Biden's convention embraced racial justice. BLM leaders saw it as mostly lip service.

[JoeOtterbein]

Politico

Despite repeated talk of structural racism, Black Lives Matter activists want Democrats to "close the gap between symbolism and substance."

By LAURA BARRÓN-LÓPEZ and HOLLY OTTERBEIN

08/22/2020 07:00 AM EDT

Joe Biden gave the floor to George Floyd's brothers and Eric Garner’s mother on the first night of his convention. On the third night, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama spoke the words “Black lives matter,” and Kamala Harris bemoaned the damage done by “structural racism.”

The embrace of the movement against racial injustice was a dramatic shift from the party's last convention four years ago and did not go unnoticed by Black Lives Matter activists. But its leaders viewed the gestures as mostly lip service, without a real commitment to policy change: They want Biden to commit to defund the police and to crack down on misconduct by law enforcement.

“It’s been unfortunate to not see the Democratic Party fully align themselves with the powerful work this movement has been doing," said Patrisse Cullors, who helped found the Black Lives Matter movement in 2013 after the killing of Trayvon Martin.

The disappointment underscores the persistent divide between Biden's campaign and many Black Lives Matter activists, even as they present a united front to oust President Donald Trump. It also showcases the careful line that Democrats are attempting to walk: While the Black Lives Matter movement has gone mainstream, most Americans tell pollsters they don’t support withholding money for police.

snip

more on this important issue at link

[Walleye]

1. Oh no! Democrats in disarray again? (Sarcasm)

[Voltaire2]

2. The DNC went all in on racial justice.

Time to close ranks and get the job done.

[George II]

13. +1,000,000

[The Magistrate]

3. This Insistence No Bread Is Better Than Half A Loaf, Sir

Is the abiding sin of radicals of all stripes.

Much better would be to bank the gain and consolidate it, before insisting on another bite.

[PatSeg]

18. Well said

[TexasTowelie]

23. +1000

[The Magistrate]

52. Great To See You Posting, Sir

Did a double-take catching your name here.

[Hekate]

35. This

[denem]

39. " bank the gain and consolidate it, before insisting on another bite"

+ exactly

[Budi]

4. What a biased poorly researched & awwful article Fire these writers . Inflamatory lies

The obvious bias isn't even worth the read.

I 've read pretty much the opposite from other more credible writers.

The BLM referred to in this poorley written article sure isn't the same BLM I've been hearing from.

Consider this is the same source of writers who just can't seem to write an article about Democrats without adding their personal bias.

Ignore this hit piece on our candidate Joe Biden.

There are far more better sources about our great Democratic candidate & his VP to hear from.

[JHB]

7. Poorly writing inflamatory lies is what they were hired to do

It's what brings in the clicks, and that's what's important to the people who decide whether to hire or fire them.

[NurseJackie]

9. HA Otterbein's twitter feed isn't much better. Her agenda is clear...

... this is the kind of crap that the RW latches onto to exploit and divide. It's unclear to me why this Otterwhine woman feels compelled to do these hit-pieces on Biden and other Democrats. I suspect I know what her motivation is, but there's no need for me to elaborate on the obvious.

Consider this is the same source of writers who just can't seem to write an article about Democrats without adding their personal bias.

Amateur. Nickel-a-word reporting. And I use the word "reporting" loosely. (But apparently she's won a major award of some sort from some local writing club.)

[Budi]

11. That's an impressive award.

Sad.

[PatSeg]

19. Ah, I missed the byline when I first read the post

That explains a lot.

[JoeOtterbein]

22. The "local writing club" you are dismissing was founded by...

...Benjamin Franklin.

[NurseJackie]

26. Aw, that's nice.

[DFW]

33. So was the University from which I graduated

That doesn't make me a superior graduate compared to someone who graduated from any other school.

[George II]

42. But the the club in question was founded 102 years after Benjamin Franklin died.

[DFW]

48. Ah, a minor difference

When Franklin founded my school, he was still breathing.

[Hekate]

60. My first chuckle of the day, at 6:30 on a smoky evening

[George II]

41. The Pen and Pencil Club was founded in 1892.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pen_%26_Pencil_Club#:~:text=It%20was%20founded%20in%201892,has%20been%20at%20five%20locations.

