Don't forget all the support Bernie has given to the US war machine. He pretends he's antiwar because he voted against the invasion of Iraq once and then subsequently voted to fund that invasion for the next ten years. He's also funnelled money into his state to build up the weapons manufacturing industry there.

He does not deserve the benefit of the doubt at this point as he has clearly voted to support US imperialism his entire career. The man makes some good critiques publicly, but they are empty of any meaningful actions or directly opposed by his actions.

Bernie is not a principled leftist and hasn't been since at least the 90s. There is a good reason Parenti cut ties with him.