Bernie Sanders & Cornel West: The radical alliance that could change everything

[Fearless]

Senator Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign is already enjoying success that few could have predicted. Bernie is a big deal. Well, OK, if you’re a white progressive he’s a big deal. Otherwise, you may have no idea who he is, according to reporting this morning in the New York Times. The Times‘ Patrick Healy and Jonathan Martin write that “black voters have shown little interest in [Sanders]” and that “[e]ven his own campaign advisers acknowledge that Mr. Sanders is virtually unknown to many African-Americans, an enormously important Democratic constituency.”

But as his presidential campaign gains altitude and attention, Sanders may be on the way to securing the most difficult black progressive endorsement there is: the blessing of Professor Cornel West, one of America’s leading public intellectuals. Celebrity is rare in American academe, but the eccentric West (along with MIT’s Noam Chomsky) is something of a superstar scholar. He’s our Slavoj Žižek, but with far better hair and a sense of fashion.

Speaking with Grit TV’s Laura Flanders in early June, the black academic icon was asked by the host if he will be supporting the increasingly popular candidate for president.

“I love brother Bernie,” West replied. “He tells the truth about Wall Street. He really does.”

http://www.salon.com/2015/06/24/bernie_sanders_cornel_west_the_radical_alliance_that_could_change_everything/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

-----------------------------

Interesting.

[grasswire]

1. as I noted in another similar thread....

.....Cornell West is speaking to 6,000 Unitarians here in Portland later in the week at their General Assembly. The speech is expected to be a barn burner. I have asked a family member who will be there to tip me off if there's any mention of Bernie.

A West endorsement of Bernie would be a total game changer.

[LordGlenconner]

4. In what way?

[JI7]

5. how will a west endorsement of Sanders be a game changer ?

[napi21]

14. at the very least, his endorsement will insure lots of black voters will know who Bernie is!

That' a very important step in getting exposure for Bernie. I would think, if some start paying a little attention to what Bernie says, he will gain a lot in popularity.

[bravenak]

37. Many black voters do not like Cornell West.

The ones who vote pay attention to his nastiness. Linking up with him would be a bad idea.

[MADem]

64. I was gonna say "most!" You hit the nail on the head.

I don't know what has happened to him down the years, but he's been really, really nasty for the past decade, at least. He's alienating. He's not the guy to rally the population, not by a long shot!

[bravenak]

67. Exactly. He is off putting and offensive these days.

When he speaks, I cringe, waiting for him to say something despicable.

[sheshe2]

118. It is why In stopped listening to NPR

Cringe worthy.



Hi bravenak

[bravenak]

126. I don't listen either...

Hey!!

[7962]

66. Thats good to know. He's an asshole. His recent insult of the Pres is ridiculous.

Seems like he gets his clues on how to stay in the spotlight from Rush Limbaugh. Just say something stupid every now and then to keep your name in the news.

[bravenak]

69. He know that if he says the most negative things while dropping n bombs, he'll get the attention he

craves to fed his ego.

[TheNutcracker]

81. So who sent Cornell to disrupt tne Sanders campaign?

These dirty tricks are old!

[uponit7771]

111. +1

[tymorial]

35. It isn't

Cornel West has said some inflammatory things in the past about Jews and the president. I do not believe the man to be an anti-Semite but the label follows him. Conservatives will use it to hammer Sanders left and right. Whether or not I like Cornel West and what he has to say, many voters will not investigate on their own. They will absorb the hearsay. Some Jewish voters will believe West to be anti-Semitic because they have heard it before. It is far far too soon to say if a Cornel West endorsement is a positive or a negative. To say it is a game changer is histrionic.

[Exilednight]

48. Are you suggesting that Democratic Jews will call Bernie a self hating Jew for seeking and getting

A West endorsement.

[AgingAmerican]

56. Did Bernie seek his endorsement?

If so, this is the first I've heard of it

[pnwmom]

8. Yeah, it would be a game changer. It would blow the Sanders campaign to bits. He just said

that Obama was the first "niggerized black President." Sanders would be crazy to associate himself with that.

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/06/cornel-west-obama-first-niggerized-black

[Number23]

15. Ummmm... that's putting it EXTREMELY kindly

I refuse to believe that Sanders or his team would do this. West would not broaden Sanders' appeal in the LEAST because the same folks that like West (white liberals) are already on team Sanders.

