Former NAACP head Ben Jealous to endorse Bernie Sanders

[Fawke Em]

Ben Jealous, the former head of the NAACP, will endorse Bernie Sanders, a source familiar with the campaign told CNN.

The endorsement is a potential boost to Sanders who has struggled to gain traction among African-American voters, though he has made small gains on Democratic presidential rival Hillary Clinton, according to recent polls.

Jealous, 43, is set to appear with Sanders in New Hampshire ahead of the February 9 primary to announce his support.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/04/politics/bernie-sanders-ben-jealous-endorsement-naacp/index.html

[mythology]

1. That's a really solid endorsement for Sanders.

[jillan]

2. Wow! That is a great endorsement!!

[Fawke Em]

5. I think we're seeing the tip-top of an avalance, myself.

[jillan]

6. I can't wait to see what the msm is going to say now that they can't say - but Bernie doesn't

do well with minority voters.

[1StrongBlackMan]

29. Bernie is NOT doing well with "minority voters" ...

how does the endorsement of Jealous change that?

[Android3.14]

39. At least your supposed champion for POCs can count on Bain Capitol

Bernie will truly help persons of color, whereas your puppet dances to the tune of wealth, for-profit prisons, and legislation that hurts the community you claim to support.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511134307

Bernie will help us. It's what he does.

With Clinton, who knows?

[greiner3]

44. Well dude

I've read some of your posts in Hillary group giving credence to 'assholery guy' so why the post that is possibly results in a hide or would that give you cred in the Hillary group. What name will you call me because. Well because. BTW I used to read your OPs and replies and will again when the season of insanity returns here. Ciao

[Chitown Kev]

59. You know what...1SBM has said this repeatedly

as have I.

[MADem]

110. I think the way 1SBM is being alert-stalked on this forum is disgraceful.

Someone doesn't want to hear what he has to say, which makes what he does have to say all the more powerful.

Weird how they fear him so much.

[cannabis_flower]

46. So you think..

That an endorsement by a prominent African American leader won't help? And if it won't help, why not?

[Arazi]

49. HRC AA supporters state these high profile AA endorsements are outliers

They claim these endorsements have no real effect, that Bernie Sanders isn't doing the work that he needs to do to win the African American vote.

They also have a problem with white Sanders' supporters posting these endorsements.

I have no investment in this either way about the logistics of posting this - it's a good endorsement and if it went Hillary's way, they'd be crowing about it as well.

And I do agree with them that Bernie Sanders has to figure out how to reach more POC. He will lose if he can't gain more traction in those groups. So while these high profile endorsements are great, it's lazy to think that's enough.

[Fawke Em]

55. I may be white, but I'm the mother of a PoC, so I do understand the challenges he

and other PoC face. My son is half Arabic and has a Muslim name. Trust me when I say he'll probably deal with some bigots as he grows older and leaves our neighborhood (our neighborhood is very mixed with people of all colors, faiths and nationalities, so he's not really faced any bigotry around here).

But, I don't get why anyone would care what color I am: I didn't write the article. I didn't ask Jealous to support him. I just conveyed the CNN story to another board.

[Arazi]

58. Oh don't misunderstand, I don't have a problem with it at all!!

I was trying to explain why a POC like 1SBM felt like he did.

It's not my position but it's a common complaint in the DU AA forum.

I think it's a silly they've latched onto the skin color of whose posting these endorsements myself but it's a common refrain.

I think the endorsement is awesome and LOVE that you posted it!!

[Fawke Em]

61. Thanks.

But I would like to know how anyone truly knows what color people are on an anonymous message board.

[Arazi]

65. Sooo true. I take people at their word here

[nadinbrzezinski]

66. Realize this is the same group of posters

That have attacked minorities (off site of course, here likely they would get hidden) for not being minorities and pretending to be such.

The people in that group in my mind should be completely ignored, not for being PoC, but for many of the, yes I will say it, racist positions they have taken with other minorities who in some cases have asked them directly to stop being guardians at the gates. They have been asked this directly by PoC who support Sanders.

For the record, good endorsement, expected reaction from that particular crew. I came looking and found exactly what I expected. They continue to make no favors to themselves.

[Arazi]

77. The two DU Hillary supporters spin off websites are awful

I saw your threads on that. Their ugliness with Omaha Steve was unforgivable as well as the ugliness against you and others.

I hope you now see their vile attacks as a sort of badge of honor - "give em hell Harry!" They've been exposed as small, shameful, emotionally stunted souls. Pitiful except for the very real hurt they caused posters like Steve.

Stay strong.

[nadinbrzezinski]

79. Ido with bullies the only thing that works

Point and laugh

And yes it is sort of a badge of honor. The worst of the lot are supposed allies. With friends like that...

