Atlanta mayor: Sanders 'disrespectful and dismissive' to Obama on race

[wyldwolf]

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, a Hillary Clinton supporter, is going after Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders for saying that race relations would be better under his presidency.

"So his comments last night, which I happen to believe are incorrect, are consistent with his dismissive and disrespectful attitude towards President Obama," Reed said Friday in an interview on CNN.

He was referring to comments made by Sanders in Thursday night's debate, when the Vermont senator was asked whether race relations would be better with him in the White House than they are now.

“Absolutely," Sanders replied, "because what we will do is instead of give tax breaks to millionaires, we will create millions of jobs for low-income kids so they are not hanging out on street corners."
Clinton supporters are taking that as a sign of disrespect to the nation's first black president.
"I think it seemed a bit presumptuous to me to conclude that Bernie Sanders in the twilight of his career was going to be able to be the great healer in race relations," said Congressional Black Caucus whip Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Friday.

Reed also hit Sanders for his lack of a record on racial justice issues and questioned his allegiance to the Democratic Party.
"Show me in the Senate where he led some broad coalition to get something significant accomplished done," he said.

"He is running to be the standard-bearer of the Democratic Party, although he just became a Democrat within the last year."

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/269362-atlanta-mayor-sanders-disrespectful-and-dismissive-to-obama-over-race#.Vr9367_NqAE.facebook

[TCJ70]

1. Good grief, let's put this one to rest...

...how was he supposed to answer the question? "No. Race relations will not be better under my leadership."

[JustAnotherGen]

8. Yes

Because it would be a realistic answer. I turned 43 yesterday.

I have zero belief that bigots will change in my lifetime or that the racial climate in America will get better.

It is what it is.

There were people hateful to me when I was five - there will be people hateful to me when I'm 85. That's not going to change.

Sanders and Clinton both need to start pushing back - every time bigotry towards blacks gets brought up. . . Better than if we have a Republican in the White House.

Hammer those pigs on the Right - not each other. They both need to prepare for a GE where they can have old sound bites pointing out what vile racists Republicants are.

[thomservo]

11. No We Can't! n/t

[JustAnotherGen]

36. we can't what?

Point out they have been foaming at the mouth racists since 1976?

I can only think you are white. From where I sit? As a black woman?America is a racist piece of shit and won't change until we become majority brown and tan.


I'm sorry -but we suck.

[Armstead]

16. I totally agree with that

as a white male.

There are deep seated issues that neither candidate will eradicate.

But there are right now threats like stripping of voting rights, the criminal injustice system, etc. Both Bernie and Clinton are light years ahead of the GOP on those things. We should at least have a concensus onn that instead of arguing about which is more "enlightened"

[JustAnotherGen]

44. Thank you

Exactly. One group of candidates wants to strip black people of voting rights - two on our side have pledged to defend.

It's pretty clear who the racists are.

[Uncle Joe]

89. The racial climate in the U.S. can be improved and racism reduced if Bernie's plans take hold.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511221589

[JustAnotherGen]

92. I don't think so

Once everyone has their financial needs met - everyone goes back to their personal islands.

[Uncle Joe]

96. Racism will be reduced if poverty is reduced and visa versa, there will be less

overall bitterness, less resentment, less bigotry, less desperation, less crime, less stereotyping, more education, more enlightenment, hatred and racism are fed by fear and ignorance.

No one is claiming that racism will be entirely eliminated although at some point in the future I believe that's possible.

[Empowerer]

14. Maybe something aling the lines of "I will build on the President's work ..."

But instead, he suggested the President is doing an inadequate job and that he, Bernie Sanders, will "absolutely" do it better.

[Empowerer]

19. No - he just said that the African American president isn't good enough on race relations

and that he, Bernie Sanders, will do it better.

Because he's had so much experience with it, I guess ...

[JTFrog]

46. Don't let yourself get baited by someone who just signed up today. n/t

[wyldwolf]

60. of course he didn't. I don't think he has that in him.

Probably why Putin endorsed him.

[oasis]

111. That's because it wasn't a discussion about gang criminals.

[jonestonesusa]

24. A key point is lost in the discussion.

The term race relations refers to relationships among groups and policies pursued by institutions to expand opportunity and equity.

Sanders tends to focus on policies (college access, health care, public infrastructure initiative, decriminalization, etc.) more than relationships, and his policy proposals are ambitious with a high upside.

Critics of Sanders seem to focus more on relationships with black communities, and by comparison, Clinton has more established relationships with black officeholders in particular.

The point that is lost: the impact of policies. They are not discussed enough. I admire Obama, went to the 2008 inauguration, met him twice, continue to find him to be a transformational politician. But his policies need to be challenged, and his record needs to be examined. Why is it an insult for a candidate to say he can do better? Yes, it's hubris, compared to Clinton wrapping herself in Obama's legacy. For my money though, I'll take better policy anytime over friendly promises. And the Clinton camp seems to prefer to discuss identity politics more than policy.