[JoeOtterbein]

45. I stand corrected.

Thanks!

[JoeOtterbein]

56. Sorry! A few years off but still the oldest. Anyway thanks! Here's the link to them...

Pen and Pencil Club

[BGBD]

77. Same guy and his friends

found this country and look at the kind of people we give medals to Rush Limbaugh now.

[hedda_foil]

20. One of those writers is the OP's daughter.

[JoeOtterbein]

21. Thanks! But it seems many don't like any news that does not exactly fit their ideals.

Sound familiar?

[NurseJackie]

31. Actually, it's more accurate to say that we simply have higher standards...

But it seems many don't like any news that does not exactly fit their ideals.

Actually, it's more accurate to say that we simply have higher standards... and higher "ideals". And, it's fair to point out that we're smart enough to know a hit-piece when we see it. This ain't her first time at the rodeo, you know. There's really no room for (and no need for) continually giving her the benefit of the doubt. In both her twitter feed and in the crap she write for Politico, there's a clear pattern and divisive agenda. Her writing reeks of bitterness and disappointment and gin. In recent times, Politico has become the "last refuge" for writers who aren't good enough to make it anywhere else. Politico needs click-bait headlines and many desperate writers (not reporters, not journalists, just plain "writers'') will gladly provide the "National Enquirer" type of content they desire.

[Hekate]

64. OMG don't hold yourself back, Jackie -- tell us how you really feel...

I myself will endeavor to never earn such a smackdown

[NurseJackie]

81. ...

[Kahuna]

86. +1 nt

[NurseJackie]

34. Read on, MacDuff! The votes are in...

... looks like the majority agree with me. Politico is a clickbait cesspool and that Otterbein woman has a obvious reputation and clear anti Democrat agenda that is the object of well deserved ridicule and contempt.

[JoeOtterbein]

40. Awww. I had hoped you might feel better!

I never would have thought "votes" on DU meant so much to you!

Continue to have fun!

[NurseJackie]

54. It's not about me.

I had hoped you might feel better!

Irrelevant. It's not about me.

I never would have thought "votes" on DU meant so much to you!

Again, not about me. The discussion is about the consensus that Politico's HA-Otterwhine has a less-than-honorable agenda and everyone is onto the game. That kind of divisive crap serves no good purpose.

Continue to have fun!

Will do!

[JoeOtterbein]

59. You know I will!...

...In my case with a couple of beers and a great hybrid vape!

[NurseJackie]

80. LOL

[NurseJackie]

28. How is this relevant?

One of those writers is the OP's daughter.

Yes, I know. But... how is this relevant? Should I be less critical of that Politico "reporter" because of her family connections?

[SiliconValley_Dem]

30. who cares!? call out Politicos BULLSHIT agenda

literally ANY Politico article I read has things written clearly meant to cause people to question or downright mock and distrust Democratic Party! Fuck that rag.

[MrsCoffee]

84. Everyone is somebody's daughter or son.

That writer happens to be a public figure with a national platform.

No one cares who her daddy is. She gets no passes for spreading her intellectually lazy, dishonest and divisive bullshit. Especially right now.

[still_one]

73. +++

[NurseJackie]

5. Predictable negative crap from Politico's ace-reporter Holly Otterwhine.

[JimGinPA]

6. I Suppose The rePubs Will Offer Much More Substance At Their Convention

Thanks for your concern.

[Squinch]

8. SMDH. What crappy bullshit. As usual.

[beachbumbob]

10. falls under juvenile journalism and I value the opinion about s much as rush limbaughs

[Takket]

12. I doubt Biden is going to commit to doing things he can't legally do

Such as defunding things the Federal government doesn’t fund, like local police

What Democrats can do is stop policies like selling military grade equipment to local police forces and adding regulations for better screening of recruits (psych Evals to make sure we aren’t hiring KKK members who are only signing up because they want to “legally” murder blacks.

In any event you can’t reap ANY rewards of a Democratic controlled government without putting in the work first. GOTV.

