Bernie Sanders admits he initially mishandled Black Lives Matter: “I plead guilty…"

[MrScorpio]

Bernie Sanders admits he initially mishandled Black Lives Matter: “I plead guilty — I should have been more sensitive”

The New Yorker is out with a new in-depth profile of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, featuring interviews with the senator, his wife, his former chief of staff, and numerous close friends in an effort to examine his rapid rise in the polls.

In “The Populist Prophet,” Margaret Talbot goes on the campaign trail with Sanders and speaks with supporters to understand his appeal. What she discovered can best be summarized by this passage:

Sanders’s message is particularly potent for young people who are struggling financially. Several weeks after the rally, I wrote to Dawn York, and she said that she had been thinking about “how refreshing it was to have someone point out to us that, as hardworking Americans, some things aren’t a privilege, they are a right. . . . I’m self-employed, I started my own business three and a half years ago, and my husband works full-time for Whole Foods—and we barely get by. We own a home, we both graduated from college, and we work more than forty hours a week, and we can barely put oil in our heating tanks in the winter. We have no savings and no way to financially handle any hiccups that may come our way. And I had to be reminded that it shouldn’t be that way.”

http://www.salon.com/2015/10/05/bernie_sanders_admits_he_initially_mishandled_black_lives_matter_i_plead_guilty_i_should_have_been_more_sensitive/?source=newsletter

[retrowire]

1. I'd forgiven him before hearing about this

because I myself am grumpy and may have reacted in the same way "I won't shout over you, should I leave?"

but after that incident I think he only got better. especially in Seattle. he let them have the stage and he stood there quietly. he understood that their anger was righteous and they needed this more than him.

I believe Bernie is a good man.

[1StrongBlackMan]

3. I agree that Bernie is a good man ...

a good man whose worldview/privilege, sadly, blinds him to the experience of others.

[retrowire]

4. he's not blind to it. not at all...

if that were the case, he never would've walked the streets with the people years ago. blind privilege never would have noticed the problem or cared.

I'm not sure what you're trying to imply because that's a pretty crass false statement.

to deny that he picketed with people who were struggling with problems that didn't even affect him is kinda ignorant of the facts. he could have sat home and enjoyed his privileges... but he never did that so... again... that's a false statement.

if you would like to tell me exactly how Bernie is blind to the needs of others outside of his worldview, I'll be sure to read it.

[1StrongBlackMan]

7. Okay ... I inartfully said that ...

perhaps, his privilege has him believing that all peoples' issues can be solved through that which solves his.

[retrowire]

8. okay that's admittedly better

your qualm is the feeling that he seems to believe that economic solutions will solve most if all problems. that would be a little close sighted of him if it were true.

but I highly doubt that he truly believes that 100%.

I'm absolutely sure he is flexible in thought and not a robot that tries to fit the triangle peg inside the circle hole at all times.

he didn't try and solve inequality and racism back in the day with an economic message, he protested and hung flyers just like anyone else involved. He didn't try and solve lgbtq issues with economic policies, he decried prejudice and unfairness in the system.

again, he can't possibly believe that economics alone is a one size fits all solution. he's a human, not a robot. to think that his thought process is that binary is an assumption. assumptions aren't very solid logic.

[1StrongBlackMan]

12. Thank you for trying to hear me ...

I'm absolutely sure he is flexible in thought and not a robot that tries to fit the triangle peg inside the circle hole at all times.

I accept this ... as a recent evolution.

again, he can't possibly believe that economics alone is a one size fits all solution. he's a human, not a robot. to think that his thought process is that binary is an assumption. assumptions aren't very solid logic.

Perhaps ... but that is NOT the take of his "Good Friend and former Chief of Staff" ... someone that presumably (by nature of his personal and professional roles) knows him, and his thoughts, REALLY well.

[retrowire]

15. really well?

are you able to answer any and all questions about the person that employs you? with 99% accuracy?

not me! which is why I'm not taking this guys interview answer as a solid means by which to size up another man.

