2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumTa-Nehisi Coates Says He'll Vote For Bernie Sanders (confirmed)
Last edited Wed Feb 10, 2016, 11:39 AM - Edit history (1)
Just now on Democracy Now, he said that hed vote for Bernie Sanders. Once I get the transcript, Ill give his full answer to you. This is kind of pretty big news, given that Ta-Nehisi Coates had criticized Bernie Sanders on the issue of reparations.
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/2/10/1482807/-Kind-Of-Big-Ta-Nehisi-Coates-Says-He-ll-Vote-For-Bernie-Sanders
UPDATED & CONFIRMED:
https://twitter.com/democracynow/status/697443077343023105
bravenak
(34,648 posts)He did not even consider Hillary. Sad folks trashed him so bad.
firebrand80
(2,760 posts)The criticism on reperations read very much like "I like what you're saying, but consider this."
That why all the "BUT HILLARY AND OBAMA DON'T EITHER!!" arguments were completely beside the point.
Oh well, he's out from under the bus now.
bravenak
(34,648 posts)JRLeft
(7,010 posts)A lot of us ain't buying the we love you now bullshit.
bravenak
(34,648 posts)I feel very skeptical. More of him than her shes a known quantity
Sanders cannot manage his 'revolution'
Indepatriot
(1,253 posts)is NOT. "His Revolution"....this is OUR REVOLUTION.
bravenak
(34,648 posts)He is talking to YOU
I hear nothing that makes me want to join
cui bono
(19,926 posts)So there's that.
.
bravenak
(34,648 posts)I been here way before this campaign. And I never admitted any such thing tht is not true but go ahead and keep repeating yourself about me day after day
cui bono
(19,926 posts)There was a screenshot of your pm admitting everything posted and then you posted "best pm ever".
You know I'm telling the truth.
.
bravenak
(34,648 posts)mountain grammy
(26,621 posts)and I agreed with him. I usually do. He's an excellent writer.
JonLeibowitz
(6,282 posts)His positions are quite well reasoned, even if I disagree with a few. But maybe he'll convince me.
bravenak
(34,648 posts)Cal Carpenter
(4,959 posts)I read it the day it came out and have recommended it to a zillion people. It won the National Book Award for 2015.
His earlier memoir, The Beautiful Struggle, is also a great read. It's more of a straightforward memoir of his upbringing and college years, versus his newer one which is presented as a letter to his teen son and has a lot more punch to it.
I like his style a lot, and I think his voice has developed significantly over the years. I'm curious to see where he goes next. Like you, I don't always agree with everything, but that's always true when I read nonfiction and I think it is the best part. Makes you dig a little deeper and rethink things.
JonLeibowitz
(6,282 posts)Bonobo
(29,257 posts)Anyway, he's a grown up and he can take it.
Apparently Sanders supporters didn't force HIM to vote for the candidate less likely to actually change the lives of Black folk for the better.
bravenak
(34,648 posts)That is not DISAGREEMENT
Bonobo
(29,257 posts)Nevermind.
bravenak
(34,648 posts)Whyever would I mean DU? Think I take it super serious like that? Ssdd.
joshcryer
(62,270 posts)Please give me a break.
m-lekktor
(3,675 posts)but nothing horrific, i admit i just scanned them quickly last week. I think the topic was reparations mostly. I am not familiar enough with Mr Coates to comment though I have his latest book on my kindle not yet read. I saw one piece where he was called "Bougie" in the title. the racism on his facebook page you mention is fucked up and I am sad to hear that.
bravenak
(34,648 posts)He did not even think about her and he got it.
We black folks love social media. Our twitters get bombarded still. Cannot say boo without the 'correctors' coming to fix you.
m-lekktor
(3,675 posts)I don't need all that extra distraction , facebook is bad enough. I take your word for it though!
bravenak
(34,648 posts)I actually hate it
KittyWampus
(55,894 posts)m-lekktor
(3,675 posts)by Sanders supporters, you are correct! I would be curious to read it though! Everything I read was via facebook posts. I am facebook friends or I "like" the facebook pages of leftist opinion piece writers and bloggers and I read commentary with comments that way, nothing from DU on Mr Coates! Many of those far leftists are critical of Bernie as well, btw!
