Bernie and his campaign get it re: outreach to people of color

[geek tragedy]

Please ignore the completely lame headline and skip to the actual news content

http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/19/politics/bernie-sanders-african-americans-2016-netroots/index.html

But instead of adopting the defensive stance from that morning, Sanders' tone changed. He appeared humble, and asked questions of the activists gathered about how he could better pursue and talk about policies to combat racial injustice.

"I want some help on this. I'm being very honest," Sanders said. "I want some ideas, as somebody who was arrested 50 years ago fighting for Civil Rights trying to desegregate schools in Chicago, who spent his whole life fighting against racism, I want your ideas. What do you think we can do? What can we do?"

Sanders took on questions about what activists called "institutional racism" in education, housing, and criminal justice, and called for changes in leadership and an end to mass incarceration. He listened to ideas from the small group, and he even brought those who questioned him to stand next time while he spoke. He said that stories of minorities being shot by police was "horrendous" and "unacceptable," but touted progress that had been made since he began first started protesting for civil rights as a young radical in the 1960s.

More:

He has opportunities to connect more deeply with African-Americans in the days ahead. He is slated to speak Saturday at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in Baton Rouge and at the end of the month he is set to address the National Urban League in Fort Lauderdale. A campaign aide said that Sanders will talk about race, touching on malnutrition in the inner city and youth unemployment among other topics in upcoming speeches.

Last week Sanders, 73, spoke at the National Council of La Raza, where he touted his immigrant roots and vowed to push for a pathway to citizenship.

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And he recently tweeted: "We must energize minorities all across the country to engage in the Democratic process and thwart efforts to disenfranchise minority voters."

"It's important for him to make sure the core constituencies know who he is," said Tad Devine, a senior campaign adviser. "We have a story to tell about him and we are going to campaign actively in different communities."

Campaign trips to Mississippi, Alabama, and South Carolina are planned for August—all three states have significant black populations.

Coalition politics is always going to be messy, but Bernie understands that if he's going to be the leader, he has to be the one to build the bridges. And that's what he's going to do.

We have to help him do it.

[arcane1]

1. I'll be helping him tomorrow at our first official volunteer meeting

[bravenak]

2. Boom!! He gets it. He wants help. Help him.

[geek tragedy]

3. I've been trying!!! nt

[bravenak]

4. Lol! I know. I mean the busybodies who are bugging black people right now.

[London Lover Man]

8. Bernie is working with PoC...

And you withdrew your support for Bernie. Why? Because of loud protesters who wouldn't let Bernie have his say, and then could have created a dialogue about it? And that you think Bernie doesn't care for PoC (which you assume incorrectly)

[Autumn]

10. Bernie is paying attention. Please respect the members while posting in

the group an don't mock the members by calling any of us names. There is a lot of burn out right now for all of us.

[bravenak]

12. My bad. I can delete it if you want.

[Autumn]

14. If you would please and thanks

[London Lover Man]

11. Nope, your choice my friend...

I just hope you give Bernie a chance to prove himself.

That's all we ask.



Clinton has been off limits - if you saw her racist dog whistles in 2008, you'd know why Clinton is not friendly to PoC. Welfare reform devastated a lot of people of color, and i've seen the results. It's not pretty.

[bravenak]

13. Please note that I still hate Clinton. Wrong group though!! Till later!!

[Wilms]

5. You "get it" too.

[Senator Tankerbell]

6. Great response from Bernie as usual

This is the proper response I think. Asking for help and ideas. He has said from the beginning that it isn't about him, it[s about creating a movement. Even though Bernie has been and still is on the right side of history on these issues, the reality is that he hasn't had a lot of recent experience dealing with issues of race because they aren't big issues in Vermont. He is a quick learner though so I think he'll get up to speed quickly. If he can eventually earn the support of groups like Black Lives Matter, he will have a much stronger campaign.

[Cheese Sandwich]

7. Sounds good to me. I think Bernie will step up and address these issues the right way.

[ananda]

15. One candidate on the stump cannot change a damm thing.

You can't want a conservation and get action at the same time.

You have to be the action yourself -- organize, protest, demonstrate,
sitin, be obnoxious at the places that have hurt you.

And don't stop.

That's what happened in the sixties and, guess what ... it worked!

Also, this desire for pure language and perfect attitudes and campaigning as though someone can read your mind is utterly crazy and useless.

Nobody is going to be your perfect candidate or president. Nobody. You have to organize, get allies, and realize that it's going to be messy... but you have to direct your activism at the people who are targeting and hurting you... not at your allies.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

16. Like I have said before.

Now is the time for a real progressive populist movement, but the message needs to be clear and not overly complex and it needs to be repeated over and over to drive it home into the minds of the people.

