2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumA Plea to Consider Bernie Sanders
Those are my bona fides a middle-class White guy who thinks that while Hillary Clinton could make a good president, Bernie Sanders would make a great one. The Clintons have done a lot for the Black community. However, when Bill and Hillary were in school, Bernie Sanders was with James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner, three young men who were murdered in 1964 for registering black voters in Mississippi. Those are his bone fides.
Sen. Sanders platform is one that will benefit all Americans. More importantly if his policies are enacted the benefit for the Black community is immeasurable. Sec. Clinton represents the middle-ground faction of the DNC. I dont want the middle ground. I want the high ground.
http://www.afro.com/a-plea-to-consider-bernie-sanders/
brooklynite
(94,603 posts)I did so when I became convinced that Obama could actually WIN the General Election; that he had the campaign strategy, the financial resources, the political support AND the policy message.
I continue to await any Sanders supporter who will think long and hard about the realities of political campaigning in the US, and explain to me how Bernie Sanders can win the General Election.
teach me everything
(91 posts)People vote, and they vote with their wallets - when the disappearing middle class is happening, and the income inequality is too high.
It's time for the 1% to pay the piper by the bucketloads.
brooklynite
(94,603 posts)...so by that notion, Sanders will win 90-10?
It's this simplistic view of the electorate that I trust Sanders doesn't share.
onehandle
(51,122 posts)On the Very Unlikely chance he wins the nomination, I will back him all the way.
I am with the winner.
Rosa Luxemburg
(28,627 posts)Thank you for saying that you will support Bernie. Likewise if Hillary, Martin or Joe? is the nominee I will support them.
senz
(11,945 posts)as wealth and corporate power took control under Reagan, both Bushes, and yeah, Clinton. And I've seen what it has done to the morale of the entire country. There is so much insecurity, fear, pessimism on all levels of society but the top.
So far, only Bernie has addressed the problem and offered practical, doable solutions. Seems like he's the only one who cares. I don't have a lot of money, but what I can, I'm giving to the Sanders campaign.
I think this could be our last chance. At my age, I won't be around to see the worst of it if we don't implement Bernie's changes, but it is horrible to think that young people may never, ever know what I took for granted in the 50s and 60s. They deserve better.
HappyPlace
(568 posts)SouthernProgressive
(1,810 posts)Someone to claim bona fides in this manner. It goes for all candidates and discussions about them. In this instance bona fides are being based on an act fifty years ago. In fairness, Sanders acts in this area have been extremely positive since a young age, clearly not just fifty years ago. But when claiming bona fides for an event fifty years ago, there becomes one glaring question. How can we claim any of our candidates have any monopoly in this area when a black man can be hunted down and murdered with no penalty? When cops are getting away with murdering black men and women with sham investigations clearing themselves? When the education system fifty years later is anything but equal? In voting itself as is being discussed here and the many current disadvantages that disproportionately effect black communities? The list goes on.
It does show great character,. What it does not show is fifty years of much out of the ordinary as far as democratic politicians in this country when talking about substantially moving toward equality. It's getting hard for me hear their bona fides in this area considering the systemic racism today emanating from the highest level of government to city councils across the country.
The case Sanders is making is resonating. I would think a plea for Sanders at this point should be strictly about his message. His consistency is amazing and it because it is a part of who he has always been. Another reason for sticking to what he is really about is the fact that he isn't even close to an outsider in this country and that is what he is slowly getting across. Damn near any position he holds it polls better than just about anyone else out there. There are tons of issue polls to back that up.