In politics, perception is everything. Has been forever. Bernie can talk about all the issues you mentioned, but if it’s only to lilly white crowds, the perception is that he’s just giving lip service. Have him give the same speech in pre-dominantly black and latino neighborhoods and it will be much, much more effective. Talking about police brutality to a demographic that is the lowest percentage to receive it is not good campaigning. If he really is in this to win, he needs to start diversifying his audience because without a strong black and latino turn out, he doesn’t stand a chance.
Sir…I don’t idolize or worship Senator Sanders. I am incredibly logical and dispassionate about the subject. The problem here is that while you may feel that he does not bring up the issue of race enough, the reality is that he talks about issues that impact minorities quite a lot. That is my only problem with what you stated and continue to state.
The reality is that I tend to try very hard to correct misinformation, and while I do wish Senator Sanders’ positions regarding gun control were different, it does not change the fact that he talks about issues which heavily impact minorities every day be it poverty, police violence, or immigration. That he doesn’t wrap it up in a big old Race Issue bow (the statement about photo-op about Beyonce was about that tendency) is just how he has always been.
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And his positions on those issues are why – as I said before – I think he has a valuable role to play in this race.
But he lives, and always has, in a very white world, which is reflected in his support base and in the issues he focuses upon. I don’t dislike him, or wish him out of the race. But I also don’t think he can hold together the modern Democratic coalition, or be nationally viable. Iowa and NH are likely to be his high water mark.
As I said, as long as support for him doesn’t turn into “I’ll never support Hillary if she’s the nominee,” I have no quarrel.
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Then the fun one is going to be Senator Sanders marching in the March on Washington back in the 1960’s.
Right now, he has barely begun his campaign. He has mostly hit Wisconsin, New Hampshire and Iowa. That will change with time. I live in Vermont. I attended a Sanders town hall meeting where there were no minorities at all…and why? My city’s got something like a 0.01% minority population.
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Um…really? Sanders grew up in New York City. He’s Jewish. He marched in the March on Washington. He was a Civil Rights organizer. There’s a lot that you seem to be missing in your analysis of Senator Sanders. He has not always lived in a very white world.
I mean, I get that we live in the Whitest State in the Nation- Vermont, but he was mayor of Burlington, which has one of our highest percentages of racial minorities. So, please look up everything and research the man’s history before saying things like this.
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He also used it as an example of how he can win against ISIS.
The recall was mostly pushed by the Unions (and who can blame them), not so much by the Democratic Party. Walker’s margin of victory came mostly from convincing 20% of the voters that that recall itself was inappropriate.
Another factor was the total lack of noteworthy candidates. The Democrats ran the same grey politico who lost to Walker in the previous election.
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Yes, I’m quite aware that he’s Jewish, as am I, and from New York, as were my parents. I don’t need to “look that up.” Again, please do not assume that anyone who disagrees with you must be an ill-informed ignoramus.
And yes, I am aware of his marching in the '60s. Being Jewish does not automatically make him deeply involved with minority issues today. I’m hardly suggesting he’s a racist. But his involvement with the civil rights movement decades ago has not been particularly followed upon with more recent policy involvement.
You deny worshiping him – fine, I’ll accept that. But you bristle at any suggestion that he has serious flaws as a candidate, and assume that anyone who differs with you lacks basic facts – after all, how else could they disagree with you?
Suffice it to say, you don’t do your position any favors by loftily scoffing at anyone who thinks otherwise. That’s not a good way to build a movement.
And I think that’s quite enough of this rather pointless back and forth. As I said, all I really care about is that Sanders supporters back the eventual Dem nominee, whoever it is.
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Agreed… I’d also add that the first primaries are in very white states… So to note he is speaking to mostly white crowds says more about the primary schedule than Bernie.
That said, trips to NV and SC should be sooner than later.
As far as the worry that Bernie’s supporters won’t vote of Hillary is the nominee… not sure many who supports him would prefer a Republican in the WH. I am sure that they are savy enough to know that no vote is the same as a vote for a Republican…
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And if so, I have no quarrel with Sanders supporters. Differing over the best nominee is democracy. Only sitting out the election or wasting your vote if you don’t get your guy worries me. Hopefully people have indeed learned the lesson of Nader.
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To be fair should the Inevitable again prove to be not so, I hope that we can do without the P.U.M.A business this time around.
Seems we are all on the same team, if for no other reason than pending S.C. vacancies. As they are both likely to choose pro choice justices, though Berbies choices are likely to be less corporate
Or 2010, 2014
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Thanks for that Artemisia. Let’s see if TPM continues to miss the headlines or substitute it with:
Bernie Draws 10,000 Naderite Hippies But It Doesn’t Matter 'Cause Hillary.
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Based on what? The opinion of the MSM, who guffaws at the word socialism?
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Thanks to Citizen’s United, it is fundamental to American politics that “he who pays the piper calls the tune.”
That means who a candidate takes money from is more important than what they say.
The last thing we need is another billionaire boot-licker. Bernie might be the last chance in our lives to support a candidate who is not a billionaire boot-licker. LAST CHANCE.
These are the reasons why Bernie is gaining on Hillary.
Bernie could be the political equivalent of a disruptive technology. Imagine the political establishment in Washington if money doesn’t buy an election.
Last time Hillary, by virtue of her vote on the Iraq war was on the wrong side of the Iraq War issue, This time, by virtue of her ties to BigMoney/Wall-Street, she is on the wrong side of inequality issue.
That said, in the general election I’ll vote for the least worst candidate, which means if it’s Hillary versus some GOPer, then I’ll vote for her.
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Boy howdy! That’s how we got Nixon and Dubya. Bernie has an influence on Hillary, and Hillary is not Bill. Either of them is light years beyond what we’ll get if petulant perfectionists stay home.
Madison did deliver; however, the rest of Wisconsin is not Madison. When will Austin deliver Texas to the good gals and guys?
Have you mentioned where? I lived in Marlboro, Newfane, and West Brattleboro from 1971–1975 while I was in college. Gad I miss it.
Assuming that’s true, I think his location may be a big part of that. I find it hard to blame him for concentrating on issues most critical to the citizens of Burlington (as mayor) and of Vermont.
As far as I’m concerned, our cup runneth over. I’d love to see Bernie on the ticket with Hillary. I think either of them would make an excellent president, and I don’t think he’d make her less electable. I can’t remember having been so excited, so far in advance, about the prospect of a presidential election. And certainly not at a time when someone I deeply admired was currently in the White House.
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Most importantly, I expect him to throw heart and soul into electing Hillary when the time comes, and to implore his admirers to follow him in that. He’s no Gene McCarthy, praise be.
You know, if you count the metro, Austin’s not more liberal than Dallas, or not much, anyway. Williamson County is blood red. Houston is trending bluer, and should continue to do so, although if you read the comments on the Chronicle website, you’d think the place was Jasper.
Getting out the Hispanic vote in Bexar, El Paso, and the Valley would be a great help. So would horrible weather in Lubbock, the Permian Basin, and East Texas.
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