[Empowerer]

25. You can parse all you want, but the fact remains that Sanders' claim that he'll do better

on race relations than Barack Obama was arrogant, insulting, and likely false - and was surely not lost on a constituency he desperately needs.

[jonestonesusa]

33. Predictably, you are moving back to identity politics rather than policy.

And at the end of the day, this campaign isn't about Obama, who isn't even running. It's about making more progress toward a functioning democracy for all, or less progress, and we have two viable DEM candidates claiming they can help. If we lose focus and make it all about perception,, it's to everyone's detriment. So we had best take a hard look at policies and be substantive in how we evaluate the candidates.

[1StrongBlackMan]

34. NO ...

You can parse all you want, but the fact remains that Sanders' claim that he'll do better on race relations than Barack Obama BY GIVING BLACK (YOUTH) JOBS SO THEY WON'T BE HANGING OUT ON CORNERS was arrogant, insulting, and likely false - and was surely not lost on a constituency he desperately needs.

[azurnoir]

51. No he did not because that was not the question in the first place Obama wasn't mentioned

here is the question with Bernie's reply in full

Asked by PBS debate moderator Judy Woodruff if "race relations would be better under a Sanders presidency than they've been," the Vermont senator replied, "Absolutely."

"Because what we will do is say, instead of giving tax breaks to millionaires, we are going to create millions of jobs for low-income kids so they're not hanging out on street corners," he said. "We're going to make sure that those kids stay in school or are able get a college education. So I think that when you give low-income kids, African-American, white, Latino kids, the opportunities to get their lives together, they are not going to end up in jail. They're going to end up in the productive economy, which is where we want them."

http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/11/politics/bernie-sanders-race-relations-democratic-debate/]

photogate fell on it's face so now we have this

[1StrongBlackMan]

57. That doesn't change anything ...

and displays stunning lack of awareness to say ... and even more to defend.

You do realize that well educated, highly compensated Black people, young and old, that have never been to jail, experience race related problems in America. Right?

[azurnoir]

62. Haven't I already said that? a reminder for you

Star Member azurnoir (42,516 posts)
28. well first off COGIC is Church of G-d in Christ

https://www.facebook.com/ChurchOfGodInChrist/

and it is that church going Black demographic I think Ben Carson was supposed to be tapping into, it didn't work

as to excusing Hillary's comment I'm going to go off into admittedly dangerous ground here because I'm white however to my observation it is because for my some of that Church going Black demographic she wasn't about their sons she was talking about the others the ghetto folk the gang bangers ect, there are divisions within the Black community that rarely if ever get addressed on a message board such as DU

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1187&pid=39168

so yes I do realize that and have seen it firsthand, albeit I did live in what could be called the ghetto

[azurnoir]

64. another question for you ever hear of a blogger named LaShawn Barber?

my first before DU political debates online were on her site, occasionaly here I have moments that could almost be called Deja Vu

[Empowerer]

69. Bingo

[bravenak]

88. That is what the fuck I saw

[farleftlib]

39. Yes and his actions have consistently backed this up

Great post from someone who's been on the receiving end.

[Admiral Loinpresser]

43. You don't post much,

but when you do, I consistently gain insight. Really appreciate your thoughts. Please keep it up.

[jonestonesusa]

107. Thanks! Primary season is upon us.

I enjoy commenting and reading commens then. See you around the forums and thanks for the encouragement.

[yourpaljoey]

77. I agree completely

[boston bean]

40. That does not fit the anti Obama narrative.

See, Bernie likes to look like he is above the fray. But when you scratch just the surface, he knows his supporters don't like Obama. So, he aint gonna do anything to alienate them.

[Admiral Loinpresser]

45. That's false.

There are all kinds of Obama supporters in the Bernie coalition. He wouldn't have more elected delegates than HRC right now if your premise were true. It's laughable, really.

[jonestonesusa]

106. Pure speculation.

Not enough substance here to comment on.

[JRLeft]

112. Please family!

[bravenak]

87. What does this mean?

He was referring to comments made by Sanders in Thursday night's debate, when the Vermont senator was asked whether race relations would be better with him in the White House than they are now.

“Absolutely," Sanders replied, "because what we will do is instead of give tax breaks to millionaires, we will create millions of jobs for low-income kids so they are not hanging out on street corners."

I am offended.

[TCJ70]

99. It means...

...he wants to address the systemic economic inequality that disproportionately affects minorities. Sound good?

[uponit7771]

93. I can't afford to

[islandmkl]

2. "do you still beat your wife? question...debate 001...not even 101

[stonecutter357]

3. K&R!

[thomservo]

4. Just another establishment politician...

trying to fool low information voters.