I'm just saying, the man is not a written record of who Bernie is or what Bernie stands for. he's a former coworker.

[1StrongBlackMan]

16. I'm not my employer's best friend, nor her Chief of Staff ...

in fact, I probably couldn't pick her out in a room of 10 white women.

But I'm pretty sure I could answer, with accuracy, any question regarding the importance of unions for my best friend (he is a shop steward), as we have talked about it a lot.

[retrowire]

19. so this man is Bernie's best friend? n/t

[1StrongBlackMan]

21. No ... Gutman was termed, Bernie's "Good friend" and "former Chief of Staff" ...

the latter indicates a familiarity on a professional level, which would include philosophical; the former, would suggest familiarity on a person ... both of which indicate a deep understanding of what makes Bernie tick.

[retrowire]

25. I'm gonna have to go with a skeptical

"I dunno about that" on this one.

I'm just doubting they had frequent drinks together, watched Netflix and went bowling like, all the time.

a business title and what the journalist deemed as a "good friend" isn't really as concrete to me.

[onpatrol98]

42. Wow!

That sums it up perfectly!!!

[1StrongBlackMan]

43. And notice ...

those that argue FOR Bernie's take on things ... also, will have their issue solved; but, those that argue AGAINST Bernie's take will have only one half of our issueS solved ... the smaller half.

[1StrongBlackMan]

2. I find this troubling ...

Huck Gutman, one of Sander’s close friends, is an English professor at the University of Vermont; from 2008 to 2012, he served as Sander’s chief of staff in the Senate. “It doesn’t matter what issue comes up-Bernie understands that the fundamental issue for Americans is economic,” Gutman said. “His record on abortion, gay marriage, on a great number of things has been very good and very liberal, but he never sees those as central issues. The central issue is: Are people doing O.K., or are a small number of people ripping them off?”

It seems that the vibe Black folks feel is with good basis.

Now, perhaps, his life-long worldview has evolved (in a matter of a couple months) ... but what jumped out at me is: his close friend and former CoS, was unable to mouth the word "Black", when talking about his very good and very liberal record on matters that (Bernie) never sees/saw as central issues.

[retrowire]

5. where was he trying to mouth the word black?

To quoth one of my favorite movies, Harlem Nights "Assumption is the mother of all fuck ups."

so if you're assuming that he was trying to say something about black issues when he may not have been... that's a bit loose in logic.

[1StrongBlackMan]

9. That's my point ...

he mentions a number of issues where Bernie's record is "very good and very liberal" ... is it NOT a concern of yours that Bernie's best friend and former CoS neglected to mention race ... especially when Bernie's ability to connect with Black folks is in question?

[retrowire]

11. so he should have mentioned

guns, marijuana, animal rights, etc everything under the sun in that sentence so we could be totally sure Bernie cared about those issues?

no... it was a man in an interview. he's not a written document. maybe black issues weren't at the forefront of this particular mans mind, but truth be told he isn't a resume for Bernie.

I think you're assuming things again.

[1StrongBlackMan]

13. Okay. n/t

[GitRDun]

57. The Sanders Supporter id has become very tiresome for me.

Lol, you have exhibited a lot more patience than I would have.

It's ironic that so many who support Sanders can post flame thread after flame thread about the "insincerity" of Hillary Clinton, yet twist themselves into pretzels to portray Bernie as something he just isn't.

None of these candidates is perfect...none even close to the temperament and capabilities of the current President. All are better than the Republican option.

We ought to have the maturity to acknowledge BS learning in this election cycle as to why his "income equality" - centered approach is inadequate for all Americans, just as we can and should acknowledge politicians have "evolved" on LGBT rights to better represent the changing views of their constituents. These are good things.

There are a lot of things to admire in Sanders political history. I'm waiting to see if he can build a broader coalition than he has. If his voting block doesn't look like the people who shop in our malls every day, he's doing something wrong.