[SheilaT]

60. This endorsement has just happened.

It's at least somewhat possible that, since Jealous is himself a POC, the endorsement will actually influence some voters. Let's give it time, not just dismiss it out of hand.

[Fawke Em]

63. AAs were supporting Clinton in 2008, too, until they were assured

by Obama's votes in Iowa and New Hampshire that he was viable.

The same thing is probably happening this year.

[SheilaT]

68. I'm thinking along those lines also.

Plus, here on DU we are all so incredibly involved and pay so much attention to all sorts of political things, that we tend to forget that huge swaths of voters are totally not engaged in thinking about who is running or who they might vote for. All anyone needs to do is to look at the incredible climb Bernie has made in the past year to know that it's nowhere near over yet.

Remember how back in August and September we were being assured that Bernie had already peaked?

[vdogg]

80. It changes it

Because according to some on the board we're all lemmings who will follow any minority leaders endorsement no matter what our personal feelings about Bernie or Hillary. The condescension has gotten really thick around here lately.

[MADem]

90. I think a lot of people here chuckling and cheering wouldn't recognize Ben Jealous if he

ran over them with a bicycle.

[Fawke Em]

97. I'm the OP and I know who he is, which is why I posted it. eom

[MADem]

100. Good for you! nt

[Gore1FL]

101. Endorsements don't have to have universal impact to count.

Perhaps that endorsement will increase Sanders support in a state by as much as .3%.

Anyone not familiar with Ben Jealous can "chuckle and cheer" for his support. Minimally, it is one more person gained in the Sanders camp. Additionally, even a political novice can see likely additional benefit in areas Bernie has logical room for growth.

I didn't know who Martin O'Malley was before he announced. He became my second choice after a little Googling.

But, even if your statement is true, because of this thread alone, more people know who Ben Jealous is. In the occurrence of an unfortunate biking accident like the one you described, rest assured, they will now know who to sue!

If you need me, I'll be over here Chuckling and Cheering for Bernie.

[MADem]

102. I've known who Ben Jealous was for years--mainly because of his rather unique looks.

He stands out in a crowd, as it were.

[A Simple Game]

107. You're right I didn't know who Ben Jealous was nor does his endorsement, or any other,

sway who I will vote for. I have already decided that I will never vote for another pro-war candidate ever. But because of this OP I now know who he is and have a good opinion of him from reading about him.

Your post on the other hand does nothing to advance the conversation.

[MADem]

109. "Your post on the other hand does nothing to advance the conversation."

Just quoting you....and your opinion is noted. Not taken aboard, but noted.

[Ken Burch]

91. It shows HRC's black support is continuing to erode.

If endorsements matter when your much-more-conservative candidate gets them, they matter equally when Bernie gets them.

It's looking as though more and more POC are seeing that Bernie never thought fighting racism should take a back seat.

Things are changing, and as a party insider, you are furious about that.

[Le Taz Hot]

57. I do too.

I think it's going to snowball.

[Avalux]

3. Yes! This is a wonderful nod to Bernie. Thank you Ben! n/t

[amborin]

4. knr

[Nanjeanne]

7. Fantastic. My feelings on endorsements are pretty simple . . .

I don't care about endorsements from people who don't support the things I support. I could care less if some Democrat who supports the TPP, supports the oil and gas industry, supports deregulation endorses Clinton - and if they were to endorse Bernie I wouldn't care either. My vote is for the candidate and what they stand for.

But when someone who I admired and who's policies I support endorses the candidate of my choice - I'm thrilled. It doesn't make my vote any different - it just gives me a little kick.

When people I liked, like Sherrod Brown, endorsed Clinton - I had a momentary moment of sadness. But it doesn't change my mind about my candidate.

I think many feel as I do.

So - with that - THANK YOU BEN JEALOUS. YOU'RE A GOOD ONE.

[Ed Suspicious]

13. I'm with you. Many musicians whom I really like

have endorsed my candidate. That gave me a little kick as well. I don't share every endosement, but I do share the really cool ones.

[JonLeibowitz]

14. What was fascinating to me is that a lot of pop stars endorsed Hillary

Pop Stars whose lyrics I never found deep or meaningful, but who as personalities and as musicians I found shallow.

I wasn't surprised they endorsed a candidate who I knew to be corrupt and unfit to serve, after I had done careful inspection of the record.

[Ed Suspicious]

16. Henry Rollins is a thinker and a truth teller. I loved that one.

I sort of scoffed at the Katy Perry one on the other side. I appreciate that people like her, but I can just tell that I'm cut from a different cloth. I feel a sort of mental kinship with those who question those in power.

[JonLeibowitz]

19. Yes if you are a cynical contrarian you'll be right more than you might think. n/t

[TIME TO PANIC]

47. It shows the difference between artist and entertainers.

Entertainers are in it for the fame and fortune; artist are in it for the art. This is why so many entertainers are for Clinton, while most artist are for Sanders.