And on to the fact that Cornell has blowtorched every single, solitary connection he has ever had with the black community and.... good God. I refuse to believe that Sanders would do this and I ESPECIALLY refuse to believe that anyone with any brain would think this would be a good thing for his minority outreach.

[bravenak]

38. +1

[JustAnotherGen]

47. This times 10000

[lovemydog]

75. +1

I'm having trouble believing the author of the article wrote that seriously. Or that it escaped the editors at Salon. I'm still thinking it must be satire.

[Number23]

91. And I really should have qualified my comment by saying CERTAIN white liberals love Corny

because alot of the smarter, more savvier ones have no use for him either.

[lovemydog]

93. LOL, thanks.

I like his work before President Obama was elected. He hasn't written anything of significance since. For me he started to jump the shark when he appeared in the Matrix movies.

[Quayblue]

101. it has to be

I've been giving West the side eye since 1997.

[lovemydog]

103. ikr

[Quayblue]

110. perfect

Lol!!!!

[hopemountain]

92. cornell west would be sander's "noam chomsky"

Last edited Mon Jul 6, 2015, 12:57 AM - Edit history (2)

in the msm. msm will have a heyday with this association… uh, seems it is already in the works. i cannot remember exactly which show i was watching but bernie was asked diretly about cornell west and he indicated they have known one another for some time. but, that was it.

there are many other credible and respected representatives in the african american and other "minority" communities and worker forces. it behooves the sanders campaign taking the time to directly ask the communities. in addition, they can also consider reps in communities for different regions since the issues in each are varied.

[Number23]

100. The Sanders campaign has been dogged with allegations that he is out of touch on race issues

He aligns with Cornell West and he will prove beyond ALL SHADOW OF DOUBT that everything that everyone has been saying is true. It's really that simple.

And as you said, there are a million other more reputable people that he can align with. This would be such a stupid move for him.

[uponit7771]

112. +1

[sheshe2]

119. Yes, he is out of touch with your issues...

So where the hell did this come from?

Yes I linked to a thread, yet do you think there is some truth in this? Will Bernie do this? Some supporters I linked to think it is a fabulous idea.

Holy Shit!

[Cha]

127. I ESPECIALLY refuse to believe that anyone with any brain would think this would be a good thing for

his minority outreach."

You'd think.

[Andy823]

18. Makes one wonder

Why would anyone who "wants" Bernie to win, want him to get messed up with West?

[LordGlenconner]

27. People who don't have any feel for politics?

Like the first response in this thread that said an alliance with West would be a "game changer" for Sanders.

It's pitiful and endearing at the same time.

[PeaceNikki]

54. This ^

[Cha]

130. People who are so out of touch with the Black Community that they don't know what a

death knell this would be for Bernie.. even if Cornell has all the right credentials of hatin' on President Obama?

“Calling Obama a ‘global George Zimmerman’?No. No.”: Michael Eric Dyson sounds off on Cornel West, Obama & his critics

The Georgetown University scholar and author reflects on his very public break with his mentor turned tormentor

http://www.salon.com/2015/04/22/calling_obama_a_global_george_zimmerman_no_no_michael_eric_dyson_sounds_off_on_cornel_west_obama_his_critics/

[FSogol]

19. Exactly. n/t

[Cha]

125. Yeah go for it, Bernie.. let's see if you're as hateful as Dr West.

[Cha]

133. "Cornel West: Obama Is First 'Niggerized' Black President" yeah, that cornel would be a game changer

alright.. in the most palinesque way imaginable.

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/06/cornel-west-obama-first-niggerized-black

“Calling Obama a ‘global George Zimmerman’?No. No.”: Michael Eric Dyson sounds off on Cornel West, Obama & his critics

The Georgetown University scholar and author reflects on his very public break with his mentor turned tormentor

http://www.salon.com/2015/04/22/calling_obama_a_global_george_zimmerman_no_no_michael_eric_dyson_sounds_off_on_cornel_west_obama_his_critics/

Let's hope Bernie is more in touch with the Black Community than hooking up with ol nasty mouth.

[Volaris]

87. Indeed.

If part of Bernies invest in America instead of wall st agenda were to include kicking NASA an extra couple billion dollars a year, we could probably add Dr. Tyson to that list as well.


=)

[frazzled]

2. I don't know

Cornell West was actively vocal in opposing Obama and said a lot of nasty things about him (e.g., I heard him say on the radio that "he's not really a 'brother'), before, during, and after the election. My guess is the black community may not automatically fall into line because Dr. West endorses. Or at least it might be a tougher sell than one might think.

