Why is BLM focusing on Bernie Sanders?

[Skwmom]

If their goal is criminal justice reform, why are they not marching on Washington DC and demanding that the President, Senate, and House pass legislation now?

They seem to have a visceral dislike for Bernie Sanders. Why?

What is achieved by attacking Bernie Sanders?

If the goal was to stop the brutalization and killing of Black Americans, it doesn't seem that attacking Bernie Sanders will do much to accomplish that goal.

Who funds BLM?

[zazen]

1. great point n/t

[villager]

2. The time honored tradition of left/progressive causes shooting themselves in the foot, once again!

Why go after those who actually hold the power, when we can tear each other up and keep our side from getting any?

[Hortensis]

90. NOPE. BLM has internal conflict - black social conservative hostiles vs. all the rest.

"When the crowd asked the activists to allow Sanders to speak, one activist called the crowd "white supremacist liberals," according to event participants."

Does the tone sound sort of familiar? Some BLM members are apologizing for and denouncing this behavior, even while the hostile tea-party-type are doubling down on the divisive insults. Like, "The problem with Sanders’, and with white Seattle progressives in general, is that they are utterly and totally useless (when not outright harmful) in terms of the fight for Black lives."

[villager]

95. I am suggesting that the polarizing ultimately benefits outside interests

...and not those in the given movement.

And "outside interests" have been aware of this for decades.

[Arugula Latte]

3. Very bizarre ...

It makes no sense to me.

I'm sure there's some weird backstory I don't know about.

[flamingdem]

4. Yes who are they and who do they support

because they are engaging with the Democrats during a campaign and this needs to be clear. otherwise take it to the Republicans or DC and know why when selecting a target.

[onecaliberal]

77. Some of them are on twitter calling Bernie the enemy.

[HerbChestnut]

5. That's the ultimate question

And until somebody sits down with prominent members of the organization and asks them specifically we won't know. Until then everything is just speculation.

[leveymg]

6. Because he's running against Hillary.

And because he's Left of Hillary.

[FlatBaroque]

7. Precisely.

Cui Bono.

[mahina]

20. I agree, consider who benefits, but I look to the right- way right.

[LittleBlue]

39. Yep.

[FlatBaroque]

8. I promise you, you will probably never find any

Clinton fingerprints directly tying them to this "organization". But you will certainy find the fingerprints of her surrogates. Gosh! I so miss the Clinton's campaign tactics.

[dreamnightwind]

11. +1

[INdemo]

32. Yes I agree. And somewhere hidden in the midst of those

surrogates I think one would actually find Bill Clinton
This is his style

[MissDeeds]

48. Agree

Winning is what drives the Clinton machine. Hillary lost before, no way are they are they going to let that happen again without pulling out all the stops.

[FlatBaroque]

51. I question whether Bernie can withstand alll the dirty tricks

he has a lot of campaigns under his belt, but never against a Clinton.

[Hydra]

52. Depends on how effectively dirty they get

Bernie is coming out of this smelling like a rose because it was so clumsy. Will it be next time?

[FlatBaroque]

54. Think about all the powerful people in the world of business and finance

who have invested in a Hillary presidency, then consider how dirty you think it could get.

[Hydra]

56. Oh, I know there's not a limit to how bad things can get

The question is, will any of it stick?

[jwirr]

75. All across social media tonight Hillary is getting the blame. If I were her I would stop the dirty

tricks now. Even if she isn't the one doing it she is the one who is getting the blame. It is going to be a bit like the Rs on her emails and Benghazi. In her case she is going to get the blame true or not.

She should be so busy watching Bernie's back to keep him safe that she won't have time for dirty tricks.

[Hydra]

76. She and her staff have painted themselves into a corner

Her platform sucks, and we know she and Bill are cozy with the Bushes. There isn't a lot she can do at this point other than double down on the dirty tricks or simply lie like Obama did to get the lefty vote.

It's too bad- I really think she's an amazing woman, but I don't WANT Republican policies. I want a real Democrat.

[sabrina 1]

96. Yes, that is what has happened, a huge backlash so if it was intended to help

Hillary, it has done the exact opposite.

And people are no longer as naive as they were about these kind of tactics.

[seveneyes]

9. Either orders from above or ignorance

Not too many other choices.