[emulatorloo]

14. Politico stirring the pot again. 'Democrats in Disarray" bullshit

The usual politico garbage when they write about Dems

[maxrandb]

15. Politico is Russian for "Ratfuck"

Seriously, if the folks at Politico, and a shit ton of other "news" organizations aren't forced to spend the rest of their miserable lives reporting on obituaries in some Dumbfuckistan Murika shithole, there is no justice in this world.

[StarfishSaver]

16. A whole lot of words that can be reduced to two letters: BS

[SMC22307]

17. Keep stirring the pot, Politico.

[ismnotwasm]

24. Sweet Jesus. What the fuck.

“I don't expect him to suddenly sound like a member of ‘The Squad,’” said progressive Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), referring to the group of firebrand House liberals that includes Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. “I expect him to build coalitions, listen, and get progressive change done. But if someone's expecting him to turn into Bernie Sanders, that's not going to happen.”

No shit. We didn’t elect Bernie Sanders. Bernie Sanders himself is part and parcel of the structure this country government which is based on white supremacy. BLM is right to be wary of any leader, including Bernie. We live in a world of institutionalized racism, period.



This article just pissed me off.

[betsuni]

50. LOL "But if someone's expecting him to turn into Bernie Sanders"

Bernie:

"Aren't most of the people who sell the drugs African American?"

"I think you know there are a lot of white folks out there who are not necessarily racist who felt uncomfortable for the first time in their lives about whether or not they wanted to vote for an African American."

"I do not believe that most people who are thinking about voting for Mr. Trump are racist or sexist."

"I'll be honest with you. I really didn't know that was happening. I had no idea hundreds of thousands of Americans, particularly African Americans, were being held in jail for months or years, even though they've never been convicted of a crime, simply because they can't afford bail. I've learned a lot. I see the racial disparities clearer than ever." (this is in 2018.)

"The business model ... of the Democratic Party for the last 15 years or so has been a failure. People sometimes don't see that because there was a charismatic individual named Barack Obama ... ."

"... we're going to create millions of jobs for low-income kids so they're not hanging out on street corners."

[sheshe2]

67. Well that doesn't sound progressive.

[betsuni]

75. But he got arrested at a protest once in college and heard one of MLK's speeches, so...

Errrr....

[sheshe2]

76. Dayum.

I forgot all that.

[unitedwethrive]

25. Uninformed article...all conventions are "lip service", policy is not made in this forum.

They may want to watch the Schoolhouse Rock episode, “I’m Just a Bill.”

[SiliconValley_Dem]

27. ANOTHER SHITTY article from POLITICO dragged here

tou do realize they write thinly disguised hit pieces in Dems, right?

[bigtree]

29. another politico attempot to divide people in our party

...why bring this here?.

[Gothmog]

32. Another poorly written Politico article

I am tired of crap from Politico.

[hack89]

36. Defunding the police is not a widespread movement

I live in a very blue state and I don’t see it happening here. Too many people equate Democrat with progressive.

[JoeOtterbein]

37. Thank you DU!

You guys are awesome!

[we can do it]

38. Not this shit again🥱

[GeorgiaPeanut]

43. Fuck this disinformation campaign

Holly HA Goodman seems to be working very hard for the Trump campaign with fake news stories.

[AmericanCanuck]

44. I question the motivation of people who post such articles

I get it that one's candidate lost and lost badly. Does one now have to go against unity and rain on our great Joe Biden's parade?


What for really?

[JoeOtterbein]

46. We need to know when our BLM sisters and brothers care about because they are part of our...

...base!

[AmericanCanuck]

47. The people that were interviewed were some fringe people just claiming to belong to BLM

None of the actual leaders of BLM was interviewed.

It is fake propaganda and it is being disseminated with questionable motives.

[JoeOtterbein]

49. I've been around a bit, so I've been known as fringe too.

What I only imagined sometimes, like cannabis legalization, is now true in many states. The desire to imagine the best of our own party, is essential for future growth.

[StarfishSaver]

51. We need a couple of white Politico writers to tell us what "our BLM sisters & brothers care about"?

Do you have any idea how patronizing that sounds?

[JoeOtterbein]

53. I don't think that Laura would think of herself as "white Politico writer"...

Sorry about the "our". I'll be careful. I hope you will be too.