[Fearless]

3. He was right in seeing Obama as establishment however. A center-right DLC Democrat.

Only now are many coming to see that.

[Le Taz Hot]

7. And he was right!

He was absolutely dead on right!

[pnwmom]

16. You think the black community will follow a person who called Obama a "niggerized black"?

[Le Taz Hot]

24. First off, the "black community" doesn't think with one mind.

I recently heard Obama called something by an African-American in a group of African-Americans who agreed with him. I can't use the term on DU but think terminology along the lines of something Malcom X would (and did) use.

Cornel West can use whatever terminology he wants to use. As a Caucasian, I don't think I'm in a position to tell a/an African-American(s) what is or is not an acceptable term as used by an African-American.

[pnwmom]

28. West has a tiny number of supporters compared to Obama, black or white.

His nastiness has been noted. Sanders would be well advised to stay clear.

[Le Taz Hot]

30. I'll give your counsel

the consideration it deserves.

[pnwmom]

55. Good luck finding any black DUers who would be more likely to support Sanders

because of an alliance with West.

[1StrongBlackMan]

104. Amazing self identified Black folks say West ain't all that ...

and white folks say, "says who?"

[TM99]

41. Not all blacks and bi-racials

think Obama is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Dr. Cornell West is very respected in my circle of friends. An endorsement of Sanders would be a big coup!

[1StrongBlackMan]

105. True. There are some Blacks and bi-racials that just loved bush and romney and cruz. n/t

[TM99]

109. So those don't like Obama's neo-liberal politics

are just right wingers, eh?

Yeah, right.

[1StrongBlackMan]

135. Well some are; but, no ...

my point was/is ... the Black electorate is not monothelic, though it does trend in empirically discernible patterns.

[pnwmom]

6. Cornel West is a nasty, narcissistic blow-hard. If he allies with Sanders, that's the kiss of death.

[kwassa]

11. West has lost credibility with black voters

With his attacks on Obama.

[pnwmom]

13. Yup. Calling him a "niggerized black" was the last straw. n/t

[LordGlenconner]

22. And do you know how it started?

Because the venerable Dr. West wasn't pleased with his inauguration seats and felt disrespected.

At least that's what Michael Eric Dyson says but he's just a Wall Street loving, Oligarch admiring third wayer.

[pnwmom]

26. Yes -- I'd forgotten that, but I remember that story now. That's the beginning of my realizing

that West's wounded narcissism was the root of his problem.

He not only couldn't ever aspire to Obama's level of accomplishment, he couldn't even get a good seat in the bleachers.

[7962]

74. You gotta be shitting me. nt

[lovemydog]

116. This is one of the best magazine articles of this year.

An article by Michael Eric Dyson, who was a protege and close friend of West for many years. It's a long read but worth reading in its entirety. That incident is mentioned in detail. I think you or anyone reading this will really enjoy it. It's pretty mind-blowing.

http://www.newrepublic.com/article/121550/cornel-wests-rise-fall-our-most-exciting-black-scholar-ghost

[LordGlenconner]

155. I read it back in April

And yes, it was an awesome read.

[freshwest]

117. How very... Newt Gingrich of him. Remember the Clinton - Gingrich Air Force One kerfluffle?

And didn't Cornel get in hot water selling a junk financial product?

Willing to be corrected on either...

[sheshe2]

33. It did it for me and I am white. nt

[Exilednight]

50. Obama has lost credibility with AA voters.

West is just voicing the frustration that many in the AA community feel, but lacks West's microphone.

[bravenak]

52. Who told you this? That he has lost credibility with black voters?

If there are sides to choose, black people choose Obama. Period. We may be frustrated, but he is the least racist president to ever hold the office. We are much more comfortable with Obama than he is given credit for. The only black person I know who cannot stand Obama and does not trust him is my landlord who is mad that Obama 'freed the gays'. Whatever that means.

[m-lekktor]

72. anybody who claims to speak for a whole community of voters one way or the other

is generally full of shit, IMO. I am gay and would never claim to speak for "all gays".

anecdotally I can mention the AA's I know who don't like Obama because he caters to the corporations and is a warmonger and proclaim that means something as well even though it doesn't.

[kwassa]

77. so, you don't have any data either? Obama's approval was at 91% with black voters in March.

Seems like a trend around here.

The Gallup poll I just referenced shows Obama's current approval with liberal Democrats at 86%.

