Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley Failed Their #BlackLivesMatter Test

[BooScout]

[link:http://www.newrepublic.com/article/122329/bernie-sanders-and-martin-omalley-failed-their-blacklivesmatter-test|

http://www.newrepublic.com/article/122329/bernie-sanders-and-martin-omalley-failed-their-blacklivesmatter-test

<snip> Sanders did even worse. Instead of expressing solidarity with the protesters, he talked about his pet issue—economics. He wasn’t “in the room,” and didn’t alter his pitch based on what was happening. “What Sanders should have done, when they said ‘Sandra Bland,’ you say ‘Sandra Bland!’” said political analyst and Blue Nation Review contributor Goldie Taylor, claiming that a simple show of empathy would have disarmed the protest. "He would have shut down the shutdown!"

Artist and activist Janna Zinzi, who was present in the crowd listening to Sanders, agreed. “Can you imagine how the conversation and energy in the room could have changed if he just stopped and said, ‘I'm listening’? That would have given the other white people the message that maybe something legitimate is being communicated and that they should actually listen, too. That would have showed real leadership and basic humanity.”

But Sanders couldn’t get past his mindset: that if you fix economic inequality in America, social justice will naturally follow. Historical experience doesn’t show this; Bland was an educated black woman went to Texas for a job interview and three days later, was found dead in her jail cell. Countries in Europe with high degrees of state spending to reduce inequality continue to have racially motivated problems with immigrant communities. The critique doesn’t hold.

[bravenak]

1. Big time. The clueless supporters are making it worse by being so paternalistic and bitter.

I tend to think O'Malley handled himself better. He stuck around to chat and showed that he was available. He handled the critisism well, so I'm giving him another look.

(By clueless supporters I don't mean all of them, just the ones that keep on lecuturing us black folks about Civil rights and Dr. king. WE KNOW! We study our own history more than y'all, okay, stop trying to teach and try to learn something, sheesh. You ain't the center of the universe.)

[BooScout]

2. BINGO!

http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-berniesoblack-trends-20150719-htmlstory.html

<snip> After watching video of the conference, Morrow says, he wrote a few tweets expressing disappointment with Bernie Sanders. Soon, he was getting angry tweets from white Sanders supporters (whom he jokingly calls “Standers” – a play on Sanders’ name and “Stan,” a term for a maniacal fan).

“The Standers were angry that we were criticizing him for shutting down those women,” Morrow said in an interview. “They were telling me things like, ‘He was protesting for civil rights before you were born!’ They were saying I should just be thankful that he is here for us. It was almost like they were scolding me, saying that Bernie Sanders is blacker than me. So, I just took that to the extreme, and made a joke.”

The result was #BernieSoBlack.

[bravenak]

3. I love berniesoblack.

It made my damn week!

[BooScout]

13. lol

It has definitely made mine as well!

[BeyondGeography]

4. This is the gist of it

The tragedy is that Sanders and the protesters probably agree on nearly every issue, but they don’t have a language to talk to each other about it. As a result, the anger builds and the communication breaks down.

Communication works both ways. Shouting people of good will down is a missed opportunity. So is sticking to your talking points.

[bravenak]

6. He needs their votes more than they need him.

Our votes matter and they have to be earned.

[Triana]

51. +1 n/t

[Vattel]

5. Sanders has never said that if you fix economic inequality

in America, social justice will also be fixed. But putting those words in his mouth is a great way to find fault with his message.

Edited to add: When Sanders talks about the criminal justice system being "out of control" and about the need to reform police departments, economics doesn't enter into the analysis. He doesn't say, for example, that if we could just eliminate economic inequality, police violence against POC will stop.

[NealK]

7. And Hillary skipped the gathering.

But she had already failed her #BlackLivesMatter test with her "all lives matter" blunder so why bother?

[BooScout]

9. Why don't you try being accurate for a change?

Hillary had a previous commitment in Arkansas to raise money for local Democratic Parties there. You know, Arkansas who votes red, but has a good chance of voting Blue come next November.

Not to mention, Hillary could have told Bernie and O'Malley what to expect at Netroots Nation if they had bothered asking her advice, but they had to find out for themselves what most saavy politicians already knew.