[Fawke Em]

52. Wow. Great way to phrase it!

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

94. I was surprised

and disappointed to see that Lena Dunham endorsed Clinton.

She also surprised me with her dismissing criticism of the airbrushing of photos of her in Vogue magazine. That's a tricky issue, but I was more on the side of Lady Gaga who openly criticized how Vogue airbrushed her own photos in the magazine.

[navarth]

85. you echo my own sentiments

regarding artists vs. entertainers and also who they support.

[WillyT]

8. HUGE K & R !!! - THANK YOU !!!

[me b zola]

9. KnR

[blackspade]

10. That is a great endorsment!

[retrowire]

11. Awesome endorsement... nt

[Betty Karlson]

12. The endorsements for Sanders are now starting to increase in frequency and intensity

And interestingly: the establishment edorsement become more and more irrelevant.

Most importantly: I really hope Sanders will be given the chance to enact his racial justice policies.

[Chitown Kev]

62. The former head of the oldest black civil rights corporation

who is now employed in a venture capitalist firm is NOT a part of the establishment?

GTFO.

I'm not throwing shade at Jealous, by the way, a man that I respect and he did good work in the NAACP.

[Hiraeth]

15. Bernie, on his way to being GOOD ENOUGH

[leftcoastmountains]

17. K&R

[99th_Monkey]

18. Awesome news indeed!! The Bern keeps gaining momentum in NH, and across the nation. n/t

[SheilaT]

20. Wait! How is this possible?

We've been assured over and over that POC are strongly for Hillary, that Bernie never did anything for them.

Oh. Maybe this is just another example of the thing about when people get to know Bernie they find they really are in the same place that he is regarding an awful lot of stuff. Or they find out that he's been fighting for ordinary people of all colors for a really long time now.

Never mind.

Actually, it's too bad I can't do a good Roseanne Roseannadanna imitation, but I do often quote her: "If it's not one thing, it's another."

[1StrongBlackMan]

25. Ben Jealous is the FORMER Executive Director of the NAACP ...

his endorsement is NOT the NAACP's endorsement.

Oh. Maybe this is just another example of the thing about when people get to know Bernie they find they really are in the same place that he is regarding an awful lot of stuff. Or they find out that he's been fighting for ordinary people of all colors for a really long time now.

Do you really think that John Lewis, and the other Black folks that have NOT endorsed Bernie, doesn't know Bernie?

[Ed Suspicious]

33. Relax. We get it. We don't expect you to be swayed by endorsements.

It's ok.

[1StrongBlackMan]

37. "... He said, as he whistled past the graveyard, secure in his self-delusion ..." eom

[1StrongBlackMan]

21. That is a good endorsement ... I wonder what the NAACP will do? eom.

[Chitown Kev]

64. The NAACP can't endorse...

and I see that Bernie people here on this thread are besides themselves

[SoapBox]

22. Excellent!

[Duval]

23. Important endorsement. nt

[panader0]

24. k and r

[democrank]

26. Very good news.

~PEACE~
~LOVE~
~BERNIE~

[raouldukelives]

27. K&R nt

[AllyCat]

28. But Mitch Hank said on his show this morning, along with former Madison mayor Dave Cz

That he isn't electable because black people don't like him? They, along with another guy went on and on about how we won't elect Sanders because he doesn't have enough money, support, and POC on his side.

Blech.

[frylock]

30. But I thought Bernie said he wasn't going to appeal to PoC?

[Funtatlaguy]

31. There should be an AA rally in SCarolina for Bernie

After New Hampshire, I would love to see Nina Turner and Ben Jealous hold a POC rally for Bernie in SCarolina.
Would also like to see a Latinos for Bernie rally in Nevada.

[angrychair]

32. Great endorsement

Thank you Mr. Jealous!

Watch out for HRC supporters backing up buses...

[Arazi]

34. I'm waiting for the HRC AA supporters to come along and denigrate

you (generic you, not specificly you) for continuing to post these these AA "outliers" who support Bernie.

Every time a prominent AA comes out in support of Bernie, it's been met with disdain that the BS supporter is somehow insulting HRC AAs by the mere act of posting the endorsement here.

That said, this is a good endorsement. Thanks for posting!

[iandhr]

70. Opposed to the Sanders supporters who want to throw Sanders under the bus.

Pot meet Kettle.

[Arazi]

71. Word salad

[Arazi]

78. Love to see what?

And I don't have a number on how many prominent African Americans support Bernie Sanders but that would be interesting to see.

