The White Entitlement of Some Sanders Supporters

[Beacool]

If you’re young, white and privileged, you don’t expect to lose. When you do, it must be because you got cheated. Blacks know better.

By Barrett Holmes Pitner
6/5/16

“Killary Clinton is stealing the nomination and the system is rigged against Bernie Sanders,” said the two young white guys standing behind me in line. They rambled incessantly about how she was cheating and could not be trusted. Superdelegates were their greatest frustration. Unelected delegates who could “decide” the nomination proved that the process was a sham that was intentionally set up to prevent Sanders from winning.

At first I tried to ignore the conversation and thought they were Trump supporters (“Killary” is usually a right-wing thing). But once it became clear that these guys were Sanders supporters, I had to jump in. For years, these guys had been “my people.” I have been a fan of Sanders long before his presidential run and have made many friends due to our mutual admiration of his policies. Surely, I’d be able to have a civil, rational conversation with these guys, right?

When, I chimed in it was evident that we were speaking different languages. We agreed on most of the substantive policy issues, and I told them how I even interned for Sanders about a decade ago. We should have been able to see eye to eye, but we could not. The main source of their frustration was merely the fact that they had lost. The fact that she is ahead in the popular vote, has won more primaries and caucuses, and has earned more delegates was to them a minor nuisance. They had their absurd talking points and were unwilling to deviate into reality.

The more I reflected on them, the more I realized the key point: They felt entitled to win, and a defeat meant that someone must have cheated or that their opinions did not matter, which of course couldn’t be true. They preferred to suspend reality and fabricate injustices rather than concede that Sanders has lost fair and square.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/06/05/the-white-entitlement-of-some-sanders-supporters.html

This sounds familiar.

[LonePirate]

1. It sounds very familiar.

[gordianot]

2. Must be white privelege day on DU.

Yes sounds familiar when stated often enough.

[Beacool]

4. Well, they are the same arguments that we see here.

A total lack of the reality on the ground and a stubborn refusal to admit that defeat is imminent.

[hobbit709]

10. Yep. Lack of reality is why this has been spewed up several times today.

Another big pile

[Beacool]

17. Please, what the writer pointed out are the arguments we read here on a daily basis.

That Sanders has been robbed, that the election was rigged against him, that super delegates should consider match-up polls, that she could be indicted.

Any and every ridiculous argument has been used to deny the fact that Hillary's pledged delegate lead is insurmountable and that she will be the nominee.

[gordianot]

48. Maybe not robbed but you have to admit flawed.

.Look what both parties have served up. A little racially charged division is just icing on the cake.

[840high]

52. Meme from Brock.

[gordianot]

59. It is getting a little more creative try this one for a change of pace.

Crime against humanity: http://www.democraticunderground.com/12512132589

[840high]

84. Oh good God!

[politicaljunkie41910]

87. It's sad that people can't take even a second for some brief introspection

and consider the possibility that there could be some truth in the OP's statements before they jump in on the defensive. I thought it was very insightful that the columnist a person of color and also a Bernie supporter, overheard the other Bernie supporters conversation and thought he could engage them in some thought provoking discussion, which was summarily dismissed. I think they just proved his point. The fact that he had worked as an intern in Sanders office meant nothing. They had a grievance and they didn't want to hear anything that didn't support their conclusion. To bad. They probably could have learned a lot from that guy about the real world instead of the cocoon in which they were obviously raised in.

