2016 Postmortem

2016-02-26T6:57:51+00:00

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/2/25/1491492/-The-Neverending-Tone-Deafness-of-Bernie-Sanders By Bravenak Bernie is probably talking about Oligarchs, I really am just guessing How tone deaf is Bernie Sanders on race? If we look back through his history in government, we find a much different Bernie than we would find in 1968. Is it his time living in mostly white Vermont that has affected his ability to discuss race in a clear and coherent manner? Or is it the fact that he sees race as a wedge issue, something that distracts from his all important theme of economic inequality? In my opinion, it is a combination of many elements that contribute to his stubborn attachment to shifting from race to poverty, without even demonstrating the shallowest understanding of the intersections that separate them. We are not all poor. We are not all on welfare. We are not all in jail. So why does Bernie Sanders always pivot from matters of race to matters of poverty and incarceration? Yes, we know they are connected, but they are not the SAME THING. We all know that there are many disparities between the races in almost every walk of life, but what we need in a leader is someone who shows that they can engage us on issues and has a genuine interest in our issues. From OUR perspective. Let's discuss a few moments of his absolute tone deafness in dealing with black americans. At the Race Forum, Bernie was addressed by a woman whose son was dealing with lung issues from the garbage plant burning near her home. She was visibly frustrated, and accused him of not being able to say 'Black'. Did he empathize? Sympathize? Discuss her son? No! He yelled out, "I said black FIFTY TIMES!", and then proceeded to discuss poverty with this middle class black business owner who wanted to discuss environmental racism. He actually told her what they were GOING to discuss. I suppose he has good reason but, I have no idea how his answer had anything to do with her questions or comments. At the debate on PBS, he was asked about something he said about race relations on MSNBC, under him versus under Obama, as he had said they would be BETTER under him. His answer seemed odd. Very ODD. Somehow he decided to answer a completely different question than the one asked. It involved taxing millionaires and billionaires to get jobs to poor kids so they 'won't be HANGING on street corners!'. Um? What? Race relations would improve if poor kids were not hanging out on street corners? I tried not to say that black kids hanging on corners did not cause racism, but I couldn't stop myself. Black OR poor kids hanging on street corners does not cause racism, Sir. ( More in link )

Post removed Fri Feb 26, 2016, 02:57 AM Feb 2016

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6 replies

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Post removed (Original Post) Post removed Feb 2016 OP

I disagree with some of what she says lovemydog Feb 2016 #1

i like hearing from bravenak redruddyred Feb 2016 #4

Some of the comments are interesting... cui bono Feb 2016 #2

Pretty much the same thing on DU - just silly one line retorts. ebayfool Feb 2016 #3

That is a pretty accurate assessment. bobbobbins01 Feb 2016 #5

K&R ismnotwasm Feb 2016 #6

lovemydog

(11,833 posts)

1. I disagree with some of what she says

Reply to Post removed (Original post)

Fri Feb 26, 2016, 03:04 AM

Feb 2016

I don't think Sanders is tone deaf on race maters.

I kick and rec this because I believe the author has as much right to state her views as does anyone else who discusses these matters about any candidate for president.

redruddyred

(1,615 posts)

4. i like hearing from bravenak

Reply to lovemydog (Reply #1)

Fri Feb 26, 2016, 05:20 AM

Feb 2016

but i think if she is looking for a prez who can make race a central issue, 2016 is not her year. maybe vote for deray. i would.

from another "identity politics" PoV, think both candidates do an abominable job discussing gender: as a group we're either dead set on having babies (paid family leave) or broke in old age because didn't work enough to get a good pension from social security (hill's ss plan). um, none of the above? evidently, i'm not making this the focus of my decision.

cui bono

(19,926 posts)

2. Some of the comments are interesting...

Reply to Post removed (Original post)

Fri Feb 26, 2016, 04:00 AM

Feb 2016

Here's one from someone who tried to actually have a discussion with the author of this piece and then got met with a silly one line retort:

rocklawyer Bravenak
Feb 25 · 10:35:37 PM

Sorry. I was giving you the benefit of the doubt. But I just reviewed your account. You just another smear artist sent in to try to throw shit at the wall and see if it sticks.

Shame on you.

ebayfool

(3,411 posts)

3. Pretty much the same thing on DU - just silly one line retorts.

Reply to cui bono (Reply #2)

Fri Feb 26, 2016, 04:14 AM

Feb 2016

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=profile&uid=300456

bobbobbins01

(1,681 posts)

5. That is a pretty accurate assessment.

Reply to cui bono (Reply #2)

Fri Feb 26, 2016, 06:03 AM

Feb 2016

I tried to engage her a few times before I realized that isn't what she's after. She just has a chip on her shoulders and nothing Bernie or any of his supporters could do is good enough. She's also self admitted that she's doing this just to disrupt and doesn't actually believe most of what she's peddling. I can't find the link right now, but its floating around DU.

ismnotwasm

(42,030 posts)

6. K&R

Reply to Post removed (Original post)

Fri Feb 26, 2016, 06:30 AM

Feb 2016