[TheProgressive]

10. Hasn't anybody figured this out yet?

Senator Sanders is a tremendous threat to 1) Hillary Clinton, and 2) the Republicans. But primarily Hillary Clinton.

So why is the BLM focusing on Sanders?

Because, plain and simple, it is a Political Hit Job on Sanders authorized by Clinton...

And no offense to PoC.

[Merlot]

41. Actually sounds like a "rovian" tactic to divide dems

It may be a political hit job, but I'd bet the "authorization" comes farther right.

Also, as to why they would go for Bernie, the Secret Service wouldn't let them anywhere near Hillary. Getting close to Bernie much easier logistically.

[TheProgressive]

44. If it were 'rovian' - they would be after Clinton - right?

Plus, Hillary Clinton only has private $2,700/plate gatherings. Has she spoke in front of 10,000 people like Senator Sanders?

Maybe its time for Sanders to have a Secret Service detail...

[Vattel]

12. What makes you say that they have been focusing on Sanders?

[jeff47]

14. Could you point to them disrupting a Clinton event?

She's promised them jack shit, yet BLM isn't at all interested in protesting her.

Heck, Obama and Lynch can do something for their issues right now, and they aren't protesting any of their events.

[Vattel]

15. My apologies, I hadn't seen the latest news about the Seattle rally.

[moondust]

13. Money?

Bernie is not exactly the oligarch's best friend. Does anybody know enough about the people who have assumed leadership of the BLM movement to know that they would never ever think of working for the highest bidder?

[glinda]

16. My take:

He draws huge crowds. By doing this it will possibly dissuade some from showing up especially if violence results from any incident in the future.
Who benefits from this? Opponents both Right of Bernie and far Right. And as a Republican strategy "twofer", BLM activists that have been convinced this will get them attention. (positive not).
So it keeps the BLM irrelevant and Bernie irrelevant both at once.

[Control-Z]

17. Maybe because he's the only one

holding rallies at this point?

[passiveporcupine]

36. You mean #bowdownHillary is all ready to go?

I'm waiting with baited breath.

[Control-Z]

42. I have no idea why it would.

You'll probably have to wait for a rally to find out.

Hashtags require no great preparation though I would hope they come up with something less misogynistic. Women have been bowing down since the beginning of time.

[Control-Z]

64. What's offensive is your response to me.

Don't you dare accuse me of saying something I did not say.

It was a rally on a stage in front of a fairly large group of people. What I said had nothing to do with the kind of rally it was or that it offended anyone.

You really are a piece of work to try and bait me over a simple, honest, answer, couched as a question, btw, because I don't know the answer. I see it over and over and over again with you, trying to stir up shit with every gawd damn person on this site who doesn't agree with you. Don't even think about trying it with me again.

[Ken Burch]

67. I didn't mean to bait you...just expressing mystification.

The fact that it was a large crowd didn't in and of itself justify the disruption.

Does this mean Bernie should stop having rallies? Or get out of the race?

It's not as if either of those things would serve the anti-racist cause.

[Control-Z]

68. I said don't.

And I meant it. Don't mess with me. You're not as clever as you think. Enough.

[Ken Burch]

70. Not messing with you.

I'm not your enemy. Neither is Bernie.

[Ken Burch]

74. I deleted the post you objected to.

If I was "messing with you", I wouldn't have done so.

[Hoyt]

82. Good point. That's where the cameras are. Plus Sanders is bashing banksters, corporations,

the rich, etc., and deservedly so. But to BLM, that's the least of their concern when the police might shoot them tomorrow.

[Control-Z]

83. Thank you, Hoyt,

for taking my statement exactly as it was meant and not pretending you didn't understand or trying to read negative intentions into it.

I absolutely agree that "Sanders is bashing banksters, corporations, the rich, etc., and deservedly so." But I cannot fault the BLM activists. Their message is about life or death for them. What better place for an activist to be seen and heard?

I am disappointed by how the situation was handled, though.

[gollygee]

18. I can think of a few reasons

The biggest two are probably:

1. He doesn't have enough security, so there is opportunity, and
2. It worked well the first time (got them lots of attention) so it was worth doing again.

Another reason is that this was an event scheduled for the one-year anniversary of Michael Brown's death, so the timing was important.