I'm surprised that the vast majority who responded here are as defensive as the subjects in the article and I'm not saying this to be confrontational, but I think it's just sad that so many were quick to attack the messenger and label the message as bull crap. I never learned anything by listening to only people who I agreed with. I will try not to speak in generalities, but it's been my experience as a POC having been born and raised in the Los Angeles inner city, but having lived in predominately white suburban neighborhoods all my adult life representing more than 40 years, that white people have an entitlement mentality that the average POC does not. That is not meant to be disrespectful. It's just means that we have different life experiences that govern how we view the world and I don't mean that I view the world with a chip on my shoulder. Quite the contrary. My three adult children were raised to be respectful of adults and authority, as my parents had raised us. The other kids in our neighborhood engaged in mischief every day, which for them and their parents was just kids being kids, definitely had an 'entitlement' mentality which my kids could not afford to have, because it could cost them their lives. Many times I would observe the neighborhood kids engaging in bad behavior (their parents call it mischief) and I would call my son to come home and into the house even though he wasn't doing anything wrong himself. But I would tell him that when those kids are playing on the construction equipment that the workers left overnight, they all blend in and look alike. But everyone would recognize you as being there should something go wrong. My son and his Mexican friend from school, once were stopped and given a ticket for jaywalking by the police in Valencia, CA. Kids cross at location all the time. The had to sit on the curb while the police questioned them about where they were going, and where did they live. They were given tickets for jaywalking, and had to appear in Juvenile Court. My husband and the other kids father took them to court on their scheduled day, and I assure you in a courtroom that was filled with defendants, many of them white, some black, and some hispanic, besides my son and his friend, there was no one there besides them for a jay walking ticket.

Quite the contrary. They watched all day as defendants were brought in, in shackles charged with murder, felony assault, robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, burglary etc. etc. After an entire day spent at the courthouse waiting for their case to be called and looking like they were going to have to return the next day if their names weren't eventually called, they finally were. The judge admonished them for Jaywalking, and gave them a long lecture about obeying the laws and if they didn't know them they needed to learn them. It was a lesson sadly that our kids had to learn, and better they learn it sooner rather than later. They don't get the benefit of the doubt, or a free pass.

I could go on and on but suffice it to say, the kids in our neighborhood were disrespectful, pampered, and spoiled, and their parents were no different. Their kids had too much of everything, and no responsibility for anything. Many of them ended up abusing drugs and getting in trouble with the law. Since we've lived in our neighborhood for the past 24 years, we've watched how they've grown up and we know how their stories end. Whenever they got in trouble in school, their parents (my neighbors) made excuses for them. I know this because many of them are our neighbors still, and our friends. And when I say our neighbors, I mean our whole development because our kids had friends throughout the development and we had to know who their friends were, and who their parents were. My husband worked in law enforcement and the kids of his colleagues had the same issues, and I worked in Finance and Accounting an my co-workers had similar issues. Their kids were not disciplined, and the parents were constantly making excuses for their bad behavior and their poor judgment. and time after time, there bad behavior often resulted in no consequences.I don't think my experiences with my neighbors, and my co-workers, and my husbands co-workers, and my church members are atypical. I believe that there is an entitlement mentality that exists among white people, that is so pervasive that they don't see it as being entitled, because they consider it so common to their everyday existence that they see it as normal, because for them it is as normal as breathing.

[gordianot]

88. I am white and I learned about white privelege when I was 9 years old.

1963 At a drug store who refused service to two African American College students. I am certain the students were there to prove a point. They proved the point with me it took 10 years to really sink in I will never forget. In 2016 Bernie Sanders might get a grudging membership at the local Country Club (same town) if he would lower his standards to want to associate with the loathsome occupants of that comfortable self righteous institution. I owe the two young men at the lunch counter a debt. I do not pretend to be perfect.

Peace

[politicaljunkie41910]

89. Thanks for sharing your personal experience with those of us here at DU.

I'm just sorry that many here chose sides and missed the original point that author of the linked article in the OP was trying to make. Too often people here are closed minded and are quick to jump to their preconceived conclusions. Some here said bad things about the author of that linked story for what, because he tried to reach out to a couple of young men who were disillusioned by what they thought was an injustice and tried to give them another perspective. How sad.

But thanks again for renewing my faith that everything in this country is not as hopeless as what is depicted here on DU.

[gordianot]

90. Voting in this country is terrible.

Be ye vigilante all involved some more so than others.

