Bernie is making up for his inability to attract minority voters. I think this is a little be late for him.

The FHA problem and tRump's agitation around the Central Park 5 offered pretty big clues, but there's always been even more (https://www.vox.com/2016/7/25/12270880/donald-trump-racism-history), but the media didn't cover it until after the election!

but his many of his perceived stumbles on race lessened my interest in him dramatically (and constantly being hounded about how he's a super soldier for civil rights). Same with Clinton, with how she seemed to be quite defensive when being asked questions on race, especially with "black lives matter". It dropped my enthusiasm but I still voted for her in the general.

With all that to say, Its a bit late in my eyes and I can appreciate this strong stance against 45. But this 2020 field is way too large and talented.

voters. It was more than obvious.

... and all I'm saying is that Vermont isn't a very racially diverse state so it's unlikely he's going to meet many POC when interacting with his constituents.

Being from Vermont is not an excuse, he has been a US Senator and Presidential candidate, he should be used to cultural differences or else he is not qualified.

You're absolutely correct. It's NOT an excuse... just a possible explanation that makes sense if... someone can't be bothered to become more familiar with, and comfortable with various cultural differences, ethnic differences, and socioeconomic differences.

All I'm saying is, as you and I both know, it's not that hard to be a well-rounded and culturally aware citizen. I think everyone can agree with your point that anyone seeking higher office should also possess this knowledge and experience. It's not asking too much. It's quite reasonable that voters should hold out this standard as being a baseline/minimum qualification... and anyone else below that line doesn't qualify.

He was born and raised in NYC (Brooklyn, which Spike Lee dubbed "Crooklyn" and made a movie about his own neighborhood there). He went to college in Chicago and didn't move to Vermont until he was 27 years old.

Caucasian descent. Moreover, people who may be physically white are more than likely mixed with another race. We are global citizens. One would think a politician would have the sense to know that. Bernie doesn't come across as culturally informed and someone we can rely on to promote racial issues and diversity at all. I'm going with Joe & Kamala on this one.

I don't think it's race. He's a very focused person. Most of us older more "mature" folks need to be that way since quick adaptability is not a great strength.

I voted for Bernie in the primaries and enthusiastically supported Hillary for president. I'd really like to see some more adaptable candidates in the future. Time marches on.

I am glad you voted for Hillary in the end, many of his supporters did not. His half hearted support was duly noted.

And Bernie is so 2016. Minority Voters will have plenty of other candidates to choose from, including Ms. Kamala Harris - so there's that.

is that if Bernie retains most of his support from 2016 and the Clinton vote is divided between Harris, Booker, Warren, Klobuchar and a few others.

Got news for you, no Bernie, no AOC. Show B some love. Big tent!

So just keep dumpin. It's just as the "anyone but HRC" crew. If I get it. Folks are afraid he's gonna be a spoiler,https://goo.gl/images/V5JPwg

who don't agree.

the cause, and you disparage him on this day. Wow.

insult you or anyone. Pathetic how everyone piles on Bernie for his "fabricated" minority problem. What swill. Why is everyone so quiet on Bernie and his civil rights activism before most of this board was born. That is insulting. I guess folks gotta whine something when the facts get in the way. Bernie is slandered on this site because he's feared here. Well that's tough, gang. Go out and fight harder for your candidiate. BTW, I am a Kamala Bro. Not you care but others might.

on edit, how can yo have 200000000 posts and be so thin skinned?

Bernie Aleays had a flair for the obvious.

This is hardly a revelation.

Nailed it! Although I'm pleased to hear it... there's really no need for anyone to boast about it as if he's some "trailblazer" who's taking a path not yet taken. It's not as if he's saying things that nobody else has has the nerve to say.

The interesting thing is that Bernie Sanders still has trouble acknowledging that Trump sometimes wins because of the fact that he is racist, rather than in spite of it. Bernie has been pretty consistent in pushing this idea that Trump is openly racist, but Trump's die hard supporters are not racists, but they are just economically anxious.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bernie-sanders-andrew-gillum-stacey-abrams_us_5be48626e4b0769d24cadd68

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) drew criticism Thursday after saying many white voters in the South who felt “uncomfortable” voting for black candidates for the first time were “not necessarily racist.”

The comment came in an interview with The Daily Beast published Thursday, in which the senator discussed the difficulties faced by black gubernatorial candidates Andrew Gillum in Florida and Stacey Abrams in Georgia.

“I think you know there are a lot of white folks out there who are not necessarily racist who felt uncomfortable for the first time in their lives about whether or not they wanted to vote for an African-American,” Sanders told the outlet. “I think next time around, by the way, it will be a lot easier for them to do that.”

A number of writers and activists of color called Sanders out for implying it wasn’t racist to reject a candidate based on race. “Many would define not supporting someone based solely on race as racist,” PBS correspondent Yamiche Alcindor noted.

It is one of the few doable steps we could take to open a conversation with Republicans and/or those on the right. An acknowledgement that it is difficult to accept change, accept the new, the never happened before, the leap of trusting 100% a candidate that does not look like you, but also does not come from the same culture, music, etc...as your family.