[NealK]

16. If she had been at that gathering she would have been heckled too.

[BooScout]

20. It's not that he was heckled...

It was how he responded to the activists. To tell mother's whose children are dying in the streets to sit down and be quiet and then somehow cram their concerns into his economic revolution which he thinks will cure everything was wrong and dismissive.

His supporters taking to the internet and complaining about him being disrespected is not hepling him expand his base either. In fact, it's doing damage.

[NealK]

23. "To tell mother's whose children are dying in the streets to sit down and be quiet"

He said that? Link?

[BooScout]

31. Watch the video...

He told the #Blacklivesmatter activists to sit down and be quiet.

[AnAzulTexas]

41. no he did not

the interviewer may have said 'we'll get to that in just a minute" or something to that affect. sanders and o'malley were basically ambushed by the few in the crowd that cared not one thing about what they had to say...just wanted to shout them down and try to make both seem ignorant, despite the 2 guest speakers sharing most of this crowds interests. shame shame, "liberals"...

[magical thyme]

37. he watched them disrespect their own leader, by refusing to let O'Malley answer the question they

wanted answered.

Personally, I was with them right up until the moment that they let O'Malley speak all of 4 words while trying to answer their question, before shouting him down.

What was almost amusing, if not so sad, was to then read their leader's statement yesterday in which she repeated "We need to hear..." to start every sentence. As I wrote yesterday, if you want to hear something, you need to remain silent and listen for a few minutes. Otherwise, the jibber-jabber that is all you're hearing is really just the sound of your own voice.

[sufrommich]

30. No shit. That should tell Bernie supporters that maybe

they shouldn't have made the protest all about Bernie.

[BooScout]

62. Ya think?

[Sancho]

11. Hillary's "fail" didn't cost her as much...

because she was in a Black church talking to a black congregation. She had just come from Charleston after being on the road with the late Reverend Pinkney.

Hillary may not be able to get out the black vote like Obama obviously did, but she realized decades ago that the only way to make your case is face-to-face.

Those minorities appreciate the small groups. The appreciate the Clinton Foundation work. They are thrilled that the Clinton's work is not just in Congress, but also extends outside of government.

Say what you want, but that's why Hillary has done well in minority and immigrant and women's polls. It's years of work beyond the speeches on TV. Because of that, she gets a pass when she makes a mistake, and she get respect on the topic os social justice.

In fact, in a general election that is what puts Hillary way above most other candidates. She can walk in to a black church, an international head of state, or a Wall Street board meeting and be recognized as a player. That is an amazing set of skills and experience.

[NealK]

14. "she gets a pass when she makes a mistake"

Wow, that must make millions of passes. Good for her.

[Sancho]

8. Primaries bring out candidates weaknesses...

and I'm one of a number of DUers who have been pointing out for quite some time that Bernie has a problem equating economic justice with social justice. They are not the same thing. Economic fairness is a subset or part of social justice, and US society suffers from the marginalization of minorities, immigrants, women, and the LGBT community.

Bernie's message has not changed much in many years and it resonates with many people in today's economic times, but it's easy to see that story is not on target with the broader electorate. Even though no candidate can please everyone, a significant part of the Democratic base is mostly concerned with social justice.

No matter how many rally's attract the segment of mostly-white, aspiring middle-class supporters, Bernie simply misses the bigger picture. He will have some serious work to do if he wants to draw in the larger base. Making the claim that he marched a few decades ago or that he sponsored a failed bill years ago is simply not convincing to people who have been fooled before.

I'll say it again - lots of America don't give a rat's ass about Wall Street, TPP, or even an upswing in the minimum wage. They want voting rights (registration, gerrymandering, access to polls), a path to citizenship, family rights, equal application of law and public safety, women's equity, and equal education (admissions, costs).

[giftedgirl77]

18. K&R for being absolutely right...

I couldn't have said it better myself.

[TM99]

39. Having been fooled before don't let your fear

and inability to actually listen to what he has said, to what he has proposed, and to what he has and is doing cause you to be foolish and choose the candidate that will most certainly fool you again.

After all, the Clintons and other New Dems have a long history of campaign lies & rhetoric followed up by broken promises and disastrous governance.