[Vattel]

3. Not this again.

It has already been spewed up by another poster.

[Beacool]

5. It must have resonated with more than one poster then.

[Vattel]

18. can shit resonate?

[farleftlib]

27. Yes, the HRCites must have gotten their talking points for 2day

They always come in batches.

[Beacool]

32. It's not shit. It's how these young men behave.

It's also Sanders' doing for his continuous attacks of Hillary and the party itself at this late point in the process. He keeps bashing the party and the super delegate system, while at the same time expecting them to nominate him, despite being the one on the losing side.

He and his campaign are the ones who keep screaming that he has been robbed, when the truth is that the nominating process is the same one that has been in place for years and the same one that made Obama the nominee in 2008.

[Vattel]

60. You are not dumb. You know it is shit.

[NobodyHere]

47. Yes

See the Republican Party

[Cheese Sandwich]

6. This is garbage. Millions of black people support Bernie Sanders.

Something like 20% to 25% of African Americans nationally and up to 40% in some places.

This article and the title are disgraceful. White people and Black people are free to make their voting choices without being forced into these narrow sterotypes.

This article is a good example of media bias where they select writers and stories that conform to their preconceived narrative.

[Beacool]

8. Cheese, Millenials and white people are his major supporters.

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. So all millennials are white?

You can't make this shit up

[840high]

57. Of course.

[Bettie]

71. And, apparently,

male as well.

I did not know that there were no millennials of other races or genders. Learn something new every day.

But, I'm still waiting to become 30 years younger and male.

[Bjornsdotter]

76. I'll wait with you

[Cheese Sandwich]

19. This is garbage. It erases the millions of Black people and others who are voting for Bernie Sanders

Trying to frame support of Sanders as white privilege has been a theme repeated thousands of times by pundits over the whole past year. It's been sickening.

Supporting Hillary Clinton is a sign of white privilege if you ask me .

[brewens]

28. Ya got that right. This is pure projection on the part of well off Hillary supporters. It's her

turn and time for a woman in the White House......

They are terrified Bernie would shake things up and start taking away all the free stuff from the truly privileged. We just want a government that uses our tax dollars on things that help all of us.

[Beacool]

34. It's her turn for the simple reason that she's WINNING.

These guys can't face reality.

[TheCowsCameHome]

37. ..heir-apparent to the throne.

[Broward]

39. This nails it.

[bravenak]

7. DU-REC

And the band played on....

[azurnoir]

9. Clinton's* Beast does does seem to spend a good deal of energy smearing Sanders

a little secret when it comes to voting demographics a greater % of white voters voted for Obama '08 that voted for Clinton in '92 , odd how that's never mentioned

http://ropercenter.cornell.edu/polls/us-elections/how-groups-voted/how-groups-voted-1992/

http://ropercenter.cornell.edu/polls/us-elections/presidential-elections/2008-presidential-election/


*Chelsea Clinton is on the Board of Directors of the Company that owns the Daily Beast

[840high]

58. .that^

[Vinca]

11. Is it possible for you to find anything more repulsive to post to alienate the Bernie supporters

Hillary WILL REQUIRE in November to win the general election? It's as if there's an organized movement to alienate Bernie people so they won't vote for Hillary. Are you sure you guys don't work for Trump?

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. Yes

I suspect there is one now

[WolverineDG]

20. They say they don't need us to win

I am thisclose to saying "ok." Thisclose.

[jeff47]

22. Well, there was the "Talibern" post.

So I'm pretty confident they will find more repulsive posts.

[Beacool]

25. Are these the same supporters who have spent many months attacking Hillary

with every vile RW talking point out there? The same ones who are still attacking her?

As for November, people can vote whichever way they want. There will be only two people who will have a realistic chance at the WH, Hillary and Trump. I would think that any Democrat with two brain cells put together would choose their party's nominee over the orange buffoon.