[Bonobo]

6. They are hitting this meme too hard and overplaying their hand.

I predict a backlash soon.

It is becoming too obvious.

Swiftboating properly requires a bit more subtlety.

[Wilms]

7. Mayor Kasim Reed's constituents include:

snip

The most recent round of fundraising show 240 separate donations from a who's-who of Atlanta business and politics. Frank Blake, chief executive of Home Depot, gave $1,000. Carol Tomé, the company's chief financial officer, gave the same amount, with the company's political action committee chipping in $2,500.

John Brock, chairman and CEO of soft drinks bottler Coca-Cola Enterprises, gave $2,500. Keisha Lance Bottoms, a member of Atlanta's City Council, gave $1,000.

snip

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/atlanta-mayor-kasim-reeds-campaign-raises-280000-h/nQQmg/

Here's the list.

http://media.ethics.ga.gov/search/Campaign/Campaign_ByContributions_RFR.aspx?NameID=4982&FilerID=C2008000654&CDRID=53241&Name=Reed,%20Mohammed%20Kasim&Year=2011&Report=December%2031st%20-%20Non-Election%20Year

Poor guys hands are tied.

[cali]

9. What a shocker. Not.

[mcar]

10. K&R

[Donkees]

12. "He is running to be the standard-bearer" Running as the conscience of the democratic party

[casperthegm]

13. They can say what they want, but it doesn't change the facts

It's unfortunate that these comments are getting any press, but everyone has the right to free speech, as uninformed as that speech may be. And when I say uninformed, it's not to be petty, but it's well established(after a round of misinformation) that Bernie has been involved in the civil rights movement from as far back as his college days. It's up to us though to keep (respectfully) pushing back on those who minimize the work that Sanders has done.

[Empowerer]

15. He was involved in the civil rights movement for a couple of years in the 1960s

Not so much since.

[casperthegm]

21. He's always fought for the underdog

And under-represented people. He said as much when Anderson Cooper asked him about the time he was arrested for his opposition to the U of Chicago's housing policies. And let's not forget that Hillary was a republican working for Goldwater back in the 60's, so there's plenty of room for some back and forth if we want to go down that road. I suppose it comes down to who we feel is the more authentic candidate when it comes to this issue and others. The choice is clear for me.

[Empowerer]

26. Support isn't fighting

And the "but but but HILLARY" gambit is worn out. We're not talking about Hillary, we're talkng about Bernie.

[casperthegm]

30. Wrong.

There are two candidates and therefore there should be every expectation to do a fair side by side comparison. And that's where Clinton fans go off the rails. If you want to go head to head on the issues Clinton loses on both results and authenticity.

Her position on Keystone (or lack of one). She waited until the same week that Obama made his decision before announcing where she stood. That's not standing up for the environment. That's politics.

Wall Street money. Whether it's impression or reality, it's there and it can't help but make me wonder. Generally speaking, it's hard to imagine the banks and Wall Street throwing all of that money at her and saying "here you go, we don't expect anything in return." Bernie said as much in the last debate.

Her opposition to Glass Stegall. Though I do recall her telling the banks to "cut it out." Thanks Hillary. Bernie has been in support of it all along.

Her Iraq vote. You may be sick of hearing about it but it's a big deal. It was poor judgement and lack of foresight. Sanders saw that it would destabilize the region. And it did. Now we not have the legacy of the Iraq war, we have the current ISIS situation.

Speaking of that, there is the no-fly zone proposal. Another poor foreign policy decision. What happens when Russian jets cross that line? You have to be prepared for that and I don't see it. Bernie opposes the no-fly zone.

The email and server investigation by the FBI. Sorry, it's real. It very well could end up being nothing in the end, but what if it's not? What if it drags on until the general election and then she gets indicted? Then you end up with a republican in the White House.

Gay marriage. You can see how she has flip flopped over the years, as confirmed via politifact. Another change based on the political winds.

All of this and more have led me to distrust her judgement and her authenticity. I look forward to hearing what your thoughts are regarding the actual issues listed here.

[Admiral Loinpresser]

47. Ever heard of Jesse Jackson? n/t

[cherokeeprogressive]

55. What a fucking crock of steaming runny shit.

[Doctor_J]

18. The Clinton campaign has adopted the republican meme that "liberals are the real racists"

I don't see any of the lies and mudslinging doing much damage to Bernie. They are just trying to keep turnout down. Which will also fail BTW

[sellitman]

22. Bingo!

I've noticed this online and this is the first time I've seen it expressed.

The Clinton Campaign needs to stop this ASAP!

[SoLeftIAmRight]

23. Yes - a Liberal Polish Jew knows nothing about being discounted.

I am going to support the Blonde haired - Blue eyed - Goldwater Girl - she understands what what real struggle means.