His rally in Phoenix was hugely diverse, and yet that is ignored. That's your first mistake assuming it is just mostly white aspiring middle-class supporters that are attending these.

Your second mistake is divorcing Wall Street, the TPP, from the minimum wage from immigration, equal education, women's equity, etc. Sanders does not and has not separated those out like you are doing. He does not equate economic and social justice BUT he does say that we can and must work on both at the same time. We can not legislate racism, bigotry, or sexism away. But we can change how we police our cities. We can reduce black youth unemployment and incarceration levels. We can pass a Federal non-discrimination bill that will protect LGBT workers. We can give our young an affordable if not free education like all other nations strive to do.

He speaks to all of the things you list from full support for the Dream Act (remember Clinton wanted to deport the children!), pay equity for women and men, tuition free education for ALL, family rights (yup big LGBT marriage supporter before it became popular!), and reforming our police departments.

Your third and final mistake is the assumption that lots of Americans don't care about the things you listed. In fact, African Americans considered them in the top 5 for the 2014 election.

http://www.blackenterprise.com/news/top-5-political-fights-2014-america-obama-congress/

Education, job creation, and the minimum wage were 3, 4, and 5 respectively. Sanders has supported all of those and continues to do so.

So sorry to burst your bubble but no, social justice was not in the top five. Immigration reform is as much an economic issues as it is a social issue, and Obamacare is about health care.

It is not an either/or but we the people get it that we can do both together at the same time. We also get that since the 1980's for sure, economic equality and security have been ignored so that a very small percentage of Americans have while the rest either have not or struggle to have the basics at all.

[Sancho]

71. Unfortunately I live it...

I grew up in SC, and have taught in southern schools for decades. I have lived in FL now for many years along side immigrants (I have two over at the house today). No one cares if a rally is diverse. Bernie needs to be invited to visit 20 black churches in the South and tour with them. Hillary was with Reverend Pinkney the day he was shot on a quiet tour of black venues.

Hillary and the Clintons are appreciated because churches and social organizations see them working through the Clinton Foundation. There is no law or bill that will take the place of face-to-face meetings. Of course the Clinton's aren't black, but they have many appearances over the years in the South and also on Univision, so they are popular for several stances - including the first to call for a path to citizenship, the Children's Defense Fund, and many other efforts. The Clinton's don't have any more history of lies and manipulation than Bernie, they are just on a bigger stage and some people buy into the RW memes.

Yes, Wall Street and the TPP are straw men. Breaking up banks won't do anything, the TPP won't cause any more harm than good (if it's ever passed), and a Hillary simply has a plan to entice corporations to raise wages rather than attempt to force them to $15 and have another 20 year stalemate. That's why we have the mess that we have now. Too much focus on Wall Street and money - instead of a focus on justice and people. Bernie hasn't changed his tune in the many years I've listened to him. Almost none of his proposals have a chance of ever becoming law. Too simplistic and radical in most cases.

Hillary's record with people who have been in the field is excellent for children, women, and immigrants. Bernie is either unknown or seen as a distant Democrat who hardly has been on their side. Vermont doesn't have tuition equity (NY does), Bernie's plan for day care included TRACKING children, and there are many other cases where he just didn't get it.

Yes, you can legislate change. Take the attitude of people towards the disabled. It's a complete turn around in my lifetime. Also, the recent LGBT rulings will make it a non-issue in future years. As Hillary said, people need a champion for them, not a rant.

Bernie's not an awful progressive, but he's clearly not in sync with much of my experience with the community of the sunbelt, and the polls have reflected it so far. BTW - the 30 million people I'm talking about don't answer polls, and even then education and jobs are part of social justice. Blacks want EQUAL schools, access to college, equal job opportunity. Just like women should be paid equally for work (Hillary was the first to call for salary transparency and has for decades worked for women's education and immigrant education opportunities.). Those are not economic issues.

If you are black or hispanic or undocumented - even if you have money in the bank - you cannot get into the 95% white University of Florida unless you are a football player. Take my word for it!! You are misunderstanding the poll, probably just like Bernie does. If you get your college degree, you won't get hired or make as much money if you are black, hispanic, or a woman. You may not even get a job at all if you are undocumented - you might get deported (even if you grew up in Fl from the time your parents brought you here at 2 years old).