[brewens]

30. The real problem is that what you call RW talking points are not all lies. There

wouldn't be enough time in the day to invent all the reasons not to vote for Hillary.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. NIce piece of McPravda you got there.

So will they start airbrushing people out of history as well?

[kayakjohnny]

13. Jesus, what a pile of crap this fucking thread is.

How would it sound if I started a post....

"The Feminist Entitlement of Some Clinton Supporters"

Shit goes both ways.

[TheCowsCameHome]

24. Save room for dessert. They restock this buffet hourly.

[Beacool]

26. It would be appropriate if the situation was reversed and Sanders was the one with the large

pledged delegate advantage.

I think that sexism is also part of the reason why these young guys are so angry. The so called BernieBros will not accept Hillary as the nominee.

[kayakjohnny]

33. No, it would not.

You are flat out wrong.

You are throwing crap on the wall hoping something sticks.

And I think you know it.

PS ... there isn't much of an advantage for either candidate at this point.

Hence the contested convention.

[Beacool]

36. Excuse me, but "throwing crap on the wall hoping something sticks"

is the MO of Sanders and his campaign. Hoping against hope that somehow he still has a chance at the nomination.

[kayakjohnny]

40. I will bookmark this thread specifically to throw it back in your face.

You need to pay a little more attention. That's been the problem with you folks.

Letting ideology get in the way of the actual story.

Reality is just around the corner.

Hope you are ready for it.

[Beacool]

43. Seriously?

You honestly think that Sanders will be the nominee???

[kayakjohnny]

53. I don't know that.

But I'm willing to let the process play out.

I have great confidence in him and his supporters.

I think her flaws and missteps are beginning to have an effect.

I believe that the polling leaves too many variable outcomes.

I also believe that there is a LOT of time on the clock right now.

If the media turns on her, it's all over.

Sorry to be the bearer of sad news.

[Beacool]

83. OK, keep living in your own reality.

[kayakjohnny]

85. It's what everyone does.

No need for silly eye rolling.

It's what you do.

It's what I do

[WolverineDG]

15. You can say the same thing for the white Hillary supporters

they've been acting this way for the whole primary season. After all, it is "her turn."

[UMTerp01]

21. Where are the lies in this post? I see none.

If it doesn't apply to you then why are you so bothered by it? To say it doesn't exist and that there isn't this sort of entitlement issue from some is just plain ignorant.

[Number23]

64. It's projection and not a damn thing else. These folks are so blinded by their own impotent rage

and/or entitlement. They have trashed every single black academic, author, pundit etc. that has noted what has become a very prevalent theme in this primary which is white rage and entitlement.

Even a lot of white people have commented on this phenomena. But it's so much easier to scream "bullshit" and pretend that this was somehow manufactured by the Clinton campaign than do some introspection, or even more terrifyingly, admit that there is unquestionably a vein of rage in this primary among white voters who are absolutely FURIOUS that for the first time in history, they're not calling every last one of the shots.

[Scootaloo]

69. I agree, it is projection. We just disagree on the direction it's going.

[Number23]

70. Nothing from you could possibly make me happier. And I really mean that.

Disagreement with some folks is sometimes, the best way you know you're seeing things straight.

[Scootaloo]

72. That's good! I'm glad you can feel happiness. I was a little worried.

[Number23]

73. You'd think folks so itchy for a fight would at least be able to muster up something interesting

or intelligent to fight over.

But I wouldn't want you to hurt yourself. I'm sure when the results from Puerto Rico come in, you'll have something to actually be perpetually up in arms over, not that any of you guys ever need a reason!

[Scootaloo]

74. Oh, I've been resigned on Clinton since March. Ain't even worried about primary results anymore

Are we fighting? I was just pointing out that we disagree on what direction the projection is coming from.

[Number23]

75. No, we're not fighting. I'm genuinely interested in what you have to say. About anything

And especially about racial issues. Please continue.

