a lecturer at Chapman’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts who taught “Politics in TV Comedy” over interterm. “It felt to me that there was a component of him blessing the inauguration, yet there was an odd-man-out feeling to it.”
The image was quickly repurposed into various memes that took off on media platforms such as TikTok and Twitter, essentially superimposing Sanders into different locations. Capitalizing on the moment, Sanders’ campaign officials produced and released merchandise featuring the viral image of Sanders. All products sold out within an hour, and the campaign continued to rein in $1.8 million in proceeds within a five-day period, of which Sanders affirms 100% will be benefiting Meals on Wheels Vermont.
“He or his staff or whoever came up with this idea climbed on top of the moment and had fun with it,” Gurvitz said. “He can laugh at himself, but he actually turned it into a force for good, which was very Bernie-like to me.”
Others took to the media to share a similar sentiment, expressing that Sanders’ chunky, earth-toned mittens and sensible Walmart-chic apparel was yet another reflection of the senator’s genuine advocacy for both the working class and environmentalist ideals.
“Bernie rolling up solo in his ONLY coat with a manila envelope under his arm and fair trade mittens all the way on is BIG GRASSROOTS ENERGY,” tweeted Winnie Wong, former senior adviser to Sanders during his 2020 campaign and co-founder of People for Bernie. “This man, a real one, clearly did not come for the pomp and circumstance.”
Sanders’ mittens arguably stirred up more internet traction than Sanders himself, which he received from Jen Ellis, a second grade teacher based in Essex Junction, Vermont, whose notability is characterized by her enthusiasm for sewing, environmentalism and love for Sanders.
According to an interview with The Washington Post, Ellis sent the mittens to Sanders by mail over two years ago, not anticipating they would make an appearance on national television not once but twice, with Sanders first sporting them at the end of his campaign trail in 2019.
Ellis began making the mittens as a sustainable side business by utilizing recycled wool sweaters and plastic. After Sanders’ look went viral, she reported to The Washington Post an inundation of customers reaching out, and has since partnered with Vermont Teddy Bear Company to help create an entire line of the mittens. A portion of the profits will be donated to Make-A-Wish Vermont.
“The fact that this meme took off and (Sanders) had fun with it, laughed about it and then found a way to raise money for charity — it all goes back to who this guy is,” Gurvitz said.