[Empowerer]

27. Wow - playing the Polish Jew card now?

Interesting

[SoLeftIAmRight]

29. Get your two for - Vote Hillary and welcome Kissinger into the white house.

I think you will enjoy the results.

[jonestonesusa]

31. Spot on!

The more narrow the discussion of race and ethnicity, the more we are mired in division.

[ladjf]

28. I disagree with the Mayor. I heard exactly what Bernie said.

When asked would race relationships improve under his (Bernie's) administration, he simply answered "yes".

That is not disrespectful of dismissive.

[1StrongBlackMan]

42. So Sanders didn't say the stuff after the "Absolutely"? eom

[ladjf]

50. Yes, he said the remark about tax breaks for millionaires which is a criticism

of an Obama policy but, in my opinion , short of being disrespectful IMO.

[1StrongBlackMan]

54. You left out the "So Black (Youth) won't be hanging out on street corners" part ...

That was/is the disrespectful, dismissive ... and just plain wrong part.

[ladjf]

75. The quote:

Absolutelyy," Sanders replied, "because what we will do is instead of give tax breaks to millionaires, we will create millions of jobs for low-income kids so they are not hanging out on street corners."

I left out "So Black (Youth)" because it wasn't in the quote.

Apparently our main disagreement is that you feel that a criticism of any of Obama's actions or statements is disrespectful and dismissive. I do not think that one criticism was either disrespectful or dismissive.

[1StrongBlackMan]

80. No ... that is not my disagreement. eom.

[1StrongBlackMan]

32. LOL ...

“Absolutely," Sanders replied, "because what we will do is instead of give tax breaks to millionaires, we will create millions of jobs for low-income kids so they are not hanging out on street corners."

I don't know if I can, or better, should comment on that.

[jonestonesusa]

37. Definitely comment if you want. I will.

It's a cringe worthy line.

It's part of the internalized racism that is embedded in US culture.

It doesn't specifically mention an ethnic group, but in US politics we fill it in as black.

I think the line deserves criticism.

I still support the value of an infrastructure-based public works program, which Sanders offers in his platform. Clinton doesn't.

I'm glad that Sanders shows up at forums such as the recent one in North Minneapolis to engage directly with black citizens, take his criticism, learn, and move forward.

[Empowerer]

63. Why would Sanders answer a question about race relations by referring to getting kids jobs if he

wasn't referring to black kids? If he was talking about kids of all races, what would that have to do with race relations?

No one filled in a blank for Bernie - he'd already filled it in quite nicely and made himself crystal clear.

[Empowerer]

38. Because if you just get jobs for the millions of black kids hanging out on corners-all will be well

Tone-deaf...

But we're not and we can HEAR you, you know ...

[1StrongBlackMan]

49. Sandra Bland had a job ...

and, TrayVon wasn't hanging out on corners ... Just saying!

[CentralMass]

66. So are you advocating for policies like bailing out wall St,

After their greed and corruption took the country to its kneestill? Or extending the Bush tax cuts ( that would have sunsetted automatically in 2010 if the President had not lobbied his lame duck Congress to extend them ?

How about cuts to things like the LIHEAP program while millions of American americans were losing their jobs.

http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/201287-as-winter-approaches-congress-cuts-funds-for-home-heating-assistance
"While the omnibus spending bill cuts funding for LIHEAP by 25 percent, President Obama floated even bigger cuts to the program in his fiscal year 2012 budget proposal, proposing to fund the program at $2.5 billion.

Congress greatly increased LIHEAP funding to about $5.1 billion in 2008, when energy prices were high. Obama, in February, said it was time to reduce the program to a “more sustainable level.”

There are many more examples. If criticising those and other harmful policy decisions is wrong, count me in on being wrong. We have something like 46 million people living in poverty and an overwhelming disproportionate share of African American children living in poverty and we have had no obvious focus on addressing this issue from this President .

[Empowerer]

68. What does any of that have to do with race relations, i.e., relations between the races?

You seem to have the same problem Sanders does ...

[CentralMass]

82. The topic of this thread is regarding a question asked

To Bernie Sanders about if race relations would improve under his administration and he answered it with an Affirmative with his proposed economic policies as the means. Yet his words were twisted by a self serving politician as an affront to the President

Many of us like the President personally but that doesn't mean we have to lie his policies. Which have catered to corporate interests. Wall St. , and the weathy. IMO because the Democratic party has made that the new :center". Many of us do not agree.

It his clearly Bernie Sanders belief and the.belief of many of us who support him That levelling the economic playing field and addressing income inequality is good for all Americans., particularly those who are the most deeply affected by it. While it won't solve all the isdues, it it is step one in addressing them.