Admiral Loinpresser
(3,859 posts)It was interesting stuff. I support the idea of reparations, but agree with the pragmatic arguments for otherwise labeling programs to redress racially-targeted policies. The only place where I think TNC was off was in conflating Bernie's platform with reparations in terms of political viability. Bernie's platform is mainstream, while reparations, nationalizing oil companies, guaranteed minimum income, etc., are much farther to the left and not yet mainstream. So I'm glad TNC is pushing Bernie on that (to shift the Overton window) but also glad Bernie is not backing reparations this cycle, because it would be bad politics. His first job as a candidate is to get elected.
jonestonesusa
(880 posts)Sanders' remarks on reparations received excessive scrutiny by Coates and by many DUers who seemed determined to deflate the campaign at a pivotal moment. I support reparations myself, but it is pretty clear that opinions on that issue are strong and divisive, just as Sanders said in the context of a lengthier commentary. Coates' implication was that issues like single payer and college access are equally divisive but more white friendly. I disagreed with that framing, and some DU fans of Coates didn't want to hear that.
Some are saying now that Coates was for Sanders all along, but Coates himself speaks of a change of heart, influenced by his son. This is very significant. Our future has something to say to us, through our children. We should listen.
thereismore
(13,326 posts)bravenak
(34,648 posts)thereismore
(13,326 posts)reparations after you and I talked. To me it's an issue of justice. He says he wants reparations to specific people for specific wrongdoings. How is that even doubted? Who can deny those claims? Of course there should be reparations for that! What I mean by reparations is broader than that. It would be investment in communities that suffered historical injustices, that includes black people and native Americans too. I would call it the economic affirmative action but white people would start bitching.
bravenak
(34,648 posts)The white people feel great about helping act. Id vote for it.
You should read it when you get time
thereismore
(13,326 posts)from white folk? Just teasing. Something like The New American Community Restoration Act. That would include anti-gentrification measures like higher-then-federal minimum wage for hired local contractors.
bravenak
(34,648 posts)Jackie Wilson Said
(4,176 posts)to make white folks feel comfortable about it.
Because if they arent, they will whine and cry and scream to high heaven so loud for so long no politician will be able to withstand it and get anything done.
femmedem
(8,203 posts)I thought his article talking about Sanders and reparations was spot on and fair, although misinterpreted. I also thought he preferred Sanders, but wrote the article almost as if to say, even amongst the best white politicians, there's a failure to talk about, and perhaps even to see, the full array of ways governmental policies have held back POC.
It was inconvenient for the Sanders campaign, for sure--and I am a huge Sanders supporter--but Coates deserves huge credit for making reparations part of the national dialogue again, just as he deserves huge credit for opening many white eyes to the persistent and pernicious effects of redlining.
I live in a small northeastern city where the old zoning maps have the areas zoned for multi-family homes color-coded brown, where white families in large numbers sent their kids to private schools and--until very recently--flatfunded the public schools attended by POC for a shameful five years in a row. It never was a level playing field, and it never will be without enormous, and sometimes embarrassing pressure.
Response to kpete (Original post)
Cheese Sandwich This message was self-deleted by its author.
JimDandy
(7,318 posts)Cheese Sandwich
(9,086 posts)femmedem
(8,203 posts)He says his son influenced him.
http://www.democracynow.org/
thereismore
(13,326 posts)Plus, he says if you vote for somebody that doesn't mean he/she is above criticism. He criticizes Sanders because he expects more from him than Hillary. He thinks Sanders has the potential to be the best President for justice (my paraphrasing).
restorefreedom
(12,655 posts)cherokeeprogressive
(24,853 posts)The onrush of Bernie Sanders' rising tide. And at just the right time.
restorefreedom
(12,655 posts)bullwinkle428
(20,629 posts)Awesome to see him on board - the fact that he pissed off David Brooks so much with his latest book was enough to make me a big fan of him!
Cheese Sandwich
(9,086 posts)The media gave so much play to when Coates criticized Sanders now lets see if they do the same for his positive statements. I'm sure they won't .
ChiciB1
(15,435 posts)Obama OR Hillary supported reparations.
Good Get!!!
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Hell, at this point I'm leaning towards voting Sanders and I'm critical of him all the damn time.