[StarfishSaver]

55. Correction: a couple of non-black Politico writers

The "our" is not the only problem. The whole tone and language of your post suggests you think of "we" and "our base" as one thing of which "they" (black people) are a different and distinct subset. White people are rarely thought of or described that way.

Consider how it would sound if a black person said "It's important that we understand how white people think because they are a part of our base." Would you assume that by "we" I meant just black people or everyone in the base?

[JoeOtterbein]

58. I meant that BLM are part of...

...our Democratic base.

[The Magistrate]

63. Actually, Sir, No, They Are Not

The base of a party consists of those voters it can count on without reservation. Voters who do not say they have to be tickled just right to do the right thing. People who come out and support the party's candidates, come rain or shine.

It is a source of never ending amusement to me that people who spend a good deal of their time and energy claiming they will only vote for our candidates if this or that thing is done precisely to their satisfaction consider themselves 'the base' of the party, when by their own declaration they are fickle, unreliable, and liable to turn coat in the crisis. Those folks ain't the base, fella....

[sheshe2]

65. +1000

[Boomerproud]

70. Thank you Sir.

[Cha]

71. Perfect Description of who is and who is NOT our base,

The Magistrate!

Thank you so much!

[cwydro]

83. Well said!

[NurseJackie]

87. Thank you! Why do so many not understand what that word means? Or...

The base of a party consists of those voters it can count on without reservation. Voters who do not say they have to be tickled just right to do the right thing. People who come out and support the party's candidates, come rain or shine.

Thank you! Why do so many not understand what that word means? Or, perhaps a better question would be "why do so many intentionally misuse that word?" The word "base" is not a synonym for "the furthest left of the left" and it's not a synonym for "purer than thou".

Oh well, all we can do is keep trying to teach them.

[StarfishSaver]

69. Some BLM members are part of the base, some are not

I consider myself a member of BLM and I am as solid a Democrat as there is.

The people highlighted in the Politico piece for their criticism may be BLM, but they are not part of our base. The only thing they have in common with our base is that they share the same skin color as some of them.

[sheshe2]

74. I never remember you posting in The African American Forum.

I never remember you posting in The African American Forum to know what our BLM sisters and brothers care about. I did, I was welcomed there, me a white woman. I never presumed to speak at them or for the. I spoke with them.

JoeOtterbein

46. We need to know when our BLM sisters and brothers care about because they are part of our...

...base!

Black women are not a part of our base, they are our base. The most solid and dependable voting block we have.

I would say, read the forum, however they basically turned off the lights. Their lives did not matter here.

[JI7]

57. Look at the shit from Politico on Harris before she was announced as vp pick

including from the same writer.

[AmericanCanuck]

61. That writer sucks

[Crunchy Frog]

62. Commit to defunding the police, and lose the election handily.

Is that what they want?

[Maru Kitteh]

66. Yes. Useful idiots want Democrats to lose.

[Hekate]

68. Depends on the "they" in question. I doubt this article speaks for anyone not on the fringe...

So on that basis, I would agree with you. People on the fringes want all or nothing, and like Susan Sarandon, seem to think losing a critical national election not only proves their purity of intent but will cause enough misery to speed the “revolution.”

Biden is going to stay within the law, not make things up like Trump. The feds don’t fund local police, so they can’t defund them. OTOH, I think the feds (in the guise of Homeland Security) send them all that military hardware, and that can be stopped at the federal level.

[sheshe2]

72. Trashing.

[Kahuna]

78. How long before Miss Otterbein resurrects Tara Reade again?

She seems to have an agenda.

Reade is not finished in her crusade against Biden. See the bottom of this tweet.

Link to tweet

[Captain Stern]

79. Damn, I hate when this happens.

I see some silly shit get posted, so I log in to mock the silly shit that was posted.

Then, while I'm reading through the thread, I see that all the stuff I thought about saying has already been said.

Dammit.

[betsuni]

82. Like dessert, there's always a little more room for mocking silly shit.

[SidDithers]

85. ...

Sid

[mcar]

88. Guess we should all vote Repuke, then

Have to push "Dems in disarray" even when it's not true. Another Politico hit piece and pure gaslighting.