If you get that job, the real estate agent will steer you into neighborhoods where blacks are allowed, and your home loan will have a high interest rate. You will be stopped and searched in than nice neighborhood if you look out of place.

Social justice, not economic justice is the issue.

[TM99]

76. I was born in TN,

and grew up in western NC. My parents taught at a small liberal arts college for 30 years. I know the south very well.

You and I are not ever going to agree.

You have bought into the New Dem lie that social justice and economic justice are too separate things. I do not. One can not exist without the other.

You trust Clinton even though history and facts show just how bad she and her husband have been for the minority communities from NAFTA job outsourcing to three strikes drug laws to mass incarceration.

I also strongly disagree about legislating change. LGBT marriage rights was the product of a long cultural shift spanning almost two generations before a legal challenge made it successful. DADT & DOMA both of which your candidate supported set back that change by at least a full decade if not two.

You believe Hillary is a champion. She is not. She is in this for herself and like all New Dems will say what liberals want them to say but will govern in ways that are only moderately socially liberal and definitely not progressive economically. I already posted once today in a reply that the top 5 issues for AA in the 2014 election were not about social justice. They were all economic issues including immigration.

To not realize that Wall Street and the way they now own our government is not major issue is to have accepted the propaganda fully. You don't entice corporations. Since the 1970's and the rise of the Chamber of Commerce, corporations push us.

Like I said, you are not going to change your opinion and views, but I must speak out against them all the same.

[gregcrawford]

10. Quick question:

When are you planning to interrupt a Hillary Clinton event?

[sufrommich]

32. Do you honestly not see what you're doing when you

view a legitimate movement as a prop used against your candidate?

[blackspade]

12. What a bullshit line of attack.

Especially considering Sanders' history.

[bravenak]

15. His supporters lecturing black folks on his history is losing him support.

You all bring it up so much over and over even though we ALREADY KNOW THIS, that you all spawned berniesoblack. BernieSoBlack is the fault of his supporters being all "After all he's done for YOU people" to us.

[blackspade]

22. You're misunderstanding.

I'm not lecturing people of color in the slightest.
Rather, I'm making a comment about the content of the article excerpted in the OP.
Sanders has been a consistent supporter of civil rights and social justice for his whole career.
The author of the article appears to be ignoring that history.

As an aside, I am not 'you all.'
I speak for myself. Thanks.

[bravenak]

26. Everybody already knows it. We hear it day after day like a mantra.

It has become a meme. Hella funny, but still.

[blackspade]

54. Who is "everybody?"

Obviously not the author of the op's article.
As I posted below, Sanders drove the black-lives-matter point home in his speech in AZ.
So it would appear that the critics were a bit quick to jump to conclusions about him.

[bravenak]

55. We all know it. I got repeated so much this weekend I don't think there anybody who pays attention

who does not know. Black twitter certainly knows, and they would like the lecture to stop.

[blackspade]

57. So your point is what?

That politicians should not be judged by their history?
Only the here and now?
History doesn't matter now? Discussing history is lecturing?
Should they be judged and written off over a single appearance?

You keep repeating the same thing over and over with no explanation as to what point you are trying to get across.

[bravenak]

58. Your lectures suck to black people. Even if you are black and lecturing, other black people will

hate you for it. Nobody likes paternalistic lectures on how lucky you be to have this guy (HE MARCHED WITH KING DAMMIT) for your president.
Black people do not give a damn about marching with King back in the day when it comes to picking our next president. I marched with King is the new black friend. We want to be listened to not nattered at. We want to be spoken with face to face not just be a line in a speech about prisons and unemplyoment. We don't want to ever hear again in a condescending tone that HE MARCHED WITH KING! HE'S DONE SO MUCH FOR YOU PEOPLE!!! YOU'D BE LUCKY TO HAVE HIM!!! IT'S BEST FOR YOU!!! Just sayin'.

[blackspade]

60. Who is lecturing here?

I'm asking questions so I understand your point of view.


Your belligerent stance is unnecessary with me.
If you choose not to engage in a discussion that might get your point across, then that's on you.

