On getting the black vote...

[AZ Progressive]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/larry-harris-jr/bernie-sanders-hillary-clinton-black-issues_b_9159902.html

Why do Black people continue to support Clinton when Sanders is clearly a better candidate on our issues?

I want to start to try to answer that question by pointing out the Clintons truly dubious record on Black issues. I'm sure many of you know what I'm talking about, but just in case you don't here is a list of some of my qualms with the Clintons:

- signed into law the 94 crime bill, which greatly increased mass incarceration
- signed the GOP's welfare reform bill into law
- signed the law that unraveled Glass-Steagall leading to the mortgage crisis, which greatly impacted Black home ownership; still oppose reinstating Glass-Steagall
- wants to move pot to schedule II on the controlled substances list with cocaine


On the other hand, Bernie Sanders has made many strong statements about his plans for Black Americans:

- wants community policing in cities like Boston used in the Boston Miracle to drive down crime and improve relations between people and police
- supports Glass-Steagall to break up the big banks and prevent Wall Street from negatively impacting savings banks
- wants to raise the minimum wage to15 an hour; nearly 5 percent of African Americans earn the minimum wage or less  --  that's higher than for any other race or ethnicity
- wants to move pot completely off the controlled substances schedule and get the federal government out of the way on marijuana; Blacks are 3.73 times more likely to be arrested for pot possession than Whites

To me, the choice is clear. And the difference now between Hillary and Bernie's African American support is largely driven by a lack of information. Black people need to know more about Bernie and more about the Clintons' record. I was surprised when Sanders won every one of Deray Mckesson's Democratic Primary polls on Twitter.

The race between Clinton and Sanders is apparently not close when you're talking about young Black people. The question is: when will older Black people catch up?

[tm1323]

1. From a black man and Sanders supporter...

It can sound really patronizing when black people are told that they should be voting for Bernie because his policies are better. It comes off as a "hey, black person who can't make up your mind for yourself, you should support who I support because I said so." I know that's not at all what you mean, and it all comes from a place of good intentions, but even I (as a Sanders supporter) get turned off sometimes when I hear white people telling black people who to vote for.

[TTUBatfan2008]

2. Agree with you on that for sure...

...but at the same time I do not believe it is unfair to point out the old school political machine that Clinton has behind her. There has also been some nasty race-baiting from people like David Brock, which hasn't helped. Bernie needs to do a better job getting his message out there. I think this is a very good video but sadly very few people across the country will see it:

[tm1323]

3. Agreed

That is definitely my favorite video/interview of this campaign. An excellent analysis into the root problems in the black community with extremely knowledgeable and passionate people. I really hope Bernie's message gets out to black people, because he is clearly the best choice, but I think the authoritarian model of "I know what's best for you" will only do the opposite. I'm going to keep advocating for Bernie to a general audience and let him, his campaign staff, and the influential black leaders who have endorsed him do the rest!

[Admiral Loinpresser]

4. Welcome to DU! n/t

[Unknown Beatle]

5. The person that wrote the article for Huffington post is African-American.

[MrChuck]

9. Am I wrong?

POC don't need my help in making their decisions. It's not fair to judge them as a homogeneous block anyway. Diversity is a phenomenon of individual minds, not just skin tone.
If one group of people gets Bernie then other groups will get Bernie. He doesn't have a white message. He has a people's message.

[Betty Karlson]

6. K&R for exposure. eom

[Dems to Win]

7. Four state representatives in South Carolina have endorsed Bernie

Not much news coverage, but we need to help spread the word.

Rep. Justin Bamber:


see last paragraph: http://www.sltrib.com/home/3510760-155/story.html

He's been on CNN, explaining his switch from Clinton to Bernie:

https://twitter.com/PoppyHarlowCNN/status/696085401837166592 (video is embedded in this tweet if you follow link)

Rep. Bamberg is also co-counsel to the family of Walter Scott, who was killed by police.
?
Also Reps. Joe Neal, Terry Alexander, Wendell Gilliard have endorsed Bernie

[nc4bo]

8. It's a fine line that must be walked. It's good Bernie hss

Some very good AA surrogates out there but you have to get them into places where black people live, work, play and hang out.

Clinton has had decades to figure that out and hammer in the programming. Bernie doesn't have that luxury.

He will have more success with the younger voter.

The older ones are gonna be tougher nuts to crack. Many older religious folks still can't or found it exceptionally difficult to accept marriage equality.

Like the Carolina Panthers' motto goes....Bernie has to keep pounding and he can begin to shave off some of that AA vote. Don't think Clinton doesn't know that and will throw that kitchen sink and jump a cliff to keep it from happening

Btw, just my thoughts out loud.

[AZ Progressive]

10. King: The idea of an African-American firewall for Hillary Clinton is deeply insulting

Hillary Clinton may have deep brand recognition, but she sure as hell doesn't have a fail-proof firewall with black voters. She isn't even truly progressive on many issues that matter to black voters. Ta-Nehisi Coates, in a recent editorial, made it clear that nobody should be surprised by this. He said:

"Hillary Clinton has no interest in being labeled radical, left-wing, or even liberal. Thus announcing that Clinton doesn’t support reparations is akin to announcing that Ted Cruz doesn’t support a woman’s right to choose. The position is certainly wrong. But it is hardly a surprise, and doesn't run counter to the candidate’s chosen name....Voters, and black voters particularly, should never forget that Bill Clinton passed arguably the most immoral ‘anti-crime’ bill in American history, and that Hillary Clinton aided its passage through her invocation of the super-predator myth."

Here, we have one of the nation's foremost scholars and one of the nation's most prominent writers each agreeing that Hillary Clinton is, to say the least, problematic for black voters. Gone are the days when any candidate should ever assume that the black vote is simply waiting there for them. Our votes must be earned. All talk of an African-American firewall for Hillary Clinton should cease.

Thursday, in a powerful endorsement of Bernie Sanders, the actor and humanitarian Danny Glover wrote, "This campaign is a rare, perhaps unprecedented event in this country's modern electoral history. It deserves the support of everyone who favors social and economic justice."

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/king-african-american-firewall-clinton-insulting-article-1.2521962