We've failed Cory Booker

[TexasTowelie]

By Athena Gilbraith


Cory Booker, senator from New Jersey, presidential candidate, and a Black man with local family roots, should easily be polling in first place. Iowans are no fools and we usually don’t get it wrong, but I’m afraid we will this time. Much of the punditry that questions Iowa’s first in the nation status will have a stronger case, and the state will have less of an argument. The 2020 caucus is riding on our choice and we are about to choose wrong.

It’s not difficult to see exactly why Cory Booker isn’t doing better in the polling. It’s just difficult for Iowans to admit — It’s race. It is race, it is race, it is absolutely race.

The first thing that will come to mind is 2008, however. Since Iowa Democratic caucus-goers launched Barack Obama toward the nomination, and Iowans elected a Black man in November, the question of race seems more like an accusation rather than a fact.

Is it possible to measure racism? Even with Iowa’s 91 percent white population, it seemed as if the state had learnt that racial composition was irrelevant. Even people of color in Iowa believed in the feedback of an Obama presidency. A closer look will show that not much has shifted locally. ”So goes Iowa, so goes the nation.”

Read more: https://www.bleedingheartland.com/2019/12/18/weve-failed-cory-booker/

[hlthe2b]

1. I really wish he were going to be in tonight's debates

I'll say no more, but it feels really wrong.

[Skidmore]

2. Here we go again.

https://councilbluffscommunityalliance.wordpress.com/iowa/iowas-progressive-history/

[Peacetrain]

11. Thank you, We are one of the most liberal states in the union

I know people have a hard time wrapping their heads around that. But it just is.

[elleng]

26. Iowa's Progressive History

'Iowa has always been at the forefront of civil rights issues. And although Iowa is located in the heart of middle America, it has always been more progressive than most of the states in the Union.'>>>

[Marengo]

3. Booker isn't polling in first place on DU either, is that because of racism?

[madville]

4. He's in low single digits with black voters also

He’s just not taken very seriously by anyone for some reason. Personally I’ve always found his rhetoric and stories kind of weird or goofy.

[cwydro]

5. I agree. That "Spartacus thing" was bizarre.

Article is nonsense.

[dware]

9. When he did that Spartacus thing at the Kavanaugh hearingss,

I did a huge face palm.

[Jose Garcia]

24. He's polling behind Gabbard on DU

[Hassin Bin Sober]

6. One word: pharmaceuticals

[loyalsister]

16. pharmaceuticals AND racism

People are willing to forgive Joe Biden for his middle of the road and even racist policies he still supports and defends, while Kamala Harris and Cory Booker are both held to a higher standard when it comes to any moderate compromises they have made.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

17. I'm not

[BannonsLiver]

19. Is Joe Biden a racist in your view?

[progressoid]

20. I think she said "racist policies"

Democrats have been known to support racist policies.

I suppose it comes down to awareness or motives. If you support or have supported policies that are racist but didn't know it, that's one thing. But if you support or have supported policies knowing that they have a disproportionately negative affect on people of color, then you might be a racist.

[BannonsLiver]

21. True, however...

If a poster says a candidate supports racist policies, it’s fair to ask if they think that candidate is a racist. Which is what I’m asking the other poster. I’m unclear on where they stand on that specifically.

[Blue_true]

30. By far the dominant industry in his state, responsible for lots of jobs.

A US Senator's loyalties are split, first to the Constitution, then to his or her state.

Senator Bernie Sanders is an avid supporter of the F35 fighter, the most expensive fighter jet ever by a large amount. He is also softer on gun restriction legistlation. Why? Lockheed-Martin is a big employer in his state, and rural Vermonters own guns for a variety of reasons. Should Senator Sanders be disqualified? No, he is properly representing citizens of his state, just like Booker is.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

31. Bernie Sanders ,,,, blaaa blaaa blaaa

[beachbumbob]

7. I hate all the implications when some one's favorite candidate fails its becasue of

- racism
- chauvinism
- any other ism


the fact is simple, they can't build up a base of support. Its not about who is "Against" them, its all about who is "for" them.

[Hortensis]

8. I'm sorry, but I don't accept that. First, they all owe us

everything just by running for president. And the same for us -- we owe it to ourselves and our nation to choose the best GE candidate and president.