We are losing ground. The democratic losses at the stste evel over the last 8 years are stagering.. the number of people in the middle class hsd slipped under 50%. Incomes are stagnant, poverty is at its highest since the civil rights era.

The national debt went from ~$7.5 trillion to over $18 trillion. That debt is significant in that unless we elect different leader's , the cost of that debt is going to be taken out if our hides This 8 years was the fulfilment of "Starve thr Beast" . We went from a gross debt to GDP ratio of 72% to we'll over 100%.

If you look at the budget trajectory there is a storm looming with Social Security and Medicare hitting critically mass and if we don't ditch this Republican lite leadership we are going to be scrwed.

[Empowerer]

100. Your response exemplifies the problem we've been describing

The topic is race relations, but you, like Sanders, keeps pivoting to economic policy.

We have repeatedly pointed out that this approach is not resonating - and the reason his message is not resonating with blacks is that most of us don't see race relations, racial justice and discrimination as a mere subset of economic inequality, but you won't llisten. Instead, you just keep repeating the same tone-deaf message as if you think if you say it often and loudly enough, we'll come to our collective senses and see the light.

[CentralMass]

104. Your responses make it clear that you don't really want

to entertain any opinions other than your own.

Lets cut this to it's essence. Bernie sanders comments being twisted by a politician as being an attack on the President.

Please explan where this occurred?

[Admiral Loinpresser]

35. There's a truth teller in Atlanta who disagrees:

Killer Mike. He doesn't spew out bullshit, he just puts out the truth about Bernie's positions.

[Empowerer]

41. A black man says something you don't like, so trout out another black man to tell us he's wrong

I see what you did there.

[Admiral Loinpresser]

52. An uncorrupted man of the people,

versus an Establishment politician, but I see exactly what you did.

[Empowerer]

58. Thank you!

We love it when white folks decide for us which black people are more worthy of our consideration. We really appreciate it when you pick our leaders, role models, and influencers for us because it's so much easier than thinking for ourselves, which is really a burden since we're so naive and don't have the intelligence, savvy or information to figure it out for ourselves.

[Admiral Loinpresser]

71. No, thank you!

I didn't have breakfast this morning, so having words put in my mouth was a welcome treat!

[Cali_Democrat]

91. Great response. nt

[1StrongBlackMan]

53. The have a great template o follow ...

the right have been doing it for ... like ... forever (See: Willie Lynch through Thomas Sowell)

[Admiral Loinpresser]

73. Really?

I think that is some weak-ass tea, but go ahead and take the last snark, because I have better things to do.

[1StrongBlackMan]

79. I really don't care what you think. eom.

[bravenak]

86. I have the same feeling.

[uponit7771]

95. Yes he does, Mike camparing Obama to a "master" is not only BS it's stupid racializaed flamebaite

... Bigga is another overt Obama Basher ... no credibility

[KingCharlemagne]

56. Jeffries puts the 'hack' in Hakeem. - nt

[DefenseLawyer]

59. As I've said for months now

This election is going to come down to who has the endorsement of the mayor of Atlanta.

[Arazi]

70. Lol, I see what you did there

[KingCharlemagne]

61. Thereby illustrating the total, utter bankruptcy of the Democratic Party establishment. While

Sanders was being arrested with CORE while leading protests against racially segregated housing, Hillary was a fucking Goldwater Girl.

FFS

[wyldwolf]

65. we're honored you at least considered us. Now you can move on.

[Empowerer]

72. And then after graduating from college, he retired from the movement, moved to Vermont, and

over the next half century often spoke out and voted for civil rights for African Americans and even, on a few occasions, did a little bit more than that.

[RiffRandell]

67. He's not so squeaky clean allowing his brother to get away

with illegal behavior so I don't take the guy seriously. He is a jackass, and those statements prove it imo.

ATLANTA (CBS46) -
A CBS Atlanta exclusive investigation has revealed that the brother of Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed has been illegally driving city vehicles for several years.

Our undercover investigation caught Tracy Reed leaving Atlanta City Hall and driving off in a government vehicle in October.

Driving a city vehicle shouldn't be a problem for Tracy Reed, because he works for the city. He's worked in the office of Contract Compliance fore 12 years.

But Tracy Reed shouldn't be driving a city vehicle or any other vehicle. That's because according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, his driver's license expired in September of 2006.

CBS Atlanta's Tony McNary caught up with Tracy Reed outside his office and asked him the Tough Questions about why he was driving without a valid driver's license.

"You have to take everything up with our communication department," said Reed.

Read more: http://www.cbs46.com/story/15930892/mayors-brother-driving-city-vehicles-illegally#ixzz40A5z1AeG

[Empowerer]

74. Here we go

The popularly elected and popular mayor of a predominantly black city is now an unreliable "jackass" because he criticized He Who Shall Never Be Questioned.

