African American
In reply to the discussion: Cornel West Surrogacy highlights a major problem with the Sanders' campaign's outreach strategy [View all]Liberal_Stalwart71
(20,450 posts)The very false meme that black people blindly vote for Democrats could not be further from the truth. As a whole, the black electorate weighs its options according to who, strategically, has a better chance of representing its interests. Knowing that Republicans collectively either do not care, or are openly hostile to the plight of black Americans, will choose the "lesser of two evils"--the Democrat, by and large.
I maintain the argument that the black electorate doesn't really like the Clintons, but feel that Hillary Clinton has the better chance of beating the Republican nominee. I'm being completely honest. Bernie, as much as I like him, simply doesn't come across as strong and presidential. It seems to me that he'd allow Republicans to run all over him---much worse than Obama. All the tough talk that has gotten liberals fired up over Bernie would dissipate as soon as he realizes that he has no choice but to compromise and work with Republicans---even moderate and conservative Democrats--to get anything done.
As much as I can't stand HRC, I argue that people are looking at her to be the only option we have. Again, until Bernie changes that perception, I'm not sure he stands a chance, and this is something that his supporters don't seem to grasp; they just think black voters haven't warmed to Bernie and that it's unfair.
First, Bernie supporters need to stop belittling black people and insulting them--trying to tell them what's in their best interest. Black Americans aren't children; we know what's best for us.
Second, Bernie still has a problematic agenda in terms of placing class considerations and economic justice above social justice and understanding the preeminence of race. That is HUGE in the black community. And that Bernie and many of his supporters either don't understand that or are deliberately unwilling to accept it is a problem for many (not all) black voters will be his undoing.