Just like Bernie listened to the BLM peeps at NetRoots Nation, and
within 24 hours, spoke out tonight in Pheonix to 11,000 people in
solidarity WITH them, bless his heart.

Bernie is willing to listen, learn , and help. He's got a 50 year record of supporting the AA community, even though he's from a predominately white state. He even scheduled a meeting with BLM for constructive dialog. This wasn't a case of a candidate needing a push. It was a case of a handful of self-centered jerks who cared more about getting camera time than they did fixing a serious problem.

Depending on what they're trying to achieve, that is.

My guess is their approach will turn people off, than rally them to their cause.

alienate Sanders from BLM, then you don't know Sanders very well. Unlike every other pol in this country, he actually listens. He's actually smart enough to figure out what they want and need from him, without some one in his crew to tell him.

If there's any candidate who would take them head on, even after their little stunt today, it's Sanders. But, as I've posted elsewhere... he doesn't suffer fools.

Despite incessant postings of "The List" on DU, he failed over and over again to uphold his proclamation that he would be a "fierce advocate."

I think Bernie's further along on racial justice issues than Obama was on LGBT issues in 2009. No doubt he needs to be pushed, but I'm not sure this was the time and place. Even if it was, I worry there was nothing he could do to prove himself to the protestors.

Decades further.

Because I think you're confused. Obama made historic strides his first term in support of LGBT rights.

1) DADT was overturned in Obama's first term - with a full throttled push by the White House.
2) Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act in 2009.
3) Obama directed the Justice Department to stop defending DOMA - which helped lead to its overturning in his second term.
3) Obama was the first president ever to come out in support of marriage equality.

All of that was done in his first term.

As for your point about Bernie. I don't know. I'll admit, I'm not as well versed on the legislation Bernie has drafted in regards to racial issues. I might have to give that look.

That didn't happen. I give credit to Obama where he is due, and he's due a lot. But he failed to get that one done. He also managed to drag his feet on some other things: repealing DADT almost didn't happen before the Republicans took Congress, he didn't support marriage equality until later in his first term, he gave aid and comfort to homophobes at even his inauguration.

I don't think Obama is perfect, I don't think Bernie is perfect, and I don't think Hillary is perfect. Too much damn stink on this board is caused because a) some people think their person is perfect and b) everybody else demands them to be. That's not how the world works, it's important to give support when they do thinks right and legitimate criticism when they do things wrong.

Every step he took you're turning around and dismissing it. Whatever, though.

Obama did more in his first four years as president for gay rights than any president before him combined.

I don't know if Bernie has done more for blacks, or racial justice, in the House & Senate during his time there like you claim, since I'm not as educated on the bills he's proposed and passed while in both chambers. But Obama was revolutionary when it came to gay rights - both in how he spoke about them as president and what we was able to push through.

There is an ocean of difference between the two.

However, I do understand your point. Sometihing has to give regarding the way our fellow African American citizens are treated in this country (as well as women of all stripes)... we need to keep up the pressure.

From 2008.

Obama, until 2012, undeniably held very visible and bigoted views on LGBT people. From an intellectual standpoint, he understood the need to treat people equally - but his version of equal for LGBT people was to give us separate water fountains (civil protection v. marriage).

Not to mention featuring Rick Warren as part of his inauguration. That act was part of a meticulously planned event. As such, it was far more offensive and tone death than anyone responding off the cuff (as O'Malley did) to the assertion "Black lives matter" with "White lives matter. All lives matter.

His position on marriage and the inclusion of Warren were, perhaps, the most visible manifestations of his deep seated bigotry against/discomfort with LGBT people, but they represent his core feelings that - most of the time - he knew intellectually were unjust.

I am grateful he has changed, and give credit to his children and their friends, at least one trans woman I know who has his ear since early in his administration, and the many others whose frequent or infrequent contact with him as out LGBT individuals were instrumental in changing his heart on this matter.

But it is offensive to suggest that his advocacy now wipes out his very public, bigoted positions and actions prior to 2012.

BLM are being their own worst enemies by attacking the people who support them & would be the most help to them if elected....

Yep.