And y'all wonder why black folks aren't Feeling the Bern in record numbers?

[RiffRandell]

105. Question BERNIE SANDERS all you want.

You are just going to keep getting answers y'all don't like.

[Empowerer]

108. My - what a great outreach strategy

Tell people whose support he needs and who are much closer to the issue than he is the same thing over and over again and when they tell him that it doesn't make sense, you respond with, "that's just too bad."

And you wonder why he's not getting any traction?

[RiffRandell]

110. Traction?

Last I saw he had a lot of 'traction' in NH.

Maybe he'll get even more if people interrupt him on stage and start screaming.

Maybe OSW supporters should do that to Hillary to get some 'traction'.

[BillZBubb]

76. The Swiftboating continues. Team Hillary dirty tricks.

How right wing of her. But desperate times right?

[Gothmog]

78. Great article in OP

[Jefferson23]

81. Bernie said, better..not end. I would hope any candidate would work to make the issue better.

Are we all behind Obama's TPP now too? Is that what we're doing?

Disrespectful and dismissive? What an amazingly cynical call to authority
to persuade SC voters. May work for some, but I doubt enough will
fall for it.

[bravenak]

83. Ok, what's up with THIS?:

He was referring to comments made by Sanders in Thursday night's debate, when the Vermont senator was asked whether race relations would be better with him in the White House than they are now.

“Absolutely," Sanders replied, "because what we will do is instead of give tax breaks to millionaires, we will create millions of jobs for low-income kids so they are not hanging out on street corners."

Umm? Heal race relations by making sure THEY are not hanging out on street corners, who is THEY? I hope he is not blaming racism on black kids hanging on street corners without a job. I hope that's not what that meant.

Somebody explain to me how black kids 'hanging on street corners' is not offensive? And the idea that blacks not having jobs for 'low income kids' is in any way the source of the race problem?

I think that I am gonna keep this in mind, what he said right here and think long and hard about what the hell thats supposed to mean.

[Autumn]

84. “Yeah, it’s rigged now because you don’t have a president that’s a change-maker.”

Bill Clinton Friday, campaigning for Hillary Clinton

http://nypost.com/2016/02/14/bill-clinton-downplays-obama-were-all-mixed-race-people/
Clinton credited Obama for doing “a better job than he has gotten credit for,” but chided the current president for doing little to end Washington gridlock.

“A lot of people say you don’t understand — it’s rigged now,” he said. “Yeah, it’s rigged now because you don’t have a president that’s a change-maker.”

He praised Hillary Clinton for being “the best change-maker I’ve ever known.”

I wonder if he or you think that those comments are consistent with a dismissive and disrespectful attitude towards President Obama?

Let Bills words sink in "you don’t have a president that’s a change-maker.”

[HooptieWagon]

85. Why should anyone pay attention to the mayor's statement?

He has already come out in endorsement of Clinton, so anything he says is heavily biased in that direction.
Secondly, Sanders answer to the question is correct. If Sanders accomplishes anything to address AA issues, it will be more than Obama who has done nothing.

[mikehiggins]

97. Reed is a jerk

Giving him any credibility is rediculous.

[Cheese Sandwich]

98. He's in the same league as Claire McCaskill. Hillary's pit bulls.

Pit bull is a metaphor. This is not literally calling them animals. They are like pit bulls because of the way they attack, which seems to be pretty viciously.

[workinclasszero]

101. Let me get this right....

Bernie thinks low income kids are thugs, criminals, scum etc and he is dismissive and disrespectful towards President Obama whom the called to be primaried.

Damn...


That's not gonna play well outside of New Hampshire Bernie.

[AOR]

102. Kasim Reed another of the many pillars of "saving black communities"...

just a little sampling of the laughable hypocrisy and corruption of the Black bourgeois political class hacks like Kasim Reed and Hakeem Jeffries.

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http://blackagendareport.com/content/occupy-atlanta-vs-kasim-reed-black-misleadership-class-and-one-percent

Occupy Atlanta VS Kasim Reed, the Black Misleadership Class and the One Percent

-- Bruce A. Dixon

(Snips)

"Nobody should doubt that Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed is firmly in the pocket of the one percent. It's old news. It's a choice he and leaders of the local black misleadership class made more than a generation ago. The clique of black political leaders who came to power with Atlanta mayor Maynard Jackson in 1973, and who still hold sway today have never been friends or advocates of black or white working people. Though they owed, and still owe their offices, careers and personal fortunes to the political victories won by the Freedom Movement, Atlanta's black misleadership class has rarely if ever lined up with black and working people when it came to economic justice."