[Scootaloo]

79. Call me daft, but I don't think you're being honest

And this thread isn't about "racial issues," it's about the hilarity of someone trying to talk about white entitlement while supporting one of the paragons of that concept. It's sort of like a Trump supporter trying to talk about the anti-Latino racism of Cruz supporters.

...Actually, no, that's exactly what it's like.

[Triloon]

23. "Blacks know better"

Yes, it sounds familiar. The author is racist.

[Starry Messenger]

29. k&r

[icecreamfan]

31. Sanders won young black voters 52-47

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/huge-split-between-older-and-younger-blacks-the-democratic-primary

[AgingAmerican]

35. Translation: Hillary is the candidate of the white establishment

The establishment exists to preserve, protect and further white privilege.

[Beacool]

38. Yeah, that must be why AA voted overwhelmingly for Sanders.

[AgingAmerican]

41. Yes, that is why young blacks overwelmingly vote Sanders

[Number23]

46. Isn't it precious the folks who keep trying to pretend that Sanders won the black youth vote

and that Hillary is some horrible racist but black people still voted for IN DROVES because of... reasons?

Sanders has not won the black vote in any single one of the primaries or caucuses. He lost among black youth, older black folks, black women, and all black folks regardless of income and education. But clearly that's because we want a racist in the White House!11

[Beacool]

61. It's that pesky Stockholm Syndrome.

The poor things don't know any better.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

56. Yep.

Electing the first WHITE woman is more important to the white establishment than anything else.

[Number23]

42. What about those not so young, "white and entitled?"

Sanders’s message has resonated mostly with a younger, predominantly white electorate like those two guys. Their message and frustrations have been heard loud and clear, but their electoral defeats have resulted in an intensified pack or tribalist mentality that unfortunately has similarities to the white tribalism that has guided Trump’s campaign. Sanders and Trump are mining similar disaffections amongst the white electorate.

...White entitlement is shaping up to be a critical issue during this election for both the Democrats and the Republicans.

This guy is only the 32,934th person to make this exact same observation. And I hope that people keep talking about it.

[azurnoir]

51. One of the major differences between Obama '08 and Hillary '16

is Hillary's campaigns using race as a divisive device and Obama's campaign of racial inclusiveness

Obama's effectiveness is shown here more whites voted for Barack Obama '08 than for Bill Clinton in '92

http://ropercenter.cornell.edu/polls/us-elections/how-groups-voted/how-groups-voted-1992/

http://ropercenter.cornell.edu/polls/us-elections/presidential-elections/2008-presidential-election/

yet Hillary's campaign has made white males particularly young white males and their female counter parts out to be the bad guys the spoilers not real Democrats ect, one must wonder is this healthy for the The Party and what does it say about the The Parties future?

[Number23]

62. PLEASE go and sell that BS to someone that is either interested or stupid enough to fall for it

I saw FIRST HAND the racist bullshit that Sanders supporters spewed the MILISECOND it came out that Hillary was winning - and winning big -- among black voters. We saw the attacks made against Black Lives Matter, John Lewis, the black community and even just random black people on social media. Hillary wasn't the one trying to diminish the black or Hispanic vote in this country.

You guys can scream and whine that Hillary made it about race as much as you want. Burn every calorie you have trying to change history to something that makes you feel better about yourselves, your candidate and your behavior. NO ONE CARES. Unfortunately for you guys, we ALL saw what happened, and more importantly, who was doing it.

[azurnoir]

63. Thank you for your comment and yes we did see what happened

[nadinbrzezinski]

77. You mean like my own identity as a PoC being denied

or that of a few other members of this board? My goodness, I am such a fan that I did not even endorse him, or anybody else. Yet, I will never, ever, like ever, forget, or for that matter forgive. And yes, that OP is bullshit.

This is the worst race divisive campaign I have seen in my life, the other was in 2008.