[bravenak]

61. See you around.

[blackspade]

63. I'll be here.

I appreciate your posts and your point of view.
I just wish you would be more explanatory.
Take care.

[Bobbie Jo]

67. More explanatory??

Are you kidding?

She couldn't have been MORE explanatory if she drew you a map with point by point directions.

If you ask a question, LISTEN TO THE ANSWER. How difficult is this??

I swear some of you folks are absolutely exasperating.

Damn.

[blackspade]

68. You're piling on, why?

Perhaps to you she was clear, but not to me.
It may be exasperating, but I had some pretty clear questions that were not answered.

African-Americans do not like to be lectured to. Check, got that and totally understandable.
No one does. But that had nothing to do with my comment about this abysmal article.
My questions to her have to do with the following:

That politicians should not be judged by their history?
Only the here and now?
History doesn't matter now? Discussing history is lecturing?
Should they be judged and written off over a single appearance?

Those were my questions that were not answered.
I'm pretty sure that bravenak can speak for herself in this case.
I find her to be generally responsive and clear. This is not one of those times.

If you care to try, have at it.

[Bobbie Jo]

70. I have a real aversion

to beating my head against a brick wall.

Engaging you on this issue yields similar results.

[blackspade]

72. You have not engaged me at all.

You have hectored me about my questions rather than discuss what I am missing here.
I'll ask you his then: What is this issue?

[BooScout]

17. but what about the present???

History is all well and good, but what about now? What you fail to understand is that there is a problem TODAY in America. Dragging out the line, I marched with Martin is not enough. People have valid concerns. They want answers and they want dialogue. They do not want to be told to sit down and be quiet. This is 2015, moving to the back of the bus is no longer an option.

[blackspade]

28. No need for hyperbole.

Last edited Mon Jul 20, 2015, 09:24 AM - Edit history (1)

Social justice has always been a problem in this country.

I will direct you to this, which occurred after Netroot Nation:

"And like everybody in this room, I want to see an America where when young black men walk down the street they will not be harassed by police officers, they will not be killed; they will not be shot!" (Standing Ovation)

"To his credit, President Obama did something extraordinary the other day, he had the courage to go to a federal jail and talk about the absurdity of a criminal justice system in which if we don't change it 1 out of 4 male African Americans born today will end up behind bars. That is NOT the America we believe in."

"And that's why we believe it makes more sense to invest in jobs and education, not jails and incarceration!"

"And to our 11 million brothers and sisters who are living in the shadows today, we say loudly and we say clearly we are going to bring you out of the shadows and on a path toward citizenship. And we're not going to divide families up, brothers and sisters... we are the wealthiest nation in the world, there is nothing we cannot accomplish."

It would appear that your commentary is unfounded in the here and now.

[Triana]

47. If they want answers and dialogue, maybe shouting down candidates at an event...

...isn't the way to get that.

They've trashed the candidacy of every Dem candidate but Clinton. And her own record on the issue in question is not nearly what Sanders' is.

[Vinca]

19. Sanders and O'Malley have every right to be confronted, it was the mode of attack.

There might have been a productive discussion. Instead, there was a sideshow. It's one thing to disrupt an event an opponent is conducting and another completely to disrupt events of people in your corner. Do they think they'll get better policy out of one of the GOP candidates if elected? If so, sign up for their campaigns and work for them. Rick Perry might hold an organizing event at his vacation home.

[MannyGoldstein]

21. We can disagree as to the appropriateness of Bernie's response to the ambush,

but in the big picture...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251459005

[NealK]

24. +1

[Triana]

48. +1 n/t

[blackspade]

59. +1000

[arcane1]

74. But that doesn't fit the narrative. The narrative MUST be preserved, facts or no facts.

[daleanime]

25. Which Hillary elected not to take....

[bvf]

27. This is a despicable OP.

Please put your race-baiting shit back where it belongs and spare us all.

[BooScout]

38. So one of most Liberal magazines in America.....

....publishes race baiting articles now. Thanks for you concern.

[bvf]

44. Things change.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/12/the-new-republic-an-appreciation/383561/

Keep up. Or rather, don't, if that suits your purpose.

[marmar]

56. The New Republic is HARDLY one of the most liberal mags in America.

One of the most neoliberal? You bet.