African Americans are not responding well to Sanders in general. He's been talking about racism more lately, and I keep hoping that will change things. I would love to see him schedule a widely publicized speech specifically to discuss civil rights issues (maybe racism and violence against people of color, and also LGBT rights and women's rights.) He could invite BLM representaitives to ask questions. There is still time for him to get more women and people of color on board with his campaign. Maybe that's another reason he's targeted - with hope that he will say what they feel is in his heart but haven't heard yet from his mouth. I don't know specifically what they want to hear, but if he doesn't have a staff advisor on race issues to help with this, he should have one.

[jalan48]

19. It was revealed by the ACLU this week that the FBI is spying on the BLM movement.

Have any of the leaders demanded that Obama put a stop to it? It would seem if they really want change their best chance is with Obama, the first black President in US history. Bernie Sanders is simply running to get the job.

[SHRED]

21. +10

[KeepItReal]

69. Hit the nail on the head.

I've been saying the same in post after post.

[Brewinblue]

22. The Clintons and Wall Street, duh!

n/t

[malokvale77]

23. "What is achieved by attacking Bernie Sanders?"

It's becoming all too obvious who benefits. It is not Black Lives.

For a long time the strategy was to get poor whites to vote against their best interest.

as the majority - minority population shifts it is easy to see the new strategy.

[HooptieWagon]

29. Bingo.

[malokvale77]

43. Thank you...

My prize is knowing that we are not all idiots.

[Daniel537]

24. Bernie actually has progressive solutions that would harm the MIC and the oligarchs.

That alone is enough for the useful idiots to come out of the woodwork to stop him. Funny how that always happens. COINTELPRO is the word that comes to mind.

[Delmette]

25. Huge crowds

Bernie has the biggest crowds, but he isn't being covered by MSN so their effort is not noticed.

Bernie's rallies are safe for them. Any other campaign would have them hauled off, in jail and then who knows what would happen.

[Amimnoch]

27. I am most definitely not a Bernie Supporter,

I find more than a few of his fanatical cultists more than a little annoying. I've found some of the comments by his cult so insulting to the candidate that I do support that I find myself having to remind myself that it is his cult, and not Bernie that..

I've event taken to calling him the Ron Paul of the left.

However, I also am very interested in what is behind this.

I do not understand at all why he is being targeted? If there's a point... if there is something Bernie has done or pushed to justify this, I wish someone would come forward and make the actual case.

He's not my candidate, but I'm not blind to this being very sleazy political maneuvering.

[bbgrunt]

33. there is so deep political shit going on here and

while I wouldn't put it past the Hilary camp, today's shit storm is likely to also tar her campaign.....so I think we need to look at who ultimately benefits and that is the Koch brothers.

[malokvale77]

45. Nice to know...

you see the "very sleazy political maneuvering".

[winter is coming]

92. If Bernie's not getting much MSM coverage, what's the point in being there?

Why not disrupt a sporting event?

[d_b]

26. It makes perfect sense

Bernie has a long history of ignoring race issues. Some people say he doesn't care about black lives at all.

He's also one of the most wishy-washy "liberals" in congress.

He also leads all of the polls, and has long been conventional wisdom's favorite to win the nomination. If I wanted to draw attention to my movement, he's the candidate I'd harass.

[cali]

34. that is absolutely false. Every word. congrats.

[d_b]

35. Well no shit, Cali

[emsimon33]

66. Some people just don't get sarcasm!

Even when it is obvious!

[d_b]

72. DUers are the worst at detecting it - by miles

I refuse to use the ridiculous sarcasm tag.

[whathehell]

84. Maybe you're just not very good at using it

and therefore need that "ridiculous" sarcasm tag.

Just a thought.

[d_b]

85. A fair point

If I ever had the problem on any other forum

[whathehell]

86. Um

Care to reveal what other forums you supposedly have no problems on?

Otherwise, that's just you talking, if you get my gist.

[d_b]

87. Why would I?

I don't give two shits about what you think.

[whathehell]

88. To make a point that has actual merit and substantance?

rather than mere hot air?

Don't bother -- You've already shown us you've got nothing.




















l.

[d_b]

89. HAHAHA right

Should I also scan a copy of my mortgage if I tell you I bought a house, perhaps a birth certificate if I claim to have have been born here? I mean I wouldn't want to be blow hot air all over some anonymous dumb shit on the internet.


lol fuck outta here

[whathehell]

91. Hahaha. You bet

I'm sure you've "Fuck outta here", genius

"Mortgages" really?