[Number23]

78. I don't know who denied your "identity" as a POC and I really don't give a damn. I TRULY don't

Your endless fixation that everything is about you is absolutely bizarre. I don't even read the vast majority of your posts. If I wanted to read something akin to your unique brand of "writing," I'd read some bad Harlequin romances from the 1980s.

This ain't about you and never will be. Clearly you think that you are the center of the universe but PLEASE believe me when I tell you that no one else does.

[nadinbrzezinski]

80. Members of the board

And my endless fixation is not about me, but pointing out your hypocrisy. And by you I mean a group of you. Well that includes you

And you are right it is my about me, but we,us. The reality is that this party of yours has lost that vision for many of the we in the working class and the inner city.

I expect things to get far, far, far worst for that part of the we.

[Number23]

81. WHO CARES??!

I DON'T. Is this part of your ongoing campaign against the AA group because we got sick and tired of your deranged, unprovoked tirades?? I saw that just a few days ago you were sliming our group because no one responded to some OP you made as if we are somehow OBLIGATED to not only read your rantings but respond to them. Here's a clue: We are not.

With every post, with every whine you clearly illustrate precisely why so few are interested in your posts and why you were banned from the group. Go bother someone else. Whatever your endless and incredibly boring list of grievances is do not concern me in the least nor are they anything I could do anything about EVEN IF I WANTED TO. Nothing you write will get another response from me from here on out.

[nadinbrzezinski]

86. Has not one thing to do with your group

Just pointing the hypocrisy.

And I know you don't care about that part of the we. You and more than a few made that abundantly clear.

But when you go about white bernie bros, and white entitlement and this crass hypocrisy is pointed to you, as expected self reflection is not to be expected.

I am not special, news flash neither are you. But I will keep pointing that hypocrisy. And yes caring for those who's economic prospects are not a concern for you.

By the way. Good luck in November. As you are making sure that many in the we, I care about, will not vote. I will, too damn fucking stubborn to just stop wasting my damn fucking time.

But I will point to this hypocrisy. You white washed by your actions many of us, even those of us who have yet to support anybody openly. Disappeared us if you will. That can never be forgiven or forgotten. As to your little group. Yes, I read it from time to time. I find it quite the window as well. But frankly less and less. And you and I have nothing in common. Not even what matters.

But the hypocrisy will continue to be remarked upon. After all it has a tinge of a word here

[Doctor_J]

44. Clinton touts support of white Americans.

She was bragging about her racist campaign 8 years ago

https://m.

[jillan]

45. Not white. Sorry. Next....

[PufPuf23]

49. No purpose for this OP but to be divisive.

Ironic that a certain presumptive nominee is the poster person for white entitlement.

[Cascadian]

50. Now that is stupid! Bernie Sanders' supporters are not all priviledged and white!

Bernie's supporters come from all backgrounds! Pot meet the kettle! You talk about white entitlement, what about Hillary and her supporters? You cannot get anymore whiter and more privileged than Hillary and Bill Clinton!


Feel the Bern!


Cascadian

[ForgoTheConsequence]

54. Would be comical if it wasn't so sad.

Fact is Hillary supporters have continuously dismissed the dead in the middle east and latin america, because electing the first WHITE woman in American history is more important than the hundreds of thousands dead because of Hillary's poor decisions. Talk about entitlement.

This is what your average Hillary supporter looks like, suburban, white, wasp.

[wendylaroux]

55. white entitlement - racist- sexist did I miss any?

[Depaysement]

66. Yeah, stupid

The guy can't hold down a job. He's had 15 in the last 10 years, mostly small-time DC nonsense. Latest gig is a "race and culture" columnist for the DB. Another dude shilling for a Hillary Administration job.

Let's say he ain't exactly Coates.

[Howler]

65. What utter bullshit.n/t

N/t

[Scootaloo]

67. Supporting Hillary, talking about white entitlement. Will the wonders never cease.

[aikoaiko]

68. "They more I reflected onthem, I realized I couldnt accept any flaws in the process because HRC won"

[Peregrine Took]

82. L.O.L.