For me, I've admired Booker in the past and wanted to like him for president, but he never rose to become the inspiring, high-minded leader I want. He started out going negative on other candidates and, even though he said some good things, he never completely moved beyond and above that.

But as I've said before, I believe his biggest problem was the catch-22 of this election: That most voters, very much including AA, are looking for electability. We HAVE to beat the Republicans. VP Biden had broad national liking and support and was 30 points ahead before he even announced, and the other Democratic candidates somehow had to be seen as more electable before most voters would shift support. Didn't happen.

[Demsrule86]

10. That may not be true. I don't support booker because of the fact he hired Ghouiani's goon and the

broken window policing he implemented...also, Booker attacked Pres. Obama. It isn't always about race. I do think Iowa should go with a group of states that in combination reflect our diversity. But Booker has little AA support you know. If he had solid support in the AA community, he could weather Iowa.

[SKKY]

12. Cory Booker just hasn't connected with enough people to convince them.

Sometimes, great people just can't connect. It's nothing against them per se, it's just the dynamics of an individual's personality. I like Cory, and I would be happy to vote for him should he emerge as the candidate. But, is it my job to convince myself to vote for him, or is it his job to convince me to vote for him? Castro and Klobuchar are in the same boat. It's definitely not racism, or in Amy's case sexism. They just haven't connected. But that's not my fault, and I feel ZERO guilt about it.

[comradebillyboy]

13. I like Booker but I wasn't aware I owed him something...

[brooklynite]

14. Translation: "MY candidate is great, and it's unfair that nobody else liked him"

[MBS]

15. Cory is a great guy

and he's done great work in Newark, and in the Senate. And I want him to continue to be an important voice in Democratic politics and the country generally. We need his voice! I just don't see him as president.

[Autumn]

18. I'm of the opinion that Cory Booker failed us.

A politician gains support or they don't. If they don't they should take a closer look at themselves.

[progressoid]

22. OR...he just wasn't a good candidate.

Like many in the field, he'll do well in some other position.

[msongs]

23. odd how the losers blame everything but themselves lol nt

[Jose Garcia]

25. He's just that compelling of a candidate

I'm sure that he would be a fine President, but he just hasn't been able to make a case as to why he is the best choice.

[madaboutharry]

27. I think the premise of the article is wrong.

I don't think it is about race. At the beginning of the campaign season, both Harris and Booker drew large size crowds of mostly white people in Iowa who were interested in their campaigns and in what they had to say. I think it is a constellation of issues that are causing the caucus in Iowa to shake out the way it is. Among democrats the number 1 issue is a fear that Trump will win the 2020 election. If this were a "normal" campaign with a republican president who wasn't a corrupt and unstable lunatic, maybe things would have been different.

[BeyondGeography]

28. Nice guy but emphasizing "universal love" in the age of Trump and economic struggle?

Total non-starter.

[Ba2020]

29. Authenticity

To me something about him is off. Everything he does is calculated. Everytime I hear him speak I hear a standard politician.

[ecstatic]

36. I see just the opposite

He sticks out because he's not a natural politician like Bill Clinton or Pres Obama. Booker is a very intelligent but regular guy who decided to run for office. He wears his heart on his sleeve and that's not necessarily a good thing for politicians. The more successful ones adopt a persona and do quite a bit of acting to attract support.

[NYMinute]

32. Cory would make a great running mate nt

[PhoenixDem]

33. Sen. Booker is phenomenal

He is a Rhodes scholar and his experience is profound.

Unfortunately, he didn't resonate with the Obama constituencies but he still has a great future ahead of him.

[ecstatic]

34. I had high hopes for Booker.

I still think he would maximize turnout if he were the nominee, but I don't see a way for him to become the nominee, at this point.
He stumbled big time with the faux outrage Biden pile on (Biden said "boy" fiasco). I moved away from Booker early on because I sensed that he wouldn't be able to meet the "10 times better" threshold that's required to get elected in Amerikkka.

[UniteFightBack]

35. Everybody can't win for fucks sake. nt

[Virginiaboy154]

37. Booker

You do know that he is polling horribly with black voters and he hasnt been able to find his lane. He is a good guy but he is no Obama.