2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Kos: A Black Man's take on NN/BLM dustup: "Black Folks No on Bernie? Really?" [View all]staggerleem
(469 posts)What on Earth do you find about the Senator's current positions that run counter to, or display evolution in, his earlier positions? I personally believe that you'd be hard pressed to find ANYONE whose positions have been more consistent over 5 decades than Bernie Sanders.
I'm actually not arguing in favor of either war over the other - both are critical. But I DO know that Dr. King recognized that the policies that held the black man down for so long had essentially the same effect on poor white folk, too. I know that the sanitation union that he was in Memphis to march with when he was murdered had both black and white membership (although, only white guys were allowed in the CAB of the garbage truck). Can you give me an example of a policy that would decrease income inequality for poor whites ONLY, and would not simultaneously improve the black man's lot in life? Like I said, it's possible that my upbringing has given me a blind spot or 2 on this issue.
My only point regarding Iowa & New Hampshire is that the diversity of his staff is unlikely to be a big issue, either way, in either state. So neither of those 2 contests presents him with a pressing reason to diversify. But I'm still pretty sure that the personnel changes you are looking for will happen well in advance of the Iowa Caucus.
Bernie's "current economic focus" is to create the rising tide that lifts all boats. But his OVERALL focus is to create a real, grassroots Progressive movement like this country has never seen before. Because he's not going to be able to do what he wants to get done with a Congress like the one we've got now. If ANY Democrat is going to have a successful Presidency from 2016 - 2024, we're going to have to give him (or her) a Senate and a House that he (or she) can work with. Not like this ship of fools Obama has suffered with.