[1StrongBlackMan]

59. LOL ... I try ... to a fault. ...

It has been that from the start ...

"HRC is a 3rd way, corporatist, lackey to the Oligarchy"

"Really? ... Her voting record, legislative offering and history seems to speak differently. She seems indistinguishable from Bernie on those regards ... well, except for the war vote (booooo) and the fact that she HAS a legislative offering history ... but hey!"

"No. No. No. is a 3rd way, corporatist, lackey to the Oligarchy!"

"Hmm ... She supports X, Bernie supports X; She support Y, Bernie supports Y; She supports Z, Bernie supports Z ... She Opposes 1, Bernie opposes 1; She Opposes 2, Bernie opposes 2; She Opposes 3, Bernie opposes 3. What's the difference?"

"It's a trick ... She doesn't mean It! In 19XX and 20XX, she said this, that and the other. See ... She's just pandering."

"Or, perhaps, she has evolved on those issues ... This is what she is saying today."

Versus

"Bernie is missing the Black vote because his message of economic policy misses our primary concern."

"Really? ... That's stupid! ... Economic justice IS social justice/Economic justice will bring social justice." (Now can we go back to talking about economic justice?)

"No. No. No. For Black people, the two justices are distinct issues."

"Well ... Martin said ... Malcolm said ... Bernie is saying the same thing!"

"No.They.Didn't, and No he is not. In fact, he isn't saying anything about racial justice apart from economic justice."

(Then, BLM ... "Oops ... Parallel problems ... Racial Justice ... Parallel ... Racial Justice.&quot

"See, he has evolved."

"Hmm ... Okay. Is it's a trick ... He really mean it? Yesterday, he was saying ... Is he just pandering."

"No. He really has evolved on that issue." (Now can we go back to talking about economic justice?)

[GitRDun]

60. I haven't laughed out loud like that at a DU post in long time!

Well said, and thanks.

It's amazing how something as plain as day can be so invisible to some...

[nc4bo]

18. I honestly expected President Obama to be more open about race issues.....

VoteR ID laws, Republicons effort to gerrymander every minority voting bloc they could get their filthy hands on, Jim Crow 2.0, the wholesale effort by our justice systems to incarcerate every two legged black man (women and children) they can, police violence, the charter school BS that takes money from neglected (usually poor, black) public education systems and filters it off to fly-by-night choice schools.....I could probably come up with a few more give me a day or two.

Yes, we all know what he's been up against in the racist batshit crazy Congress but since the problem effecting us ARE so huge, so damaging, so biased, so longstanding you'd think there'd be much more discussion on the problems.

But it's not and my President is (d'uh) BLACK (but you'd think HE'D understand the struggles more than any other candidate or white POTUS, RIGHT?!)

Do I expect Sanders to do any worse than this President..........?

No.

[Dawgs]

6. You're joking, right?

Please tell me you're joking.

[1StrongBlackMan]

10. No ... I'm not. n/t

[randys1]

14. If you arent joking, then you must have your own mind, and if I cant change it

then there is something wrong with one of us, I guess.

[mhatrw]

17. so you find it troubling that Sanders' focus is on economic justice?

Are you part of the top 0.1% or something?

[retrowire]

20. sbm probably doesn't think that way

but some feel that Bernie's focus is only on the economic platform and they don't think he's flexible.

past accounts from many associates confirm this, that he's quite adamant. but logic dictates that he is capable of adjustments and such.

some might call it an evolution but really he's just adjusting his aim, not switching his weapons entirely. his end goal has barely ever changed and that goal is justice and liberty for all as far as I'm concerned.

[1StrongBlackMan]

23. Thank you for clarifying that ...

some feel that Bernie's focus is only on the economic platform and they don't think he's flexible.

past accounts from many associates confirm this, that he's quite adamant.

Exactly.