I think that is pretty good.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/121199/Obama-Weekly-Job-Approval-Demographic-Groups.aspx

[sheshe2]

157. lol

The only black person I know who cannot stand Obama and does not trust him is my landlord who is mad that Obama 'freed the gays'. Whatever that means.

'freed the gays'.

Homophobe much?

[bravenak]

158. Girl, I hate him.

For a couple of months, whenever I saw my landlord, I was yelling HOMOPHOBE!!!!! The man is evil, I swear. Evil.

[sheshe2]

159. Sounds like an asshole.

And a Homophobe.

Lol, good for you for yelling at him.

[bravenak]

160. I stopped because he seems turned on by it. Fuck that!! :)

[kwassa]

60. Bullshit. Find an ounce of proof of this thesis.

Obama’s performance continues to sharply divide Americans across racial, class, and generational lines. While 66 percent of minorities gave him positive marks, only 37 percent of whites concurred. That showing among whites was unchanged since February; Obama’s approval among whites has not surpassed 37 percent in any Heartland Poll during his second term except June 2013.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/06/obamas-slow-recovery/396161/

[stevenleser]

68. They don't have any. A massive amount of their pro-Bernie arguments are simply wishful thinking

i.e., they want to believe it so it must be so.

[kwassa]

71. This thesis is particularly outrageous.

PRINCETON, N.J. -- President Barack Obama's job approval rating among U.S. blacks has stayed consistently about 40 percentage points higher than his approval among all Americans since 2010. So far in 2014, blacks' approval of Obama has averaged 84%, which is down from previous years but in line with the drop among the overall American population.

this was Gallup from the end of last year. I have heard of no nose-dive in approval anywhere.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/180176/blacks-approval-president-obama-remains-high.aspx

[stevenleser]

73. Agreed. It is one of the worst. Right up there with how Bernie would do great in the South in a G.E.

[1StrongBlackMan]

106. But we just love it when white folks tell us what we think. n/t

[Cha]

123. Yeah, like making some stupid statement that Obama has lost credibility with Black Voters..

Oh really.

[kwassa]

79. Obama's approval rating as of last week with black voters was 87%.

You have to download the spreadsheet from Gallup to see the weekly numbers.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/121199/Obama-Weekly-Job-Approval-Demographic-Groups.aspx

[pnwmom]

98. Do you have any credible source for that? Have you seen a scientific poll on this

or is this based on a survey of your friends?

[Exilednight]

136. As you asked.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/12/08/african-americans-still-love-president-obama-but-that-love-is-being-tested/

[Spazito]

149. Bwaaaa Haaaaa

I guess you just read the headline right?

Details are good:

"As we noted in last week's poll, this is a small sub-sample (about 110 people) in a much-larger poll, meaning there is a high margin of error. In addition, this question directly referenced the grand jury decisions (the WaPo-ABC poll did not) rather than the broader issues at hand, and that likely depressed support for Obama, given how unpopular the lack of indictments have been among blacks.

Obama's approval among blacks in the latest Gallup tracking poll last week, for example, remained a buoyant 82 percent. So it's not like African Americans are suddenly turning on Obama en masse — or really anything close to it."

To repeat, just to make sure you read this part:

Obama's approval among blacks in the latest Gallup tracking poll last week, for example, remained a buoyant 82 percent. So it's not like African Americans are suddenly turning on Obama en masse — or really anything close to it."

[pnwmom]

154. Right, you don't have anything

except the results of a 110 person subset of a larger poll, with a huge margin or error, that says black people are unhappy with Obama's response to a particular issue.

Not surprising and not indicative of anything else -- except black people ARE able to think for themselves and distinguish cases where they don't support Obama 100% on anything he ever does.

[uponit7771]

113. nnnnnnnnnnnooo

[Cha]

124. That's a lot of ignorant wishful thinking on your part.

[Exilednight]

137. See post 136

[Spazito]

153. Yep, be sure to check out the link provided for you, it is delicious...

It completely refutes the very point the poster was making, it's hilarious. It confirms President Obama's support from the black community remains "a buoyant 82%". Here's the quote:

Obama's approval among blacks in the latest Gallup tracking poll last week, for example, remained a buoyant 82 percent. So it's not like African Americans are suddenly turning on Obama en masse — or really anything close to it.

[Cha]

161. And, why not Spazito..he's loveable! President Barack Obama's message to the GOP on #ObamaCare's 6-3

WIN!



LOLGOP ?@LOLGOP
So heartwarming to see Republicans consoling themselves over the bad news that thousands of people won't go bankrupt if they get sick.
5:09 AM - 25 Jun 2015
258 258 Retweets 259 259 favorites

http://theobamadiary.com/2015/06/25/yes-3/

mahalo Spazito!