But the left is too much led by the holier-than-thou PC army. It has to be 'either you are with us or you are with the terrorists". And even if you suggest that "uncomfortablness is not outright racism" you are thrown into the KKK without rebuttal.

I would put forward that almost all humans are initially uncomfortable with not just other races, but other cultures. Like one would be uncomfortable in a foreign country as well, to some degree. Especially folks that grow up in a primarily one race community. And then visiting or moving to or attending secondary education in an overwhelmingly 'other' race population.

I think even just acknowledging that reality of human behaviour is one step towards dialogue with the majority of those on the right that really do not hate other races, or think they are inferior, but whom we publicly shame and lump into being no better than the KKK. And in so doing, force them to pull back and find shelter with the real racists in their tent.


I was brought up in Canada. As a boy, our family set off on a once in a lifetime drive down to Disneyland. All eight of us, crammed into a Chevy Impala on the road trip of a lifetime, hauling a creaky tent trailer. Dad was a very religious person, evangelical, and so when it was Sunday, we were probably in Oregon somewhere, we stopped at a Protestant church that looked inviting. It so happened that this church was, from my recollection, 100% African American attended, as was the preacher. We were the only whites. Now, I must interject here and tell you that I grew up in a community with no black people. So, as a kid, in that situation, I admit that it was "uncomfortable" being surrounded by so many people that looked different than I did and even talked different. My Dad was a great guy, despite his religiousity, and what helped was how warm and welcoming the members of that church were. My point is that I in that moment, did not hate black people, or think our family was superior, it was that they looked different, spoke different, worshiped different...than I was used to.

And I think to varying degrees, a lot of Americans are uneasy about change. Change in many areas, but the change in demographics of race, is seen, unfairly through ignorance, as a threat to their normalcy, their comfort level. The task is to get them over the hump, the ones that are not overt racists, to accept the inevitable, multiculturalism, and eventually cheerlead it, as I do. Show them that the advantages far outweigh any initial comfortableness, that a society gains in the added cultural infusion..food...music...artists...new ways of thinking....its all good.

But it has to start somewhere. And we must be honest with ourselves about that for some its not such a simple flip of the switch, and uncomfortableness is not the same as racism. That being uncomfortable is actually a first step in the process of tolerance, then acceptance and finally celebration of having such a diverse, successful democracy.

Last edited Mon Jan 21, 2019, 06:26 PM - Edit history (1)

...blaming immigrants, racial and religious minorities, women in the workforce, etc. Put another way, do you think someone can think that immigrants, racial and religious minorities, women in the workforce, are the source of all of their problems, yet still vote for Democrats? The key is to teach racists how racism is used to oppress them. You are not going to be able to do this if you insist that there hatred of people who are different is somehow justified and okay. This is a big problem I have with Bernie. Not only does he scapegoat immigrants and foreign trade with non-white countries for the ills of the white working class, but he is very resistant to acknowledging that a large number of Trump's supporters are racists and that people who do not vote for minorities because they are "uncomfortable" with their race are racist.

I don't know how you got this from my post. But it clearly exposes my assertion of the "either you are with us, or with the terrorists" conditioning.

"do you think someone can think that immigrants, racial and religious minorities, women in the workforce, are the source of all of their problems, yet still vote for Democrats?"

Yes, yes I do, eventually. And the first step is by acknowledging their unease. Unease at change. Conservatives are proven to be the most resistant and afraid of change. Some are die hard racists. Some are more afraid of change. We must separate these groups, and educate the latter. We can't change any of the two groups represented by your illustration, if its about a racist and a greedy capitalist. But it does no good to portray anyone that is not voting Democrat to be in only and in either one of these communities.

Correct me if I am wrong, but you characterize my view that you need to address the underlying beliefs of Trump supporters as being either you are with us or against us thinking. However, why would someone who is a racist, conservative, etc., vote for a Democrat?

I guess you can argue that Democrats should try perhaps move to the right in order to appeal to such folks, perhaps by convincing them that their hatred of women, immigrants, minorities, etc. is justified, but I think that would just serve to validate and strengthen the legitimacy of Republicans under Trump.

In other words, people will self-select. This is why folks like George Will, Ann Navarra, and Joe Scarbourough are drifting away from the Republican party, because the Republican party increasingly does not represent their beliefs.

This is why Democrats cannot shy away from what we stand for, or be afraid to call out Republicans for catering to racists. We also need to be unafraid to acknowledge that a large portion of Republicans are supportive of the party, because it is racist. Racism is not a defect, but a feature. This is why to fight the Republican party, we need to fight racism.

I said the opposite. I discounted both the greedy capitalist and the racist in your illustration. You are still insisting on forcing Americans into only two voting camps. Those who vote Democrat, and those who are racist. No wiggle room. I say there is another group who are conservative and are not comfortable with being labeled racists, because they are not, in the strict interpretation of the term.

I'm the first to call the majority of current Trump supporters racists. How could they not be? But that's not the same as everyone that voted Republican last Presidential election is a racist. And I'm not about to predict what percent is what, only that there are enough of them to turn the tide much more to blue next election.