[mhatrw]

34. I think Sanders has happily evolved on this issue.

He came off as defensive initially.

However, he now clearly understands that social justice is not just a subset of economic justice. He has steadfastly championed social justice causes his whole career, and now he has wisely made it one of his priorities.

Social justice is one of my priorities as well, but I do not see any conflict with economic justice. While they are definitely not one and the same, there is certainly a lot of overlap between the two issues. Just because Sanders has made economic justice central to his campaign does not make Clinton a bigger or better advocate of social justice.

[retrowire]

38. well said. n/t

[1StrongBlackMan]

22. No ... I'm NOT part of the 0.1% and yes ...

I find Sanders' focus on economic justice primacy troubling.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

26. That's quite the high bar.

Are you suggesting you're part of the 1%, then? (ETA: ah, I see, you were responding to someone who very specifically asked about the 0.1%.)

[1StrongBlackMan]

33. That is correct ... I was responding to a jab, erh ... question.

But that said ... I still hate the "1%" frame ... as FDR were both of the "1%" and most republicans are of the "99%".

[mhatrw]

35. Why?

Last edited Wed Oct 7, 2015, 12:20 PM - Edit history (2)

Social justice is one of my priorities as well, but I do not see any conflict with economic justice. While they are definitely not one and the same, there is certainly a lot of overlap between the two issues. Just because Sanders has made economic justice central to his campaign does not make Clinton a bigger or better advocate of social justice.

So you really think the fact that Clinton does not care about the ever increasing wealth disparity in this country makes her the more attractive candidate on social justice issues?

[1StrongBlackMan]

37. Have you read a single thread in the AA Group in the past 4 months (or so)? ...

Or, any of the 50 (or so) threads on this topic?

I refuse to repeat myself for the 1,000th time. And THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON.

BTW ... you really should brush up on your Bernie Criticism Response 101 ... the appropriate response protocol is to cite to his 50+ years of heroic activism on Civil Rights THEN pivot to what HRC has/hasn't done on Civil Rights.

[JustAnotherGen]

40. Group Host to Group Host

See my response number 39 - for now - cease and desist with interacting with this poster.

Not feeling comfortable with their presence in the group due to the NUMEROUS posts they've made back here.

They know - but they choose to try to manage and control the conversation by making us repeat ourselves over and over.

I'm suggesting a limited time out to force them to read and not DISRUPT.

[mhatrw]

45. I have read many posts. I realize that POC have not benefited equally

from measures designed to ameliorate economic disparity in the past.

I also realize that racism is not the same as economic classism because racism persists among all economic classes and in our public and private institutions. Finally, I personally realize that social justice is more important than economic justice because the police and the "justice system" are brutalizing, arresting, fining and jailing thousands upon thousands of POC every year.

What I don't understand is why a candidate's strong and desirable stand against wealth disparity in itself should cause any particular concern among those who are rightfully demanding social justice. Could you possibly supply a link to a post where you or someone else addresses this so you can avoid repeating yourself for the 1000th time?

I realize that I am probably missing something, and I am very willing to learn. Believe it or not, I am just trying to understand.

[1StrongBlackMan]

47. I suspect you are ignoring what you "personally realize" ...

What I don't understand is why a candidate's strong and desirable stand against wealth disparity in itself should cause any particular concern among those who are rightfully demanding social justice.

Because:

I realize that POC have not benefited equally from measures designed to ameliorate economic disparity in the past.

I also realize that racism is not the same as economic classism because racism persists among all economic classes and in our public and private institutions. Finally, I personally realize that social justice is more important than economic justice because the police and the "justice system" are brutalizing, arresting, fining and jailing thousands upon thousands of POC every year.

[mhatrw]

52. OK, but I still don't see why focusing on economic justice is a minus

as long as you are as steadfast, strong, and adamant in your pursuit of social justice.

I think these two issues are both critical and synergistic.