[Spazito]

162. Today was a great day, two big decisions, two big wins for the public...

the ACA decision and the Fair Housing decision. To make the day perfect I took my youngest grandson to Subway, his choice, to celebrate his graduating from elementary school into junior high! An all around awesome day!

[Cha]

163. Awwww! Sweet for your grandson, too.. congratulations to him on graduating!

[Spazito]

164. Mahalo, Cha!

[99th_Monkey]

78. Your choice of words here is most unfortunate & unseemly

Welcome to my very short ignore list.

[Starry Messenger]

9. "He’s our Slavoj Žižek"

Oh boy, I'm sure that's a name to conjure with on Main Street. (Yes, I know who he is)

[tishaLA]

25. If only he were Zizek! The idea actually makes me laugh

But Zizek is both brilliant and hilarious. West is....


Hmmmm.

[Starry Messenger]

34. Yes...Hmmmm, indeed!

[still_one]

10. Cornell West will not help Bernie Sanders if he wins the nomination. West is a Markist without

Being an atheist, and that will not fly with independents. It will be similar to Reverend Wright statements that caused Obama to distance himself from Wright after the sermons and comments Reverend Wright made.

Bernie stands a real chance to be a contender, but if he embraces West and Chomsky, he won't stand a chance

There are plenty of African Americans who could support Bernies campaign which would add credibility for him in the African American community. Jessie Jackson is one of many who could help him, but not Cornell West

[Fearless]

12. Noam Chomsky is a bad guy now? Wow.

Good luck with that.

[still_one]

31. wow, where did I say he was a bad guy? I said he would not help Bernie's campaign. Also, I never

said West or Reverend Wright were "bad guys" either.

I also believe that Bernie can articulate quite well for himself

[cheapdate]

80. I agree with you completely.

Chomsky and West are unforgiving critics and bless them for that. But you don't rally masses of voters by being a constant critic, as Richard Rorty explains:

"National pride is to countries what self-respect is to individuals: a necessary condition for self-improvement. Too much national pride can produce bellicosity and imperialism, just as excessive self-respect can produce arrogance. But just as too little self-respect makes it difficult for a person to display moral courage, so insufficient national pride makes energetic and effective debate about national policy unlikely.

(...)

"Those who hope to persuade a nation to exert itself need to remind their country of what it can take pride in as well as what it should be ashamed of. They must tell inspiring stories about episodes and figures in the nation's past -- episodes and figures to which the country should remain true. Nations rely on artists and intellectuals to create images of, and to tell stories about, the national past. Competition for political leadership is in part a competition between differing stories about a nation's self-identity, and between differing symbols of it's greatness." - Richard Rorty. Achieving Our Country. 1997

[still_one]

96. You articulated the point I was trying to make far better than I did

[arcane1]

53. Sanders isn't "embracing" anyone. Other people are embracing HIM.

I don't think anyone wants to start playing the game where the candidates are expected to agree with and answer for people who support them. It won't be pretty.

[still_one]

57. I agree, I just don't agree with the speculation of the OP that West would help Sanders garner the

African American vote.

In the very mildest terms, I don't perceive Cornell West as that influential. Controversial with some, but I question how much influence he actually holds

[arcane1]

58. Agreed. n/t

[still_one]

62. and as you said, Sanders does not need to embrace anyone. He is his own person, and quite

articulate

[arcane1]

65. And I suspect he's going to attract a lot of people who otherwise disagree w/each other.

A lot of people out there are more liberal than they think they are, and just need to hear some words instead of slogans.

It's going to be quite a scene

[ucrdem]

17. Frankly I've been wondering when this was going to happen.

Bernie and Cornie are cut from the same cloth.

[JI7]

23. i disagree. Sanders is far better. most of the criticism

Of Sanders is his campaign reach out. But not a problem with sanders himself and where he stands.

[ucrdem]

29. Well I disagree. For all the talk of Bernie's piety I've yet to see it in 23 years. nt

[Bluenorthwest]

40. Piety? That's the quality of being religious or reverent, which in politics is usually expressed as

bigotry and smarm, see Huckabee, Rick Warren and Obama's first primary run. Smarmy prejudice as a pandering lexicon. Piety.
I can't believe people openly say they want to see more religion from Democratic candidates. Just ludicrous.

