This makes no sense. Bernie Sanders is the candidate of the poor and disenfranchised.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
Well at least that's what someone's told you.
He's not? Am I missing something? PRS?
"This makes no sense. Bernie Sanders is the candidate of the poor and disenfranchised."
Apparently, the representatives of Black Lives Matter disagree.
MSNBC: Bernie Sanders event shut down by Black Lives Matter activists
Black Lives Matter Seattle explained their actions in a news release: “The problem with Sanders, and with white Seattle progressives in general, is that they are utterly and totally useless (when not outright harmful) in terms of the fight for Black lives. While we are drowning in their liberal rhetoric, we have yet to see them support Black grassroots movements or take on any measure of risk and responsibility for ending the tyranny of white supremacy.”...
Protest leaders have argued that Sanders is dismissive of their concerns, falling back on his status as the most liberal candidate in the Democratic field — and his history of civil rights activism in the 1960s — as shields against criticism on racial issues.
HUFF POST: Bernie Sanders Shut Down By Black Lives Matter Protesters In Seattle
Anyone going to the Bernie event at the LA Sports Arena on Monday?
South Florida: You seem unusually obtuse on this issue.
The message from Seattle is that only privileged white progressives like you believe that Bernie Sanders is the candidate of the poor and disenfranchised.
African-Americans don't believe that Bernie Sanders is the candidate of the poor and disenfranchised. Or at least the members of Black Loves Matter don't. Or at least these two protestors don't.
But Bernie has a problem with black lives.
Ugh, it was hard to watch the #blacklivesmatter movement make such a giant misstep. And even sadder to see the harsh reaction to it online after.
Sanders went on this weekend to draw his biggest crowds yet.
"privileged white progressives", that's a leap to call me that. Obtuse not so much, and I still can't wrap my head around it.
Here's the thing: no one gets to choose who is the candidate of the poor and disenfranchised except the poor and disenfranchised. If they don't think he speaks for them, then he doesn't. He may think he does. We may think he does. But if they don't then he doesn't. And if he doesn't see that as a problem he needs to address, then it becomes a big problem.
By the way, Sanders, Clinton, O'Malley, Bush, and Carson spoke at the National Urban League Convention about a week ago. Clinton was the only candidate that drew more than a polite response from the audience. It was Sanders' first appearance at the convention (I think).
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
Can you ever really speak on behalf of, or fight for, the poor and disenfranchised if you have no experience being part of the poor and disenfranchised?
To my knowledge, no politician currently running for the presidency -- excluding their childhoods -- has. It's tough to claim you can be the supreme representative of an oppressed group when you are already part of the very system that propagates that oppression in favor of lobbyists, special interest groups, and major corporations.
A Washington State female legislator of color who was at the rally provides some perspective.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
News Flash: Bernie Sanders has 100% Approval Rating from NAACP
"African-Americans don't believe that Bernie Sanders is the candidate of the poor and disenfranchised. Or at least the members of Black Loves Matter don't."
Wrong. Two members of Black Lives Matter don't. There was a lot of backlash from other Black Lives Matters supporters over what happened at the Sanders event on Saturday. And certainly the hundreds of African American Bernie Sanders supporters I met at a Manhattan Sanders rally in July don't feel that way.
Meanwhile the next day....
Bernie Sanders draws 28,000 people in Portland
28,000!!
Estimates at 27,000 tonight in LA with large overflow crowd at the Sports Arena. Coverage from CBS LA here. Beyond the huge size and passion of the crowd, the thing I was most taken with was the old, white, male lifelong Republican interviewed at about 2:31 about why Sanders has inspired him to change his party affiliation after more than 60 years!
Meanwhile Hillary Clinton keeps saying what people want to hear...but does the opposite.
"WASHINGTON (AP) — Hillary Rodham Clinton told a cheering crowd at her largest rally so far that "the endless flow of secret, unaccountable money" must be stopped. Two weeks later, the main super PAC backing her bid for the Democratic presidential nomination accepted a $1 million contribution that cannot be traced."
Updated On: 8/11/15 at 09:06 AMBroadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
Hahaha! That's pathetic and sobering and depressing on so many levels. And Pal Joey's response will be... "Well, everyone else does it so why shouldn't she?" Of course, not many other candidates are making it one of their biggest platforms. So.... there's that. F*cking hypocrites.
And Pal Joey's response will be... "Well, everyone else does it so why shouldn't she?"...F*cking hypocrites.
Wrong. PalJoey's response is "Blow it out your f*cking ass, Headband.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
Although circumstances aren't completely the same, I can't help but think of the 2008 primary and how Obama was going to bring about such change, and eventually showed himself to be the same kind of politician as everyone else once he got the nomination and then the presidency. And sure, a lot of issues with his presidency were due to Republican obstructionism, but it's just hard for me to get too excited about Sanders. Also, I can't imagine what would happen with an actual socialist in the White House when Obama the non-socialist socialist made the right lose their minds.
All that said, Bernie gets my vote if he gets the nomination. I'm still undecided on the primary.
These recently released campaign fundraising figures, organized by the NY Times, show just how dramatically Bush's Super Pac funds outweigh those of every other candidate. Not that we didn't already know he was the chosen one, but the numbers show that he is clearly the candidate the Republican establishment wants in the White House with $120M raised ($108M of that from Super Pacs).
Interestingly, without Citizens United, Bush's solo direct fundraising figure ($11.4M) would put him well behind Clinton ($47.5M solo + $20.3M Super Pac), Cruz ($14.3M solo + $38.1M Super Pac) and even Sanders ($15.2M solo, $0 Super Pac).
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
No surprises here. Perhaps the most important figure in all of what you wrote, though?
Sanders ($15.2M solo, $0 Super Pac)
I love that. Wish others would follow suit.
Yeah, 'Band, I'm not suggesting that it's a surprise that Bush is the establishment candidate. We've heard that narrative since before he even formally announced. I just found the stark confirmation in the fundraising numbers to be interesting. Not to mention the fact that if it weren't for Super Pacs, he would behind Clinton, Cruz AND Sanders in fundraising.
And, yeah, good for Bernie for sticking to his guns on that - though, can't Super Pacs raise funds for him without his express consent, or am I mistaken on that? - but I think it's silly to fault Clinton for playing the game. She's in it to win it.
Updated On: 8/11/15 at 03:33 PMBroadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
Sure. If you think Clinton is simply compromising her own morals and ethics to "win it" -- not because she actually believes in it -- then yeah.. Sure... sounds good. Whatever floats your boat. If you're already in that crony's camp, nothing I or anyone else types will change your mind. Too bad.
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