[whathehell]

93. "Anonymous dumb shot on the internet"

You've described yourself perfectly, and until you understand the need to

back up your claims on a forum, that's what you'll remain.

[d_b]

94. tsk tsk tsk

replying twice to the same post is a clear sign of unhinged, interweb butthurt. Take a breather and a break, hone up your internet skills, and once I've decided you're worthy, we can tango again.

[Amimnoch]

37. Do you have something to back up that claim?

Bernie is not my horse in this race, but all research that I've done shows him not being weak on civil rights.. at all.. and down the board.

http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Bernie_Sanders_Civil_Rights.htm

Really, 97% by the NAACP, and 93% rating by the ACLU.. People don't get that kind of a grade from those groups by ignoring race issues.

[magical thyme]

50. poster was being sarcastic or facetious. Bernie doesn't lead in the polls

or do a single thing the poster is claiming.

[JackInGreen]

98. Ahem...

Sarcasm smiley d, Poes law n all.

[HooptieWagon]

28. They're not being paid to effect change.

They're being paid to disrupt Bernie. They're being played, and too stupid to know it.

[FuzzyRabbit]

80. Bingo!

[nikto]

30. Here's another thing that matters ...

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

31. I think there are splinter groups in BLM

Clearly there were members of the Seattle BLM who were willing participants in the rally today, and others who I guess thought that was "selling out to the man" or whatever. They are disrupting Sanders events because of the low tech ease of it (less security) while knowing eyes will be on it. They would never get near a Hillary event due to the Secret Service.

[GoneFishin]

38. They have picked sides in the primary, and their choice is not Bernie. It's a campaign tactic.

[silenttigersong]

40. Chk out

what happened to Ray McGovern when he turned his back on Hillary Clinton at one of her speeches.His movement,Veterans for Peace.

[Cleita]

46. He is being swift-boated or attacked for his strengths.

It worked before to knock promising candidates out of the ring by a rival. So what's your guess who is behind this? Is it the Republicans or the Third Way Dems? I believe they are just using BLM to accomplish this. If there is any demographic that should be backing Bernie, it's disenfranchised people of color, so that's why that well must be poisoned.

[FuzzyRabbit]

81. Bing again!

[Rosa Luxemburg]

47. BLM has apologized for those 3

I don't think they were meant to do it according to BLM

[Hydra]

55. The apology had been "rescinded"

The tweeter claims he is not authorized to speak for the movement. Unless there is a new press release, BLM is onboard with this, and us now sinking like the Titanic.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

57. Well they all need to meet and sort it out

[Hydra]

58. It's too late, rescinding the apology didn't help either

It's clear they are on team HRC. That makes them a political tool, not a movement.

A sad end.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

60. From what I gather from people I've talked to

they had no knowledge that this was going to happen. I guess local groups do their own thing. It does smell fishy though. How else would someone try to stop Bernie having 12,000 crowds. However this will increase his crowds numbers.

[Hydra]

61. This didn't hurt Bernie in the end

It actually highlighted his civil rights credentials and put the movement back where it should have been- on a complete equality path.

It could have gone VERY differently if BLM had managed it better, staging fake protests of other candidates or at the WH, where they really need to be. Sloppy move by a desperate potential candidate.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

62. Yes

There's a lot of buzz now that Bernie will get the Black vote

[peacebird]

53. Soros money funds BLM & Hillary

[KeepItReal]

71. Ok now that's funny

The legendary Soros Money propping up this whole liberal movement...

[silenttigersong]

59. Its not about Bernie

It is about Dead People the majorities being people of colour_dont blame them _raise your consciousness-I myself still believe that Michael Brown was murdered,Sandra Bland should never have been arrested,it is the system.

[Skwmom]

63. I agree that the killing and brutalization of Black Americans has to stop.

However, I can't see how their current actions will achieve that. But then again, it will help secure the Black vote for Hillary - and of course that is much more important. (I am being sarcastic).

[Ken Burch]

73. They didn't have to stop the candidate who agrees with them more than all others

to do that. And if it wasn't about Bernie, why did they demand that the crowd at the denounce Bernie?

[emsimon33]

65. EXACTLY!!!!! Follow the money!

Too bad a movement that could have been a force for much needed change has been hijacked and become the pawn of powerful political interests.