[ucrdem]

45. LOL, that isn't what I meant. nt

[muriel_volestrangler]

140. So what did you mean instead of 'piety'?

[ucrdem]

141. Pious professions of innocence. nt

[muriel_volestrangler]

146. Innocence about what?

Can you give an example of others talking about Sanders' "pious professions of innocence"?

Are you saying you disagree with others calling Sanders 'pious' because you think being seen as 'pious' about something would be good, or bad?

[ucrdem]

147. You missed the irony. nt

[muriel_volestrangler]

148. You are saying your posts are meaningless

If you don't want to communicate with your posts, then don't bother making them.

I have no idea at all what this 'innocence' is about. Apart from that it's not religion.

[BeyondGeography]

42. Bernie is a political pro and West puts him on the road to Kookyville

Cornel would like to use Bernie's platform to stick it to Hillary and Obama. He's operating on a small-minded, score settling personal level while Bernie is keeping it issues-based. He should keep Cornel as far away as possible.

[ucrdem]

49. Okay. But realistically, consider what Sanders' platform IS, per his own admission:

1) against the TPP, a rather flimsy cover for ODS, and 2) against "money in politics," an even flimsier cover for Clinton fatigue. So the dog whistles. Maybe I'm part canine but I've been hearing it loudly and clearly since January.

[Comrade Grumpy]

86. You insult a lot of Democratic constituencies.

"TPP, a rather flimsy cover for ODS"--large parts of the Democratic Party opposed this, and trying to cast their opposition as nothing more than Obama Derangement Syndrome is insulting.

"Against 'money in politics,' an even flimsier cover for Clinton fatigue"--Really? Do you support Citizens United? A whole lot of Democrats, and Americans in general, think our system is corrupted by cash. And you want to minimize this serious problem for the sake of supporting a candidate. By denigrating anyone who is concerned about this.

You stink up this board.

[ucrdem]

94. A lot of constituencies have parted company with their senses. Here's a good example:

No, I'm not suggesting any of this makes sense, or that Mr Jones is by any stretch a Democrat, but he's basically peddling a high-octane version of same wikileaks marsh gas as all the rest, Dems, Repukes, and Independents alike. By my lights it's disinfo and easily recognizable as such.

[dreamnightwind]

143. Bernie has been very consistent in his positions

It's absurd to say his stance on those issues has anything to do with "ODS" or whatever you called the Hillary equivalent. What a dumb post. Those issues you mock are extremely important, much bigger thanthe personalities you obsess over.

[Starry Messenger]

51. This.

Bernie is more like a Debs. People liked Debs. They won't like the ultra-sectarian side of left-wing politics.

[pnwmom]

63. Yes. Bernie knows what he's doing. Allying himself with West is not to his advantage. n/t

[tishaLA]

20. As I posted in another thread....

there may be a misreading of the sentiment of many, many black folks here with this West-Sanders thing. West's (and Tavis Smiley's) vitriolic, excessively personal comments about the President have rubbed many people the wrong way.

[Spazito]

44. Yes, I believe there is a misreading of the sentiment...

and this is not the first indicator of that, it is surely one more, though, and a big one, imo.

[MisterP]

99. maye the President deliberately incinerating the party's good name in order to get the GOP to pass

a bill to cripple the middle, working, and even lower upper classes rubs people the wrong way

[tishaLA]

107. I don't deny that's a fair criticism, but West is a very poor messenger

if his goal is to reach out to the broad swath of African American voters.

[wyldwolf]

21. And this is a good thing how?

[still_one]

32. how about causing more polarization, especially with Cornell West

[Zorra]

36. White Third Way conservatives don't like Professor West. This will surely cost Bernie

the white Third Way conservative vote! It will cost Bernie the white conservative republican vote as well!

Oh, nooooo!

[pnwmom]

59. An alliance would cost Bernie the votes of anyone who doesn't like Obama

being called a "niggerized black" person.

[stevenleser]

70. Most Harlem residents are pretty pissed off at West after his tantrums

against Obama because of inauguration seats that he didn't get.

They haven't forgotten that this is what it is has always been about.

[raindaddy]

84. Bernie would have to get the endorsement of Rahm Emanuel....

to bring in Third Way moderates....

[Drunken Irishman]

108. Blacks don't much like West, either.

Good luck winning without their support.

[Zorra]

114. Got proof that any substantial number of African Americans don't like him?

I think maybe it's just that a whole lot of conservative white folks think he's maybe a bit too "uppity".