"Shirley Franklin came in after Campbell with a campaign of sweeping privatizations of parks, city services, parking and more. But with Atlanta's newly privatized water works pumping rust colored mud through the taps of tens of thousands of Atlanta residents (including wealthy white ones) the drive to privatize everything in sight had to be slowed. Still, Shirley Franklin completed the demolition of nearly all Atlanta's public housing, driving tens of thousands of poor black Atlantans from the city. Like Andy Young, Franklin also cashed in after leaving City Hall, as a consultant for the telecom industry, and pushing the privatization of schools and services of all kinds."

"By 2002, after a generation of “Black Mecca” and black political leadership, the city's poverty rate was in the top five of metro areas nationwide. One in three black Atlanta children is in poverty, even after the expulsion of tens of thousands of poor Atlantans when their neighborhoods were demolished."

"The current mayor is firmly within the tradition of his predecessors. Kasim Reed is a corporate lawyer for the rich and racist. He is a man who has never fought for or believed in justice for ordinary people.As a state senator in 2006 he introduced vicious anti-immigrant legislation that paralleled similar racist bills passed this year in Georgia and Alabama. As a mayoral candidate, Reed called himself “a civil rights lawyer,” leaving out the key detail that his practice represented the corporations that violated civil rights, not the black, brown, elderly or disabled plaintiffs whose rights had been violated. The day before being sworn in as mayor Reed promised local business leaders to deal with downtown “panhandlers” in what he called a “very muscular” fashion. The term “panhandlers” is shorthand for homeless black males, even though any sociologist or person who works with the homeless will tell you that only white homeless men can beg on the street. Unless they are very elderly or handicapped, black men are considered inherently too inherently “threatening” to be successful street beggars. The convention and tourist industry seems to want black men, especially homeless black men out of downtown Atlanta. Hence an obsession for Kasim Reed, and if his wealthy real estate backers is closing down the large homeless shleter at Peachtree& Pine, at the edge of downtown Atlanta only a mile from the site of Occupy Atlanta where hundreds of men, many of them gainfully employed, sleep every night."

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http://blackagendareport.com/atl-shady-land-deal-tyler-perry


Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed To Give Half Square Mile of Public Land to Tyler Perry on Fake Job Claims, No Public Input

--Bruce Dixon

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed wants to give Tyler Perry a half square mile of public land at a ridiculously low price based on fake job creation predictions with no public scrutiny or input. Tyler's existing Atlanta studios have had little or no positive impact on the economic life of their surrounding community. Once again the black political class proves itself every bit as myopic, greedy and anti-democratic as their white counterparts.

(Snips)

"Nobody celebrates themselves more tirelessly and uncritically than black America's wealthy and empowered political class of millionaire entertainers, business types, preachers and politicians. Unfortunately, black folks outside that charmed circle also tend to applaud the glittering wealth of black celebrities without bothering to look at where that wealth comes from."

"Last year in Black Agenda Report, we talked about near-billionaire former NBA star Junior Bridgman, who owns more than a hundred Applebees and Wendys restaurants, and spends millions each year lobbying Congress and state legislatures to keep his workers' wages nice and low. There's Earvin “Magic” Johnson, who's a major partner in Sodexo, a firm that privatizes food service in prisons, public schools and charter schools, and janitorial service in schools as well, making tens of millions a year relentlessly cutting jobs, wages and quality of service. And in Atlanta, there's Tyler Perry."

"Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed is trying to rush through a deal with as little public scrutiny or input as possible that will give Tyler Perry more than a half square mile of public land – 331 prime acres of former military base less than four miles from downtown Atlanta, for a mere $30 million, to build new production studios and whatever else he might want to do. If Atlanta doesn't hurry up and and give Perry this land, Reed says, Perry might take the 8,000 new jobs he claims his studio might create somewhere else, like neighboring Douglass county where Perry reportedly owns more than 1,000 acres. Never mind the fact that Perry's existing Atlanta studios have been sketchily constructed and maintained, and had little or no positive economic impact on their surrounding neighborhood."

"Atlanta mayors have a tradition of lying about how many jobs will be created when they give public resources and land to their friends. Previous Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin claimed her Atlanta Beltline boondoggle would create 40,000 temporary and 30,000 permanent new jobs if only Atlanta would divert $140 million away from the public schools every year for twenty-some years. Mayor Reed absurdly claims Tyler Perry's new studio will create 8,000 new jobs. In the real world a studio the size of Perry's will use a tenth, a twentieth or less of 331 acres, and most of the 800 or fewer– not 8,000 jobs there will be professional and managerial folks already working for Tyler Perry."

