Bernie Sanders
Related: About this forumMuted Response to Sanders at South Carolina Church
WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. The problem began as soon as Bernie Sanders walked into the dining room of the revered, and predominantly black, Brookland Baptist Church. Instead of flocking to him, as people do at his large college rallies, many of churchs 780 members looked up for a moment, then quietly went back to eating their Sunday feast unmoved as Mr. Sanders, the Democratic senator from Vermont, tried to work the room.
He made remarks at a microphone next to a buffet table offering chicken, collard greens and dinner rolls. The line at the table kept moving as Mr. Sanders and Benjamin T. Jealous, a former N.A.A.C.P. president, spoke. The Brookland Baptist congregation proved to be a tough crowd.
We have in America today a broken criminal justice system, Mr. Sanders said, pausing briefly after this line from his stump speech, which is usually met with applause. Here it garnered very little.
His visit underscored Mr. Sanderss difficulty in strengthening his support among black voters in South Carolina, who make up more than half of registered Democrats heading into the state primary this Saturday. While some applauded politely as he offered now-familiar lines about racial discrimination, the loudest claps came when he talked about President Obama.
HooptieWagon
(17,064 posts)Cleita
(75,480 posts)HooptieWagon
(17,064 posts)Although their % goes to Hillary, I don't get a sense of excitement for her either. We'll see what the turnout is in SC.
edit: on second thought, apathy isn't the word I was looking for. More like a post-Obama let down.
Arazi
(6,829 posts)Its clearly a pejorative as applied to this race. I've seen mention of an offensive post about it but don't have a handle on the context. It seems to be a yuuuge trigger in the AA group here.
Self delete or explain?
onecaliberal
(32,864 posts)Seems to be generational.
TTUBatfan2008
(3,623 posts)The more people vote for the continued transfer of wealth and control into the hands of the 1%, the more likely we will see a physical revolt at some point. I don't want to see this happen, but it will if we continue voting for corporate-owned candidates.
tularetom
(23,664 posts)Hope they're prepared for it.
nc4bo
(17,651 posts)Right now he sees Sanders and Clinton as possessing a similar record on African-American issues.
"In my limited view of things, I've assessed that they're pretty much on the same wavelength with it. I think the two of them are saying what needs to be said -- of course that's politics -- but based on their record, I think the two of them have shown some substantial evidence that they are interested and they are concerned with racial equality," he said.
Jackson added that he thought most of the people in the room knew who Sanders was, though he conceded that Clinton "would be the more popular face, the more familiar name" if she were to walk in.
There's that name and face recognition thing again. Also it was a surprise visit.
Little different perspective......
HooptieWagon
(17,064 posts)nc4bo
(17,651 posts)we're called blacksplainin, whitesplainin or some shit.
Politics of familiarity. It's just that simple.
Team Clinton has been working it for decades with Bill then Hill. You can't make those types of inroad overnight.
It's going to take time and patience with these folks but most of all they need to hear Sanders' message without it seeming like they're being lectured.....
Does that make any sense?
TIME TO PANIC
(1,894 posts)Donkees
(31,418 posts)Hillary Clinton surrogates on Wednesday bashed Bernie Sanders as "absent" from the African-American community as the campaign looks to pivot away from a resounding defeat in New Hampshire.
"Its good to have new friends but I would prefer to have true friends," Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) told reporters on a conference call with reporters convened to tout Clinton's record with the black community.
snagglepuss
(12,704 posts)Anyway Sanders has the endorsements of some prominent Black pastors so perhaps its better to start with their congregations and perhaps it will be on the shoulders of his Black supporters to convince other Blacks that Sanders has more to offer.
I do find it bizarre that the Black community would support anyone who had ties to private prisons. I really don't understand it.
IllinoisBrenel
(51 posts)There is a post in GD-P and here is my post:
I watched the speech and from what I can tell, the people were dipping their food while he was talking? It was held in a dining room and there was a buffett! The people who were getting their food couldn't applaud, but they were listening and the others applauded and responded to Bernie's speech. At the end there was quite a bit of applause! Just the media trying to spin their lies and insinuations!
snagglepuss
(12,704 posts)didn't mention but gives the story more context. That contemptible nyt reporter made it sound like they were practically hostile and I couldn't understand it as Sanders was not only a guest in the Church but also a guest of Jealous and the way it was reported the rx seemed like a slap in the face to Jealous. Now the picture is clearer.
TheFarS1de
(1,017 posts)the media LIED!? ..... that's exactly what I took from it as well . More spin than fact .
lasttrip
(1,013 posts)WEST COLUMBIA, South Carolina Brookland Baptist Churchs congregation had a surprise visitor Sunday afternoon when Sen. Bernie Sanders popped in for an unexpected stop during Sunday supper here in West Columbia.
The Democratic presidential candidate, coming off a loss to Hillary Clinton Saturday in Nevada, worked the mostly African-American crowd, stopping to shake hands, take photos and hug a few small children who ventured up to him.
Sanders, campaigning in the Palmetto State ahead of Saturdays upcoming primary, was joined at the church by his wife, Jane, and also Ben Jealous, the former NAACP head who has endorsed Sanders.
After mingling for a bit, Jealous introduced Sanders to the crowd as people milled around with plates of food.
This is the most important place in the country right now, Jealous told the crowd of a couple hundred people. And you are the most important voters in the country right now. And there are people who will say to you, theres a dreamer whos running for president. And his dreams are so big, yall shouldnt dream that big. But in our community when they say, Dont dream big, we say, Yes we can. And so I ask you ladies and gentlemen, are you ready to dream big?
Before handing off the mic, he evoked Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., saying that there is no one in either party who is ready to fight racism, militarism and greed like Sanders.
This is America, we should not be having more people in jail, largely African-American and Latino, than any other country on earth. So one of the points I have tried to make, we are going to invest in education and jobs not more jails, not more incarceration, Sanders said.
He also talked economics, citing President Barack Obamas success in turning around the free-falling economy he inherited, though Sanders added that there is still work to be done to improve jobs. The crowd clapped more loudly at this point than any other, a clear demonstration of how popular the President is in South Carolina.
Sanders wrapped up by making his usual appeal to voters to help lead the country in a political revolution.
There is going to be an important primary here in South Carolina. The country will be looking at South Carolina. Im here to ask for your help, to help lead this country in a political revolution, Sanders said.
That pitch contrasts with his speech Saturday night after his loss in the Nevada caucuses, when he ended by saying he was moving on to Super Tuesday a series of contests scheduled for March 1 skipping over the significance of the South Carolina primary.
Charles Jackson Jr, 37, a Columbia resident and worships at Brookland Baptist, said he thought it was smart for Sanders to stop by Sunday afternoon.
He seems to really be about lifting up the lower class, and that is what the church is supposed to do. Him being here hopefully confirms what he represents in terms of Christian principles, morals and values, he said.
Jackson said hes still an undecided primary voter, adding that he may not reach a final decision until he enters the voting booth next Saturday.
Right now he sees Sanders and Clinton as possessing a similar record on African-American issues.
In my limited view of things, Ive assessed that theyre pretty much on the same wavelength with it. I think the two of them are saying what needs to be said of course thats politics but based on their record, I think the two of them have shown some substantial evidence that they are interested and they are concerned with racial equality, he said.
Jackson added that he thought most of the people in the room knew who Sanders was, though he conceded that Clinton would be the more popular face, the more familiar name if she were to walk in.