100 Years of the NAACP

The NAACP has gathered in New York for a six-day convention celebrating its 100-year anniversary. It’s an enormous affair with giants such as Cornel West, Reverend Jesse Jackson, and President Obama paying tribute to the accomplishments of the civil rights organization. The civil rights group was formed by a multi-racial coalition in 1909, sparked in 1908 by a deadly race riot in Springfield Illinois. Nearly a century later, Barack Obama launched his presidential campaign not far from where the riot took place. Looking at the challenges ahead and its past accomplishments we are joined by Melissa Harris-Lacewell. She is an Associate Professor of Politics and African American Studies at Princeton University.

http://www.thetakeaway.org/story/7879-marking-naacps-centennial-convention/

http://columbiaspectator.com/2013/02/21/cornel-west-critiques-obama-talks-mlk-naacp-speech

[Drunken Irishman]

115. Yes.

It's pretty clear a great deal don't like his vile and racist attacks on Pres. Obama.

[Cha]

122. Yes, here's one DUer's comment who actually supports Bernie. I've read lots of other posts online

from African Americans who think he's pathetic..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=6899179

Hope you don't mind me referring to your quote, bravenak.

[bravenak]

129. No problem.

[Cha]

131. Great! 'Cause you say it all. End of story.

[Historic NY]

39. That ought to work....

not

[JTFrog]

43. I certainly hope not.

West is a disgusting individual.

[mythology]

46. Cornel West is not one of America's leading public intellectuals

He's an obnoxious loud mouth who mistakes stridency with purpose and reason. Name calling doesn't actually equate to intellectual.

That said, Sanders isn't going to seek out this endorsement or bring West into the campaign. It would be politically stupid in that if he wants to attract the kind of support in the African American community that Obama does, you don't go to the guy who refers to the first African American president as the 1st niggardized president. Sanders so far has had trouble attracting African American support, but he clearly has a history of being active on civil rights both historically and currently. He may yet find a way to get that message across to African American voters. Cornel West isn't going to do that.

[pnwmom]

61. Right. Sanders wants and needs Obama voters. The last thing he'd want to do is ally himself

with a man who goes out of his way to alienate Obama with name calling.

Sanders is NOT crazy, though I'm beginning to wonder about some of his supporters.

[raindaddy]

89. After aligning himself with the Republicans to fast track his signature

"trade bill" I really don't think what's left of Obama's supporters are going to care a whole lot if Bernie gets an endorsement from Cornell West...

[NanceGreggs]

128. Have a link ...

... showing Obama's numbers in free-fall?

"What's left of Obama's supporters" is a rather substantial number.

Bernie can't win without AA voters - and they, for the most part, are still staunch Obama supporters and they revile West.

Can you do the math there? G'head, I just bet you can, if you try.

[raindaddy]

138. A link? You're joking right?

They just passed fast track..Most Americans still have no idea whats in the bill or how it will affect their lives. Once people begin to understand they've yet again been thrown under the bus the last thing on their minds is going to be who Dr. West supports for President.

You have a rather dismal view of Obama's supporters if you think they would be so petty as to not support Bernie because he might be endorsed by someone who voiced criticism of Obama.. I'm wondering who all of these petty voters are going to support considering the nasty ass campaign Hillary ran against Obama..

[NanceGreggs]

156. I'm going to go ahead and assume ...

... that you are very, very, very new to politics.

[leftofcool]

76. Are they an item now?

[lovemydog]

82. Someone should give West the line POSUCS.

That would really help expand Sanders' base.

[raindaddy]

83. Good for Cornell West...

He was willing to call Obama out on the mass prosecution of whistle blowers and increasing Bush's surveillance of Americans. He also understood the President was in the pocket of Wall Street and the global corporations and expressed the disappointment many of us feel.

You can always count on Dr. West to tell truth to power!

[840high]

97. ...^ that

[geek tragedy]

85. Cornel West is the socialist Donald Trump.

[SidDithers]

88. Ahahahaha...

Bernie would do well to stay miles and miles away from Cornel West.

Sid

[leftofcool]

95. But, I bet he doesn't.

[Cha]

121. I say "go for it, Bernie".. so many of your supporters on DU think he's great or so I've read.

We'll see how far Dr West's hatin' on the President gets ya with the Obama Coalition.

"Obama's approval rating among liberal democrats rises to 86%"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=6888903

[SmittynMo]

90. This guy is serious

When Bernie said he was in it to win, I totally believed it. Then, and now. Get ready for a political revolution.

