Black Lives Don’t Matter, Black Votes Do: the Racial Hypocrisy of Hillary and Bill Clinton

[Karmadillo]

http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/04/15/black-lives-dont-matter-black-votes-do-the-racial-hypocrisy-of-hillary-and-bill-clinton/

APRIL 15, 2016
Black Lives Don’t Matter, Black Votes Do: the Racial Hypocrisy of Hillary and Bill Clinton
by RICHARD W. BEHAN

The Clinton legacy is black impoverishment—so why are we still voting for Hillary?

–Michelle Alexander, author, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness

African-Americans have few reasons to vote for Hillary Clinton. No one understands this better—and says it more forcefully—than Michelle Alexander, civil rights activist, author, and professor of law. She has studied the public life of the Clintons, chronicled their catastrophic impacts on black lives, and observed their self-serving, hypocritical pandering to the African-American community.

The Clintons have always cultivated a warm affection for African-Americans. One iconic image shows Bill riffing on his saxophone for Arsenio Hall. Another pictures Hillary hugging parishioners in black churches. Similar beguiling images appear daily in the media as her presidential campaign progresses.

The affection seems to be mutual. It was apparent in the primary elections across the South, where black voters gave Hillary Clinton overwhelming majorities. But their loyalty is tragically misplaced: the Clintons’ affection is not matched by a serious commitment to relieving the poverty, prejudice, mass incarceration, and second-class citizenry suffered by much of the black community today.

The Clintons’ affection is simply a political expedient. They have relied on the black vote in virtually every election either of them has faced over the past 24 years, but their respective incumbencies have savaged this faithful community.

“From the crime bill to welfare reform, policies Bill Clinton enacted—and Hillary Clinton supported—decimated black America.” Those are Michelle Alexander’s words, accompanying her recent online essay, The Clinton Legacy is Black Impoverishment–So Why Are We Still Voting for Hillary? (The article appeared in print form in the Nation magazine on February 29 under the title, “Black Lives Shattered.”)

The case is compelling for African-Americans to withhold their votes from Hillary Clinton.

more...

[bvar22]

1. DURec.

I've never been able to understand why ANY PoC would EVER vote for a Clinton....ever.

[Maedhros]

5. People of color are just as susceptible to propaganda as the rest of us...[n/t]

[noiretextatique]

10. Michelle also discusses the valid reasons black people like the Clintons

Bill was the first President to treat Black people like humans. She says this is particularly true for older Black people. I think there is truth to this. Some people will give the Clintons a pass for a lot because of geniune regard for the people. Never mind the policies. And, as others have mentioned, drugs and gangs, and the violence that brought, was a real problem in many Black communities.
I don't give them a pass, never did and never will, but many people do.

[italiangirl]

2. puke

The way she panders to the black community makes me want to puke. Hillary is for Hillary only and will say or do anything or use anyone to advance her agenda, even poor black people. She is disgraceful and deceitful and it is so sad they can't see through her

[italiangirl]

3. example to my thread

The way she flew to Flint for a photo-op is one of her lowest moments. Ewwwwww

[Bill USA]

4. Sanders Supporters Must Stop Repeating GOP Lies About Hillary Clinton - a Sanders supporter's appeal

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511490285

[noiretextatique]

7. Are you calling Michelle Alexander a liar?

She has more intergrity in her little finger than both of the Clintons combined. And she is brilliant. If you care to refute, her analysis, please do so. I doubt you can hence this attempt at deflection. Pathetic.

[bvar22]

8. Maybe you can help me understand.

What has either Clinton ever done for African Americans, or any PoC, beyond Lip Service and Photo Ops?

*Draconian Mandatory Sentencing disproportionate applied to PoC

*Free Trade Policies that sent our Blue Collar jobs to 3rd World Countries, driving down wages and benefits disproportionately affecting the lower SES of ALL colors, and forcing the lower SES into into competing for fewer and fewer low wage jobs. Guess who wins. (NOT PoC)

*Welfare Deform

Please show me something solid so that I can understand.

[arcane1]

9. What is the lie in the OP? Refute it. n/t

[noiretextatique]

11. This is a tiresome, and anti-intellectual tactic

IT'S A LIE!!!!! ALL RW LIES!!! That isn't an argument, nor is a refutation of any of the facts in the article. It is a tactic used by people that are either too lazy to refutes the facts, or people who cannot refute the facts.

[noiretextatique]

6. This black woman agrees, and has since Bill was president

I saw their game a long time ago.

[uponit7771]

12. "when you talk about ghettos traditionally, what you talk about is African-American communities. "