[brentspeak]

64. "(The New Republic is) is one of most Liberal magazines in America"

[JackInGreen]

29. I'm not exactly sure what would be qualified

As a "win" in that context.
but I guess this might be a step in the right direction?http://www.democraticunderground.com/128026657

[1StrongBlackMan]

33. I have yet to read the article or the subsequent comments; but, will tell you ...

progressives on DU disagree ... vehemently!

It doesn't matter what other people ... especially, (the mainstream of) PoC, say.

[Betty Karlson]

34. Or maybe the Hillary people could stop treating civil rights as a test case

and take civil rights as serious as Mr. Sanders now does?

[bvf]

36. To Clinton,

everything is a test case. Gotta keep thàt finger in the wind until it's perfectly safe to say anything definitive.

[raouldukelives]

35. I disagree that if Bernie or Martin had said "Sandra Bland"

They all would have taken seats and listened intently. But, we'll never know.

The one thing I am sure of is that racism is in this country trickles down. In fact, it may be the only thing that ever has trickled down on us. The hate, ethics and morals of the wealthiest.

Men like Donald Sterling, Donald Trump, Jamie Dimon aren't aberrations, and if one pays attention, one might catch a little accidental glimpse behind the curtain.

There are those that labor to increase the volume and power of the voices of hate and there are those who labor to create a better world.

If you want to find people who don't care about racism, who don't mind starting wars for personal gain, who don't care about climate change, who like the privatization of education, who gain from the incarceration and torture of the weakest among us and who desperately want things to remain the same, just look for the owners of those corporations who profit from it, the shareholders.

If one wishes to stand against racism, not standing with the racists would be a good start.

[daybranch]

40. Those who control the economy control the government and by extension the so9ciety itself

Bernie was right. While the group Black Lives Matter want immediate and specific answers to the abuse their African American faces, those answers do nothing to address the systemic racism being used to divide us. We have to make it uneconomical to oppress black communities as in Ferguson. We have to make it uneconomical to shoot down an African American shopper in the BeavercreekWalmart carryng a pellet gun. Yes changes in procedures can do much to eliminate these killings of people of color but the real cause of these racist actions is control and manipulation of our society for the economic benefit of the rich. If Beavercreek police actually felt they were responsible to black citizenry for their jobs and livelihood, John Crawford the second would have been talked to, not shot. If Ferguson's black voters, gain control over their police departments then the systematic looting by the police of the African American community in Ferguson will stop. These events tragically reveal what Bernie Sanders is saying, people black and white must take political and economic power back from the rich class whose goal is to divide the people for the economic gain of the rich.
So yes. there are ways to reduce the impacts of police racism which oppresses African Americans across our country, these include body cameras, removal of military gear, community based policing among others. But to really make a dent, the guys in charge have to want to do it. Police chiefs work for local government and local government like National government is controlled primarily by the rich. Until you make those racist actions unacceptable to those in control they live on. So Bernie is right, racism is a control mechanism used by the rich to focus attention on African Americans as violent, lazy, and undeserving. By this mechanism the rich prey on the insecurities of working class whites to win their support. So change economics to benefit more and more and you change race relations, not easy but very necessary.

[Gamecock Lefty]

42. Little by Little . . .

Bernie supporters are becoming defensive and unglued. Imagine attacks on Bernie like they've been doing for months against Hillary. "But wait, look at all the people at his rallies."

All Hail, King Bernie! When's his coronation???

[Darb]

43. Oooooh, the #BlackLivesMatter test, shit, I better study.

Anyone got a study guide, because O'Malley and Sanders apparently got it waaaaaay wrong. I need to bone up before I end up on the wrong side of #BlackLivesMatter.

Any help? Is there a course, #BalckLivesMatter 101? Where can I find the Cliff's Notes? I need to pull an all-nighter.

[HoosierCowboy]

45. Much to do about nothing

It is always to the advantage of the opposition to consume the oxygen of the debate. When you have no case, in the terms of Bill Maher, "You have to start pulling it out of your a$$".

We can expect these BenGhazi type insinuations as Sanders fills stadiums. Usually based on vapor but when vapor is exposed to sunlight, it will usually stain the siding on one's house.