[Drunken Irishman]

102. Cornel West is the left's version of Ben Carson and Allen West...

It gives white liberals a black voice to attack Obama and hide behind. Calling Obama the first niggerized president (I wonder if the white Bernie Sanders supports that?) is racist trash - no matter who says it. It's no different than when West or Carson compare Obama to Hitler.

But it's okay when they say it, their supporters say, because they're black! It can't be racist!

Oh sure, white liberals won't dare use the term niggerized - they'll just cheer West on as he uses slimy, racial insults at Pres. Obama.

[Cha]

132. “Calling Obama a ‘global George Zimmerman’?No. No.”: Michael Eric Dyson sounds off on Cornel West..

“Calling Obama a ‘global George Zimmerman’?No. No.”: Michael Eric Dyson sounds off on Cornel West, Obama & his critics

The Georgetown University scholar and author reflects on his very public break with his mentor turned tormentor

http://www.salon.com/2015/04/22/calling_obama_a_global_george_zimmerman_no_no_michael_eric_dyson_sounds_off_on_cornel_west_obama_his_critics/

"Cornel West is the left's version of Ben Carson and Allen West..."

What makes you say that, DI?

[marym625]

120. interesting is a great comment on this

[Cha]

134. "Cornel West: Obama Is First 'Niggerized' Black President" yeah, that cornel would be a game changer

alright.. in the most palinesque way imaginable.

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/06/cornel-west-obama-first-niggerized-black

“Calling Obama a ‘global George Zimmerman’?No. No.”: Michael Eric Dyson sounds off on Cornel West, Obama & his critics

The Georgetown University scholar and author reflects on his very public break with his mentor turned tormentor

snip//

When African-American friends defended the president, he went in on them. West called MSNBC’s Perry “a liar and a fraud,” claimed Sharpton was the “bona fide house negro of the Obama plantation,” and attacked “the Michael Dysons and others who’ve really prostituted themselves intellectually in a very, very ugly and vicious way.”

It’s true that as Dyson’s TNR piece bemoans the nasty ad hominem nature of West’s attacks on Obama, as well as on him and his colleagues, he gave almost as good as he got, first praising West as “the most exciting black scholar ever,” then charting his intellectual decline. “His greatest opponent isn’t Obama, Sharpton, Harris-Perry, or me,” the Georgetown scholar’s article concludes. “It is the ghost of a self that spits at him from his own mirror.”


http://www.salon.com/2015/04/22/calling_obama_a_global_george_zimmerman_no_no_michael_eric_dyson_sounds_off_on_cornel_west_obama_his_critics/

Let's hope Bernie is more in touch with the Black Community than hooking up with ol nasty mouth.

[NCTraveler]

139. Well, it would bring attention to his campaign.

Not sure how positive the attention would be but it would bring much needed attention none the less.

[Prism]

142. Tainted currency

The optics alone. "Guy calls President a n----er, endorses Sanders."

Nope nope nope.

[dreamnightwind]

144. The concern trolls here crack me up

They are so concerned that Bernie will mess up his chances by West endorsing him! Most of them aren't for Bernie anyway, so why do they bother?

I have always liked West, a lot. He's a linguistic bomb-thrower, so his rhetoric won't hold up to the kind of scrutiny the MSM is likely to give it. If I were Bernie I would think twice about bringing him onboard.

And I have no idea how much cred West has with the african american community, that seems important one way or the other, of course it's not a monolithic community, I just don't know to what extent they are into him.

But West liking Bernie just further validates Bernie for me, I've watched quite a few West interviews and know better than to accept the inflammatory attempts here to make the worst of his thoughts, West is an excellent critical analyst of the problems our society is, or should be, dealing with.

[muriel_volestrangler]

145. Not that there's any reason to think there could be an 'alliance'; Flanders asked 'will you ...

... be supporting Bernie Sanders' campaign?', and West answered he likes Sanders on Wall Street, but not on Palestine-Israel. That was it. No endorsement ("I’m not gonna sell my precious Palestinian brothers and sisters down the river only because of U.S. politics&quot , let alone an 'alliance'. There's nothing at all in the article to suggest Sanders has the slightest interest in what West says or does.

[struggle4progress]

150. Bernie may snag coveted endorsement from guy who has not one lick of political sense!

[geek tragedy]

151. Because people who look to Cornel West for guidance were totally open to voting

for Hillary.

[raouldukelives]

152. If the MSM thought Jeremiah Wright threw down some vengeful untruths.

Then they would have a field day with West.