[1StrongBlackMan]

53. The "as long as" was missing from the platform.

[mhatrw]

54. Yes, it was. And that needed to change. But I think Sanders has responded well. nt

[1StrongBlackMan]

55. Again, and for the ... I don't know how many times it has been said ...

YOU are NOT the affected group, so it doesn't matter what, or how, YOU think he has responded!

[mhatrw]

56. You are a member of the affected group. Considering Sanders' admission that he was initially guilty

Last edited Fri Oct 9, 2015, 12:59 AM - Edit history (1)

pf not giving social justice and social justice activists their due and the fact that he has now made social justice itself one of his priorities, what else would you like to see him do to assuage your concerns?

[randys1]

24. Are you new to this discussion? Have you not heard African Americans and others

talk about their concern that not understanding the reality of life in America as a Black person fully, which no white person could, is an issue?

Add to that a candidate who repeatedly says that economic issues are at the core of all issues including race, even further underscoring Bernie's inability to understand the issue.

Look, he is FAR better than any and all cons, of course.

He may even end up being better than any Dems running for the WH, which is something I actually believe, by the way.

BUT

I am a white guy, I can comfortably make that assumption and if I am wrong, no big diff.

To me.

I mean politically it will be a big diff to me, but not dealing with this issue properly doesn't hurt me or ANY white person.

[mhatrw]

36. As I said, at first he came off as a "whitesplainer".

He has since evolved a lot.

I think his heart has always been in the right place, but he needed to listen to BLM activists before he got his head right on this issue.

But I don't see how or why a candidate's championing economic justice should be disturbing to any POC who is not a Supreme Court justice or a brain surgeon.

[Number23]

29. Have you not read one word of this OP or any of the DOZENS of others in this forum

on this issue?

[JustAnotherGen]

39. Group Host - transparency post - One more post like this - because the poster has

We need to put them on a time out.

They've read time and again - they are a one note poster.

I'm not saying indefinitely - but maybe one month which would force them to read.

[1StrongBlackMan]

41. Agreed ...

My breaking point was here:

I think Sanders has happily evolved on this issue.

Why would a (presumably) white person, come into the African-American Group, enter a discussion regarding what African-Americans think about a candidate's platform, and think that anyone gives a good tinker's damn what that white person is happy with?

I doubt that poster can/will get out of his/her own head long enough to realize how F@#%ed up that is ... so I'm down for the temporary T/O, and allow him/her earn his/her stay. Though I suspect even with a 3 day T/O will result in his/her abandonment of this group ... and several "they don't want to have an honest conversation about race" posts.

[onpatrol98]

44. Even that's a bit privileged isn't it...

"I can't get them to see life from my perspective, even after I have entered their group and told them how life should be viewed. If they did, they would put down their belief system and pick up mine. Then...the nerve, after I attempted to re-educate them multiple times, they banned me from their group. If I'm not there, then clearly, they don't want an honest conversation about race."

But, you're right...the endless passive aggressive or downright aggressive rants about being banned from a group they were trying to disrupt. It's like walking into someone's house, talking over the invited house guests, and then bemoaning the fact that you were shown the door.

I don't think they're comfortable with NOT BEING THE CENTER of every conversation. I think most minorities are accustomed to NEVER BEING THE CENTER of any conversation. So, in AA, the dynamic is flipped. And in the US, right now, you have people trying to flip that dynamic...and its been painful to watch as it plays out.

AA Group: "Black Posters Matter!!!"
99% Non Minority: "No, No, wait...what about me. ALL posters matter."
AA Group: "But, your topics already matter throughout 99% of DU. Where will we talk about issues that involve our community directly?"
99% Non Minority: "You're being rude."
AA Group: "Okay, okay...ALL POSTERS MATTER."

99% Non Minority: "By the way, did I mention I don't believe in special groups?"

-------

100%: "Economic Fairness solves all problems! There shall be no dissent. Or, you'll get a republican for president. That is all!"

