Why "Bernie was arrested in '63" is an inappropriate answer to criticism of his civil rights record

[Tom Rinaldo]

92. I got that point

Like I said, it was well stated. What's the point though in efforts to make Bernie Sanders a daily topic of negative discussion on DU , always cast in one negative light or another including how he deals with race? It's been going on for a long time. I get that things he may have done decades ago don't prove him a sage on racial issues today. We can argue about his leadership, but his voting record on civil rights remains excellent. True, as you point out, he is not unique in that regard. That may not make Bernie Sanders a civil rights leader but he gets presented by his opponents on DU as an embodiment of white male privilege, more supportive to the suffering of potential West Virginia lynch mobs than to the needs of African Americans. True he is not called a racist, but he is treated as an adversary here while our Party still views him as an ally

If this were already primary season I would understand it (hate it but understand it). Both Hillary and Bill Clinton were called to task on racial issues here during the primary campaign against Barack Obama. Sanders faced that here during the last primaries. Hillary faced different shit. I'm not saying those discussions are always non legitimate, but context matters. I doubt those pointing to actions Sanders took earlier in his life opposing racism think that proves he can not be wrong in any of his opinions on race today. I think it is offered as evidence of his general good intentions. Some have the sense that Sanders is being singled out for being a white politician who is minimally out of step with the black community, if not one actually opposed to addressing issues that are important to the black community.

We try to have debates like that in between general election cycles because they otherwise drive one group.or another of the Democratic coalition away from participating on sites like this when energy should be building for the November elections. If Sanders expresses interest in running for President again, after November, there are many discussions that will make sense to have then but not so much now.