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http://blackagendareport.com/content/black-politics-over-black-politicians-no-longer-believe-social-justice-possible

--Bruce Dixon

Black Politics Is Over: Black Politicians No Longer Believe Social Justice Is Possible

(Snips)

"If the black elite can't stop gentrification, they can at least get paid. Thousands of black politicians and ministers were heavily engaged in peddling sub-prime mortgages to black people, after failing to protect their previous neighborhoods from demolition. If the black elite won't help us oppose wars, they can at least get paid. The last two Congressional Black Caucus legislative summits have featured numerous workshops on how to do business with the Pentagon and Homeland Security, but next to none on how to make the antiwar, pro-peace sentiments of our communities heard in anything like their actual number. Black politics, and the black elite that practices them, have become unmoored from democracy. Getting paid, and in some cases, getting elected are all that matters."

"Atlanta, which billed itself as Black Mecca for a generation, is a great illustration of the cynical bankruptcy of the black political elite. Although proudly ruled by a black elite for a generation, and with an unbroken string of black mayors going back to 1973, a full one third of black Atlanta is below the poverty line. The city has the fifth highest rate of black poverty in the nation, surpassed only by Cleveland, Portland, Long Beach and Milwaukee. Atlanta's once-proud Grady Hospital which served all comers in Fulton and Dekalb counties has been privatized, and many of its services ended after state officials withheld its funding to deliberately provoke a “crisis.” A court recently dismissed the cases of dialysis patients who sued Grady hospital when it ended the life-sustaining procedure, because the plaintiffs had died. Thanks to the Belt Line real estate scam, Atlanta's public school revenues have been compromised twenty years into the future to subsidize yuppie shopping and residential construction. Republicans and Dems on the state level, along with the bipartisan chamber of commerce types have been agitating for the state seizure and eventual privatization of MARTA, the regional transportation authority."

"Atlanta's new mayor, Kasim Reed pledged to the chamber of commerce the day before his election that he would deal in a more “muscular” fashion with downtown panhandlers. The new administration is only days old. But Reed was campaign manager to the previous mayor Shirley Franklin. Reed's first major appointment was his pick of Peter Aman as the city's chief operating officer, responsible for overseeing the police, fire, parks, public works and other vital municipal operations. Aman is not a man who knows how to make jobs and justice and transit and education happen in Atlanta neighborhoods. Aman is a partner at the global business consulting firm Bain and Co. Aman wrote the previous mayor's transition report, which called for the “monetization” – a fancy word meaning privatization --- of every city service in sight during Franklin's first term. The only reason it didn't happen was that the highest profile privatization engineered by the black mayor before Franklin unraveled in spectacular fashion in Franklin's first few months."

"Black politics, in the sense of elected officials that work to uplift the black community, is over. It's not over because inequalities are gone, or even lessened much. It's not over because we have achieved anything like economic or social justice. Black politics as we knew it is over because our elected leaders have given up on economic justice, and many of us have given up on them. It's been a long time coming."

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http://www.blackagendareport.com/movement_needs_to_say_what_it_wants

Demand Nothing, Get Nothing: The Movement Needs to Say What It Wants

--Glen Ford

(Snip)

"A dozen student activists from the Atlanta University Center (#AUCShutItDown) last week put their fists up, shouted “Black Lives Matter” and sang songs at a Democratic Party rally for Hillary Clinton, interrupting the candidate’s litany of lies and thoroughly embarrassing Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed, former mayor Shirley Franklin and Rep. John Lewis, representing the city’s Black Misleadership Class. Clinton seemed surprised and confused. Hadn’t she neutralized that “Black Lives Matter” crowd? Clinton whined that she’d been meeting with #BLM and planned more talks with them. Members of the crowd shouted, “Hillary, Hillary" and “Let her speak.” Loyal Black Democrats formed a shield in front of the war criminal. Congressman Lewis, who is said to be scheming to have Selma’s Edmund Pettus Bridge named after himself, put his arms on a protester’s shoulders, urging them to desist, and the group left shortly afterwards. “I am glad the congressman and the mayor have my back," said Clinton."

“Loyal Black Democrats formed a shield in front of the war criminal.”

"Of course they have her back. The Democratic Party is the greatest impediment to independent, self-determinationist politics in Black America. Its near-hegemonic presence has prevented the emergence of a Black oppositional movement for two generations – which is why it was possible to impose a mass Black incarceration regime so pervasive that one out of eight prisoners on the planet is an African American. Kasim Reed, Shirley Franklin, John Lewis and their ilk facilitated the establishment of the Mass Black Incarceration State."

[loyalsister]

103. I think a better answer would have been "I don't know"

But, a rule of political candidacy is to exude confidence. I don't know anyone who is not white who believes race relations have improved under Obama. Immediately after he was elected, bigots began to feel comfortable letting their hateful flags fly. I think it must be a very sad thing for him to know he is sending his girls out into a world that unleashed that wave in response to him.

[NurseJackie]

109. Sanders has missed many opportunities and somehow keeps making things worse. At this late hour ...

... I think it's pretty safe to say that HE BLEW IT!!