Discussion: Ta-Nehisi Coates Says He Will Vote For Bernie Sanders

Discussion for article #245843

Doesn’t he live in DC? Won’t he have to wait until June to vote in a primary? Will Bernie still be in it then?

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This totally doesn’t matter, because . . .

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Frankly my dear I don’t give a damn.

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I’d be curious to know: when Sanders ends up only winning NH, VT,and OR, will he support Clinton?

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It totally does matter because…

I have immense respect for TNC, but a journalist’s Twitter non-endorsement/declaration of intention isn’t really a big deal.

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Interesting threading of the needle…

Certainly as a journalist it would have been very easy to avoid answering, yet he answered.

I think the drip, drip, drip, starts here as it did after IA in 08 (my opinion only, not a dig at HRC)

I wonder if Bill Clinton can avoid responding to this… (even as a Bernie supporter I hope he can)

I think there was snark there and presumption about what some HRC supporters will say…

I like a little snark so I liked his comment.

I also like realism, so I liked yours as well.

Coates has been very critical of President Obama. Not sure but don’t think that a lot of AAs appreciate this man’s running critique of President Obama. He does fit the profile of AAs who are endorsing Senator Sanders on their criticism and disdain for President Obama. I mean even Senator Sanders thought that somebody should primary President Obama in 2012. I don’t think that most AAs have the same socialistic view as Senator Sanders. I would be very surprised.

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“I expected more,” Coates said of the possibility of Sanders supporting reparations. "I’m thrilled to see an actual radical left-wing, uniquely left-wing option in the Democratic party."

no comment

He elaborated on his decision on Twitter, saying he felt obligated to say who he planned to vote for because he makes “a career asking awkward questions.” It wasn’t an endorsement of Sanders, he added:

a vote is an endorsement, especially when you make it known.

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Maryland’s (i think he is in B-more) primary is in April

Is Bernie a radical? No, not really. He’s essentially a New Deal Democrat.

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Who gives a damn?

No, he’s an “independent” who doesn’t always work with Democrats.

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A big deal? No. But it’s continuing evidence that the race is fluid. Clinton lost in NH among constituencies that previously supported her. If she has to fight harder for African American votes, it’s likely a good thing for both her campaign and for African Americans.

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You can add Latinos to that sentiment (“same socialistic view”) as well. But, perhaps we should just heed the worldly experience of 20-something white college liberals.

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No, because he’s going to run as an independent* because “this election is too important.”

(*His claim to the contrary notwithstanding.)

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Bernie broke even with registered Democrats in NH. He won largely because of of a huge independent turn out.

Bernie lost by ~25 points with people who support Obama’s policies.

She leads Bernie among blacks by close to 70 points. Similar numbers with Hispanics.

She is just fine with her constituencies.

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I think he captures some of the wary support that Sanders has. He is definitely closer to my politics than Clinton and I have plenty of concerns about her, but I have questions about Sanders. How will he work with Congress, which will continue to be batshit crazy? Who will he bring into government? Part of Carter’s frank failure as president was that he brought an an odd collection of people into government and areas like foreign policy were a bit incoherent, even with him effectively being his own secretary of state. The media still treat Sanders as a novelty act and basically ask dumb questions about policy of all of them, and never really speak to governance, so I retain my ambivalence regardless of who gets my vote in the primary. As for whether the DC pimary will matter----Hilary was still in the race in 2008 when I voted for her. Like Sanders, i thought there was much to like about Obama but I had concerns about how he would govern.

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