Then Bernie will win

[JDPriestly]

25. Excellent. You work with, counsel, quietly threaten if necessary, your friends.

But you don't deliberately try to embarrass them.

Bernie is making a 50-state effort. He listens to questions and talks to people one on one. He will make a great president for all. He is not afraid to upset the apple cart as my grandmother used to say. And that is one of his best qualities. African-Americans will soon see that he is the guy they want on their side. If he makes promises to them or any of us, he will work to try to carry through. I'm not so sure about that when it comes to other candidates.

One of Bernie's great qualities is that once he commits himself to something -- like voting against the Iraq War -- he does it no matter what.

He is the candidate that Blacks should try to get on their side. He is a fighter, and he will fight for them.

This BLM thing will blow over soon. There is no way that a very strong liberal like Bernie would embrace or follow an agenda with even the slightest hint of racism. No way.

That will soon be universally recognized. As a member of the Bernie generation, two issues woke us up to political activism: racism in the early 1960s and the Viet Nam War in the late 1960s. I was deeply offended by the poverty I saw because of my family situation and my father's work. But for most of us, the two issues were and are first racism and second war. Bernie has assumed that everyone knows that he is deeply opposed to racism. Because that's what liberals in the group born in the early 1940s, the WWII years and slightly before are the most deeply opposed to. Goes without saying.

This will not be a problem.

But you don't go out of your way to embarrass your friends.

[Kevin from WI]

17. Is it too late?

I get the feeling it won't matter what he does going forward. This theme will follow him everywhere by those who want to take him down. Lots of people I don't think will be able to get past that. I am no longer hopeful for Sanders, or the Democrats in general. I just don't think there is enough time to heal. The Republicans want low voter turn out, and disenfranchised people don't vote. Any Democrat who talks about BLM will just be seen as pandering by AA going forward. It's a shame that all the Dem candidates didn't read this one better from the start, because without African American votes no Democrat can get elected. The reality is that there's a good chance of a Republican president presiding over a Republican congress in 2017. We will all suffer because of this.

[Kevin from WI]

18. I really want to believe that Bernie can win

But all I have is my lone vote. I really do hope things turn around, because he's our only and probably last hope to turn America around.

[geek tragedy]

20. No, it's not too late. There is no excuse for not trying. nt

[marlakay]

21. I know when Obama had problems

He gave great speeches and because he was media darling they actually put on tv.

I really feel like everyone involved in politics on both sides and media are trying to stop him, only thing going for him is the people, the internet and showing up in person.

[JDPriestly]

26. Bernie will deal with this quite well. He was born in WWII and is Jewish.

He is utterly opposed to racism by definition. This will not be a big problem for him.

[Kevin from WI]

32. I hope you are right

I really do. It's easy to get discouraged reading some of the things posted on DU about him. When you see all these anti Bernie posts... day in and day out... it sucks.

[JDPriestly]

33. It's normal. It's politics. Bernie is a pro. He will come through this stronger than ever.

[azmom]

27. There are some people that are devout Hillary

Supporters and there is nothing you can say to them to convince them otherwise. Whatever Sanders says or does is never going to be good enough. We have to acknowledge that and concentrate our efforts on those that are open to Bernie. At least, that is what I am doing.

[Kevin from WI]

34. Good advice azmom

I'll try to do the same. Thanks.

[jalan48]

19. I guess I have to ask what candidates running for President do get it?

If none of them do then I think education of those willing to change or become more aware is the best hope.

[DCBob]

22. His team should get creative on this matter.

There are tons of things he can do. I am Hillary supporter so I'm not going to suggest anything but for sure his people can come up with something to change the trajectory.

[geek tragedy]

23. "I need your help" is a very good start nt

[DCBob]

24. Yes it is.

Then he needs to do something significant.

[geek tragedy]

28. I don't think he needs a Big Bang, he needs to build a relationship nt

[SolutionisSolidarity]

29. We need the help.

Especially if the anger from BLM is a lack of white progressive focus on local action, as has been recently explained to me. Most of us could and need to do more.

[geek tragedy]

31. Indeed. nt

[gwheezie]

30. This is what I thought he would do.

He's not stupid or petty, I said a few days ago when this all came to a head that he's been doing this for a long time and recognizes activism when he sees it.
Let's see where this leads, I hope to a better campaign.

[SusanCalvin]

35. Wonderful!

[lovemydog]

36. Excellent thread folks.

Bravo. I'm looking forward to seeing what will arise. Something really good I hope.