[askew]

78. Here's my theory:

Here's my theory as to why Sanders is seeing more attention from #BLM than O'Malley or Hillary:

1. Hillary has almost no public events that aren’t pre-screened in some way. And she has secret service protection so no one is getting on that stage.

2. O'Malley's events are small and generate almost no press so it isn't worth the time to protest him directly unlike Sanders who has the largest events of any candidate this cycle so far.

3. The differences in approaches between Sanders and O’Malley post-Netroots protest:

O’Malley was forced to leave the stage b/c DNC debate rules forbids having 2 candidates on a stage together at an event. O’Malley immediately did interviews w/Goldie Taylor and TWiB where he apologized for saying “All Lives Matter”, talking about Baltimore, #BLM and reforms needed. He also spoke w/ activists at NN and was still talking to them at 11 pm that night. Since then, O’Malley has met with more activists, attended a meeting with 20/20 (an AA organization) & HBCU in South Carolina. He spent today being interviewed by National Association of Black Journalists at their convention. He was the only candidate who agreed to attend their event. He addressed Urban League and previewed his criminal justice reform platform that he had been working on w/input from minority/CJ interest groups with an interview with Ebony magazine. People were gobsmacked by how progressive and detailed his platform was. #BLM, DREAM Coalition, etc. all were praising it for being so impressive.

Sanders, on the other hand, got defensive during the NN event. He cancelled events post-protest at NN. Didn’t meet with BLM and other activists and continued on his normal schedule while adding language to his stump speeches about BLM and criminal justice. I believe he addressed the Urban League as well.

Now, it is much easier for O’Malley to spend time meeting with HBCUs, 20/20 and NABJ because he is still struggling to get above 5% in any poll. There is a huge demand for Sanders’ rallies and events so he has less free time. However, O’Malley has clearly made this a priority for him and has dedicated his time and resources to it the same way he has with Latino/immigration issues. No other candidate is doing more than him in reaching out to these groups and talking about their issues.

4. The differences between a vocal minority of Sanders and O'Malley supporters' reactions to #BLM online. Part of this is due to O'Malley having 5 supporters online, but his supporters and his campaign didn't get defensive or lash out at #BLM for the protests. They listened and have talked about the issues. Sanders has some real issues with some of his supporters. They have been ugly to #BLM activists and other AA twitter users. Telling them Sanders has done more for blacks than they have, etc. They are making things a million times worse for their candidate, which is too bad because I think Sanders deserves better.

[CBGLuthier]

79. My opinion is that this is not so much BLM as a small group that is being paid to disrupt

Now, I can not imagine who would hire them to do such a thing or what their motive would be. Well, actually I can and do imagine who hired them and who has a motive but I will not say it.

The only reason I think such a thing is that seasoned politicians tend to be capable of really, really shitty and subversive things in their quest for power. Not that any particular person is a lowlife scumbag who does not give two shits about democracy.

[EuroYankee]

97. BLM are nothing more than Shock Troops for Hillary

It was embarrassing to watch these narcissistic, bullying and above all shortsighted misandrists as they again disrespected and attacked our one best hope for economic, civil AND racial justice in America.
Funny though how the folks at Black Lives Matter always give Hillary Clinton a pass: For example, Martin O'Malley said "all lives matter" and was promptly and roundly crucified - yet Hillary said the same thing and-? Crickets.
This must be because George Soros, who is funding BLM, is a Hillary supporter. Yet poor Bernie - interrupted 2x in a row now when he has the best record on civil rights of anyone! ... I guess this horrible case of political sabotage is just one more indication that the Clintonistas are Feeling the Bern!! #BLMHRCWTF

=========================================

BLM is a loosely affiliated amalgam of people with differing agendas, all elbowing each other to feed at the great George Soros funding trough.

Soros is Hillary Clinton’s largest donor and supporter.

The result is that there is now a coordinated effort on the part of several black activists and groups to discredit Bernie Sanders among the general population but especially among Black Americans. Shameful, really.

16 January 2015 - "Soros also gave money to the Drug Policy Alliance, which worked on the perpetuation of the 'black lives matter' buzz phrase, which has been incorporated into speeches by political figures including Hillary Clinton." 
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2913625/Billionaire-George-Soros-spent-33MILLION-bankrolling-Ferguson-demonstrators-create-echo-chamber-drive-national-protests.html#ixzz3iJNFQ1Rk