And no I don't think we should move right, especially considering that we have tried that for ten years or more now, and it has hardly worked for us. I think we should move left. For instance I think a lot of chicken little Dems are underestimating the appetite for the publics response for things like universal single payer medical for instance....if it is presented in a practical, confident, and optimistic way. As gay marriage and pot legalization proved, and are now both supported by the majority.

Last edited Mon Jan 21, 2019, 08:13 PM - Edit history (1)

...is that we should try to convince racists to see the light about racism. You say, "I'm the first to call the majority of current Trump supporters racists." Great. Then to get the most bang for your buck, why not fight racism?

I am sure there are other camps, but I think the thing that ties a large part of the Republican coalition together is racism, which facilitates Trump's scapegoating. Look at the wall. This is the embodiment of Trump's racist message that everything will be better if we keep Mexicans out of the country. Trump blames Mexicans and Mexico for crime, the economic hardship suffered by working class whites, and a threat to "culture." As a result, a lot of Trump voters are willing to give up the farm (sometimes literally due to trade wars) to support Trump.

I think Democrats need to highlight how racism is used to manipulate and oppress white people as well as religious and racial minorities. You take away the racism and hate, and a lot of Trump's base would largely benefit from Democratic policies.

Giving punks like those MAGA hatted boys excuses to proudly spew hate.

But I think I'm different in that I don't think actual racists are redeemable. We can't convince a racist, through logical argument, to NOT be a racist. I feel like we've come full circle. My target is those that are simply "uncomfortable" with change. Part of that change is the idea of a woman or a black person being President. Or legalizing pot. Or allowing two men to marry. And other issues that more radical leftists insist they adopt and change to immediately.

Most die hard Trump supporters are at most 35%. Who are mostly irredeemable racists. But even there, I agree with Hillary that many white women voted with their husbands, and others just voted Republican out of habit. But if we can get most of the rest of the population, the 65% to vote Democratic, we are gold. It is about saying to that 10 - 20%, in my estimate, of those that voted for Trump because Putin's troll army, or RW radio, or Fox News, or Mitch McConnell convinced them that they were right to be uncomfortable with Hillary being President. Or with any Democrat for that matter. Trump made them uneasy about the world they grew up in being yanked from them. Their culture, their religion, their white family sit-coms.

And that world is disappearing. We are becoming more multi-racial no matter how we slice it. Its about assuring those uncomfortable with these changes to see the benefits, and that their unease will be quelled in time and exposure to this new society coming.

then the "non racist" Trump voters were A-OK with a racist, homophobic, Islamophobic, misogynistic pig as president.

Everyone including his supporters knows this. That's why they vited for him.

...it really a big deal for a politician to tell us what we already know?

More people need to say it like everyone knows it is. But what I do not understand is how he can see so plainly Trump's racism and cut through that bullshit very effectively, and yet he continues to push this narrative along with Michael Moore and others that working class white people in the midwest simply voted for this clown due to some sort of "economic anxiety". I understand that calling people racists wouldn't be of much use when you are fighting for their votes, and yet rationalizing the phenomenon is part of what lets Trump justify his racism on a daily basis right in plain sight.

He's worse than a racist; he is a white nationalist.

Stirring the pot?

White nationalist groups espouse white supremacist or white separatist ideologies, often focusing on the alleged inferiority of nonwhites. Groups listed in a variety of other categories - Ku Klux Klan, neo-Confederate, neo-Nazi, racist skinhead, and Christian Identity - could also be fairly described as white nationalist.

since he's the one called 'racist' in the OP.

Thanks; I'm maybe too used to Bernie bashing; did not read it that way.

Bernie catches up with everyone else.

I know Warren and Reid have. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez did. Pelosi has hinted at it a couple times. Anyone else say it publicly?

don’t screw it up.

"He has been racist, he has been sexist, he has been been Islamophobic, he has been anti-LGBTQ. There is a long list."

But as usual, the Bernie fans have to get their panties ina twist and miss the point. These headlines, presented breathlessly by Bernie fans here, seem to be implying that Bernie leads the way! Where were these headlines when Maxine Waters said this? Where were the admiring posts? For most of us, such a statement is a, “yeah, and...?” Kind of moment. Not a call for fawning praise. The Bernie cult of personality makes no sense.

I think you are confusing implying with inferring. You said, "These headlines, presented breathlessly by Bernie fans here, seem to be implying that Bernie leads the way!" I see nothing in the headline that implies that Bernie leads the way. But you may have inferred it.
Also, I can't speak for DonViejo, so I don't know if he presented this breathlessly as a Bernie fan. He posts a lot of news stories for DUers to read.


On the other side of reality, FOX is mad that the media has been ignoring Sanders' et. al. comments.

https://www.mediaite.com/tv/david-webb-calls-out-media-for-ignoring-bernie-sanders-trump-is-racist-comment-first-reported-by-cnn/

I’m just tired of stories being posted about something Bernie did as being particularly reamarkable, when it’s not.

Thank you Bernie for saying this!

Only took him 2+ years to drop that "It's not racism it's economic anxieties!" -bullshit...