KittyWampus
(55,894 posts)cali
(114,904 posts)And frankly, I don't think endorsements mean much. It may be fun to see which notable people endorse which candidate, but that's about the extent of it. I haven't had a critical word to say about any endorsement from any PoC. And I won't.
bravenak
(34,648 posts)femmedem
(8,203 posts)And I didn't pile on him when he criticized Sanders. I'm sure I'm not alone.
jtuck004
(15,882 posts)Iggy Knorr
(247 posts)Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)Android3.14
(5,402 posts)thereismore
(13,326 posts)uponit7771
(90,339 posts)Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)said by Hillary supporters, including those banned for openly antisemitic materials? I don't think that you are, but you are suggesting that is the way you judge others, en mass and by association so I am willing to return that favor to you if that's how you like it.
firebrand80
(2,760 posts)and turned away from his wicked ways
SheenaR
(2,052 posts)But paint with those broad strokes.
cui bono
(19,926 posts)Every single one?
I'd like to see proof of that.
.
Vattel
(9,289 posts)myrna minx
(22,772 posts)erlewyne
(1,115 posts)Starry Messenger
(32,342 posts)I'm not surprised, but maybe some of the folks who trashed him and the Atlantic a few weeks ago might be, lol.
AOR
(692 posts)any criticism of Coates that moves him anywhere to the left of individual economic "libertarianism" and support of neoliberals is warranted and useful. One doesn't get a pass from leftist analysis or criticism because of color or creed. At this point... even through the lens of strictly electoral politics... anyone who is banking on Hillary Clinton as a firewall to defeat Republicans is not thinking clearly. She is swimming in a sea of narcissistic delusion, arrogance, horrendous likability and trust ratings, and organizational chaos that will be her undoing one way or the other. She is finished. If it's not Sanders it will be a Republican. Her negative numbers make her unelectable in the current political climate. How can you not get that at this point ?
Uncle Joe
(58,362 posts)Thanks for the thread, kpete.
mountain grammy
(26,621 posts)Liberal_Stalwart71
(20,450 posts)It's his fanatics who have been horrible and a turn off.
I'm waiting to see what happens as we go forward.
Right now, I'm still planning not to vote for either candidate, but will support the down ticket Democrats.
Erich Bloodaxe BSN
(14,733 posts)He's 'voting for', not 'endorsing'. He only felt the need to announce his personal vote because he doesn't like it when other people in the public sphere try to weasel around such questions and didn't like to be like them.
Liberal_Stalwart71
(20,450 posts)Admiral Loinpresser
(3,859 posts)Any large populist movement is going to attract people exhibiting boorish behavior, but I hope Bernie's comments deploring the bad stuff will have some effect. Tensions always run high in competitive primaries, and Bernie backers certainly don't have a monopoly on such behavior, but I hope we improve on countering our own, when they are out of line.
Liberal_Stalwart71
(20,450 posts)Admiral Loinpresser
(3,859 posts)cilla4progress
(24,733 posts)SammyWinstonJack
(44,130 posts)Erich Bloodaxe BSN
(14,733 posts)Just heard on Twitter, Coates is a 'Negro Pokemon'.
TIME TO PANIC
(1,894 posts)Cheese Sandwich
(9,086 posts)mhatrw
(10,786 posts)Oilwellian
(12,647 posts)senz
(11,945 posts)So happy to hear this. Thanks, kpete!
ChiciB1
(15,435 posts)conversation talking about reparations. Showed a clip of Obama and why he said he didn't support it back in 2008.
Then he finally said Yes, he will vote for Bernie!
villager
(26,001 posts)Alas.
ecstatic
(32,704 posts)Coates was kicked wayyyy under the bus a few weeks ago.
Vattel
(9,289 posts)That doesn't mean we disagree with him about anything else.
Common bad DU definition of kicking under the bus: Disagreeing with anything an ally says.
jonestonesusa
(880 posts)according to some. Sometimes there's a low tolerance for alternative opinion on an opinion board. An odd paradox of the internet.
Response to kpete (Original post)
Name removed Message auto-removed
Paulie
(8,462 posts)Keep working on EARNING another. And another. And another.
What have you done TODAY to earn another? What will you do to TOMORROW to earn another? Be like Bernie ->
Recursion
(56,582 posts)eludes me. I think it's the "after reading his article" bit that's the sticking point.