The Neverending Tone Deafness of Bernie Sanders [View all]

[MrWendel]

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/2/25/1491492/-The-Neverending-Tone-Deafness-of-Bernie-Sanders

By Bravenak


Bernie is probably talking about Oligarchs, I really am just guessing

How tone deaf is Bernie Sanders on race? If we look back through his history in government, we find a much different Bernie than we would find in 1968. Is it his time living in mostly white Vermont that has affected his ability to discuss race in a clear and coherent manner? Or is it the fact that he sees race as a wedge issue, something that distracts from his all important theme of economic inequality? In my opinion, it is a combination of many elements that contribute to his stubborn attachment to shifting from race to poverty, without even demonstrating the shallowest understanding of the intersections that separate them.

We are not all poor. We are not all on welfare. We are not all in jail. So why does Bernie Sanders always pivot from matters of race to matters of poverty and incarceration? Yes, we know they are connected, but they are not the SAME THING. We all know that there are many disparities between the races in almost every walk of life, but what we need in a leader is someone who shows that they can engage us on issues and has a genuine interest in our issues. From OUR perspective.

Let's discuss a few moments of his absolute tone deafness in dealing with black americans. At the Race Forum, Bernie was addressed by a woman whose son was dealing with lung issues from the garbage plant burning near her home. She was visibly frustrated, and accused him of not being able to say 'Black'. Did he empathize? Sympathize? Discuss her son? No! He yelled out, "I said black FIFTY TIMES!", and then proceeded to discuss poverty with this middle class black business owner who wanted to discuss environmental racism. He actually told her what they were GOING to discuss. I suppose he has good reason but, I have no idea how his answer had anything to do with her questions or comments.

At the debate on PBS, he was asked about something he said about race relations on MSNBC, under him versus under Obama, as he had said they would be BETTER under him. His answer seemed odd. Very ODD. Somehow he decided to answer a completely different question than the one asked. It involved taxing millionaires and billionaires to get jobs to poor kids so they 'won't be HANGING on street corners!'. Um? What? Race relations would improve if poor kids were not hanging out on street corners? I tried not to say that black kids hanging on corners did not cause racism, but I couldn't stop myself. Black OR poor kids hanging on street corners does not cause racism, Sir.

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