[Arazi]

86. It's against DU TOS to call out other members

Here's a general thread complaining about it though

http://www.democraticunderground.com/118737726

Welcome to DU

[Arazi]

93. I didn't link a post. That's against the TOS

I posted a thread so I guess I'm not understanding your further question ("your initial interpretation of the post you linked?&quot

I've already made my position clear elsewhere on this thread - white HRC supporters get to post AA endorsements without commentary and I think that's fine but I think it's a stretch to think BS supporters posting similarly is somehow "condescending".

It's just excitement imo.

I haven't seen anyone shrugging off HRC's endorsements as unimportant. It's clear they're formidable. I've also similarly said on this same thread that Sanders has a POC problem. Anyone denigrating John Lewis is a fool, I'm sorry I missed it or I would have called them out on that.

I'm literally laid up at the moment with a broken back and have way too much time on my hands so I just recently started posting on DU again. I'm not up to speed on the undercurrents, history, and memes that have preceded the past 3 or so weeks so it looks as though you have much more knowledge of what's happening than I do even though you've been a member for less than 24 hours.

Things that make me go hmmmm

[Enthusiast]

35. Kicked and recommended! I'm glad to hear that Ben Jealous will endorse Bernie Sanders.

[arely staircase]

36. Much better.

Though as a Clinton supporter I would like him to tour SC with Cornell " I hate Obama 'because I didn't get tickets to the inauguration" West again.

But this is a good endorsement for him.

[lark]

38. Excellent!

Go Bernie go!!

[AzDar]

40. K & R

[SheenaR]

41. Anyone else besides me

Proudly stand with Ben Jealous in his endorsement?

[CharlotteVale]

43. K&R

[appalachiablue]

45. K & R. Wow. Ben Jealous is an outstanding leader. Excellent endorsement!

[TIME TO PANIC]

48. K & R!

[Le Taz Hot]

50. THIS is a Big Deal!

[snagglepuss]

51. K n R

[stage left]

53. K&Rnt

[in_cog_ni_to]

54. Great endorsement!

Go Bernie! Thank you, Mr. Jealous!

PEACE
LOVE
BERNIE

[beam me up scottie]

56. Excellent endorsement for Bernie.

[Oilwellian]

67. Love this endorsement

[iandhr]

69. I am sorry.

The man's last name is Jealous. I am sure many jokes can me made I am a trying not to laugh.

[Autumn]

72. It's impressive to me that Bernie received the endorsement of the former head of the NAACP.

[Uncle Joe]

73. I looked but I didn't see your OP before I started one this, I will delete mine.

Thanks for the thread, Fawke Em.

[gyroscope]

74. Whoa

this should be a nice boost for the Sanders campaign.

[AtomicKitten]

75. Impressive endorsement. k/r

[Empowerer]

81. Congratulations - Jealous is a good catch.

I have a lot of respect for him

[JackBeck]

82. Ben Jealous is the real deal. As for social justice warriors, he's right up there with Julian Bond.

I've had the pleasure of working with both of them to make marriage equality a reality and let me tell you, Ben's endorsement carries a lot of weight in social progressive circles.

[Number23]

99. Your post is a great endorsment of the endorser!

[Starry Messenger]

83. It's a great endorsement.

Contrary to thread-wisdom, I wish congrats.

[ChiciB1]

87. I'e Been Looking For THIS POST!

I heard Thom Hartmann mention it, but wondered WHY it wasn't showing up here at DU! THIS IS BIG! I'm thinking we'll be seeing more and more of these endorsements. I've been trying to listen to call-in programs and I think the Clinton Black President thing isn't holding right now.

I'm hearing more and more people of color & other ethnic people saying they really like him a lot and will support him.

We'll see.

[cui bono]

88. Fantastic endorsement!

Heard Thom Hartmann talking about it but I missed who it was.

.

[monicaangela]

89. As Bernie says, support in the African American community is building!

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/02/04/former-naacp-leader-ben-jealous-to-endorse-bernie-sanders/

[Bluenorthwest]

96. A great endorsement from a man I admire, Ben Jealous has been a true and active friend to the LGBT

community and his endorsement of Bernie Sanders is very consistent with his inclusive and progressive world view!
http://www.naacp.org/pages/naacp-president-ceo-benjamin-todd-jealous-statement-on-marriage-equality

[navarth]

98. a thousand kicks !!!

[Feeling the Bern]

103. He's the only candidate that support BLM and fought for racial justice in his life

Bernie is the real deal and I am happy to support him and will be happy when when becomes our 45th president!

[Empowerer]

104. Hunh?

[Helen Borg]

105. Hillary will be jealous.

[Recursion]

106. That is a damn solid endorsement. Quite a coup for Team Sanders (nt)

[klook]

108. Excellent! Jealous is a social justice warrior

with a long and distinguished history as an activist, despite his relatively young age. He's a very effective and dynamic leader.

Ben Jealous is a fantastic ally to have on the team, and I am excited for Bernie to have this very important endorsement!