It is refreshing to know that Sanders has finally become such a serious threat to the status quo that the attacks will begin.

Hey DU this is from New Republic, does it really belong here, or is this a training exercise?

To address the issue of this hit piece, Given the choice between equality and money, I'll take the money, I can buy my equality on my own terms.

Sanders has a better history of support for Civil Rights than any of the the protesters at that event. First most of them weren't around in the Bad Old days of the Civil Rights movement.

Check it out:http://www.democraticunderground.com/128017387

[Darb]

46. They're smacking O'Malley too, what's your insight into that?

I'm sure you have some pearls explaining how ...............Bernie Bernie Bernie Bernie.

[MoonRiver]

50. BLM is now the status quo?

Wow, who knew?

[imthevicar]

49. Ya know it's a funny thing about this post.

It's a lying sack of shite, I sat through the entire video. What I saw was a group of trolls ambushing a man who was calming trying to state his position. The moment he decided he wasn't going to be the bad guy and try to shout down folks, he calmly asked the moderator to get control of the audience. Bernie never lost his cool, now that's news!
Look, I under stand you are in love with HRC but this shallow attempt, Really? this is a tempest in a tea cup. and will most likely help him, no matter how you Scream like you skinned your knee.
BTW, the worst thing to do on this board when you don't like someone, is to draw attention with a NO NEWS idem like this, so Thanks for the publicity! and have a good day!

[John Poet]

52. Failed their "test"? That was more like a "pop quiz" !

I think what they say and do going forward, matters more than their reaction to an unexpected demonstration.

[BooScout]

66. Ummmmmm the Bern introduced the 'test' into the conversation

Go back and listen to his remarks and we'll chat about who passed the litmus test.

[HassleCat]

53. Well, somebody failed

Many people think it was Tia Oso. I agree with that. Inviting people to speak, ambushing them, heckling them, shouting them down for giving the "wrong" answer, etc. Jana Zinzi said that "...something legitimate is being communicated." Really? And what was that? They failed to explain what it was they were trying to say. They were too busy enjoying their moment of meaningless triumph.

[artislife]

65. It's more like their supporters did

The thing that both candidates have is that they are far superior to the third candidate.

I don't think this stops either campaign, but I do hope that the tone deaf section of Bernie's side realize this isn't a battle of the bands like competition. This is about REAL life and experience.

Experience that they know nothing about, they need to stop trying to "get it" "empathize" and "suggest". No, they need to say "I don't know what is going on. I need to stop and listen. Actively. And I need to realize that I am not the smartest person in the room.


And answering a question just to answer it isn't smart. Let someone else have the floor. Your life may change for the better because of it.

I kind of wish I hadn't remembered this site when I was all excited about talking about Bernie to the masses. I wanted to feel the same joy I had backing Obama. Well, guess what.

Racism is not so easy to eradicate. This is a great flushing of all our systems to get this dreck up and OUT.

We have work to do, a planet to save, lives to save and futures to make brighter.

Lets get on it.

[MohRokTah]

69. Bernie Sanders sees racism as a symptom of income inequality.

The black community sees income inequality as a symptom of racism.

It's going to be difficult for the candidate to meld those two viewpoints together.

[Little Star]

73. Yep.

[Scootaloo]

78. And which of the two can an elected official have a greater impact on?

Income inequality is, for the most part a "system" problem. Wage floors can be raised. Work conditions and hiring practices can be regulated and enforced. progressive taxation and public investment can enrich communities and equalize wages that way.

Racism on the other hand, cannot be legislated away. You can't fix racism by writing a bill. You can't regulate hate out of the society. The best you can do is squeeze it out by legislation that equalizes the palces where inequality due to racism is expressed - such as income inequality.

Maybe you can tell me how Clinton will cure racism while - blissfully! - leaving income inequality intact. And why, if she possesses this nigh-supernatural power, she hasn't already used it.

[Scootaloo]

75. Let me know if Clinton ever shows up to take it herself

I expect the lot of you to have big ol' Geraldine Gerrafalo meltdowns.

[eridani]

79. The candidate of "hardworking people, white people"? n/t

[Cha]

77. Good on Tia Oso and #BlackLivesMatter Activists!

Mahalo Boo!