2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: I'm Black. Old Blacks have failed us. It's time for Young Blacks to make our stand on Super Tuesday [View all]jonestonesusa
(880 posts)All politicians - John Lewis, James Clyburn, the CBC, and Bernie Sanders/HRC alike, need to be able to accept accountability for what they have done, and what they have not done. Period. That's the nature of politics, and the harsh criticisms are simply pointing to the work that is undone. It takes a strong individual to step up and lead, but the reality is that not enough has been done to create the right conditions in this country for fairness and justice, and there's accountability for everyone.
I have deep respect for what elders and ancestors have done on my behalf, and at the same time, the work is undone. This is more than obvious. We still live in a racist society, and the political legacy of both Clintons has contributed to the continuation of that racist social structure in many ways. Is that even in dispute at this point? Why wouldn't it be expected that at least one alternative to Clinton (Sanders) get due consideration by all Dem voters?
The stakes are extremely high in this election to see if any real change in policy and national direction happens at all. One thing I like about this OP is that there's no pretense that this election is just a horse race. The alienation of voters is spoken of - symbolized by the 12.5% Democratic voter turnout in the South Carolina primary, the vote of no confidence in the American political system, including the two Dems that are running. Any Clinton supporter who is doing an end zone dance over winning a primary in this environment is losing sight of the overall conditions that this OP speaks of. At the bare minimum, we all need a real policy debate in the primaries followed by a sustained movement for justice, with the Dem nominee being a part of the solution. If the Dem nominee is Hillary Clinton - no more excuses, she'll be in charge and face her own accountability for campaign promises. Meanwhile, I'm organizing for Sanders as a better alternative to Clinton.