[JustAnotherGen]

46. Ha!

Then they alert stalk the members of this group! You kind of nailed it didn't ya?

[Number23]

50. DAYUM girl. It's like you can look deep inside and read these people's minds

I'm sure it's a "gift" you are more than eager to abandon.

[OneGrassRoot]

63. Wish I could recommend this. n/t

[Number23]

48. You really think that someone so invested in "educating" already educated people would read??

And do you think one month would be enough??

[JustAnotherGen]

49. Well . . . I dunno

The innocent stuff doesn't fly with me. It's not day one in this group for that poster.

[Number23]

51. *sigh* I know.

[GitRDun]

58. He doesn't get it.

The Sanders id is all about pushing the Bernie solution to everyone as a panacea, regardless of what their target audience actual life experience or opinion is....

[Tarheel_Dem]

28. ^^^^^ THIS ^^^^^

[xfundy]

27. I don't blame people of color for being cautious.

Politicians of all stripes have offered them great things many times– and fucked them over. Forty acres and a mule comes to mind.

[Number23]

30. Four months later...

But better late than never. I guess.

Glad that he has finally seen what so many of us saw months ago. And I'm particularly glad that he realized that he was insensitive (as well as clueless) and has done alot to change that.

He then went on to recount watching the arrest video of Sandra Bland, the young African-American woman who mysteriously and suddenly died in a Texas jail cell, as a pivotal moment of recognition for him. “It impacted my night’s sleep,” he said. “I don’t sleep that great, and it made it even worse.”

“It’s hard to imagine if Sandra Bland were white she would have been thrown to the ground and assaulted and insulted,” Sanders argued.

Again. Better late than never. I'm just glad he got there in the end.

[randys1]

31. No white candidate will fully deal with the issue, to the satisfaction that is warranted.

What we know is NO gop candidate will even acknowledge the issue, let alone deal with it.

[Number23]

32. Well said.

[stevenleser]

61. But everyone of us who objected to it here were wrong according to the vast majority of

Bernie fans here.

Have you seen any mea culpas? I mean Bernie himself admitted he was wrong about how he behaved.

[Number23]

62. I don't expect anything from that crowd and want even less from them

This same crowd that decided that black people that dared to request that Sanders address the specific issues that affected minority communities were conducting "jihads" against him and accusing Sanders of "being a racist?"

This same crowd that called Black Lives Matter protesters "thugs" and "subhuman." And who now wail that "they don't feel comfortable in the AA forum" after they called BLM "pro-Hillary shills" and applauded Ben FUCKING Carson for sliming BLM in the most craven and dishonest ways possible?

This same crowd that blames the AA posters on DU for not bowing and scraping while they swarmed all over this forum and shit all over the regulars of this group when they weren't shitting all over the black community as a whole?

I don't need or want any mea culpas from any of these people. What I want more than anything is for them to just leave us all the hell alone.

[azurnoir]

64. Bernie Sanders complete statement on #BLM

“I plead guilty — I should have been more sensitive at the beginning of this campaign to talk about this issue,” Sanders admitted. “The issues these young people raised are enormously important,” he said.

He then went on to recount watching the arrest video of Sandra Bland, the young African-American woman who mysteriously and suddenly died in a Texas jail cell, as a pivotal moment of recognition for him. “It impacted my night’s sleep,” he said. “I don’t sleep that great, and it made it even worse.”

“It’s hard to imagine if Sandra Bland were white she would have been thrown to the ground and assaulted and insulted,” Sanders argued.

http://www.salon.com/2015/10/05/bernie_sanders_admits_he_initially_mishandled_black_lives_matter_i_plead_guilty_i_should_have_been_more_sensitive/?source=newsletter

[JustAnotherGen]

65. I don't care

He's not going to be the nominee.

[azurnoir]

66. do you think O'Malley will be the nominee?

FWiW though no one had posted what Sanders actually said in full