Spin Off: I don't understand why folks question dedication to the Clinton's

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

92. Same here. The white so-called Independents (read: Republicans) can afford to vote on single issues

at the expense of others or the entire platform. They also can afford to vote their conscience. But as I've been arguing for a long time now, black voters have always voted strategically--meaning that much of our voting behavior is about how to beat the Republican, even though the Democrat running isn't great, either.

A perfect example in my great State of Maryland:

In 2006, black voters here had a choice between a civil rights icon, former NAACP president, and great congressman, Kwesi Mfume and a white, fairly liberal Jewish man with little political experience--Ben Cardin. I'll never forget, black folk were all for Mfume initially. We knew him. We loved him. He delivered for Baltimore and did an o.k. job at the NAACP. Yes, he was flawed. In fact, he was very flawed, but that didn't matter.

So, Cardin was an unknown; he was considered the underdog. However, when I confronted him at a local Fall Festival event and asked him how he could beat Mfume, he came up with specific policy proposals. No bullshit. No trying to bring up "black issues" or talk down to me like I'm some idiot. I am well informed. In fact, I am a political junkie, apart from my training as a political scientist. I told him that I would only vote for him if he could beat the Republican (Mike Steele...yes, that Mike Steele!). He reassured me that he could. And that was that. Maryland's largest, most populous and diverse counties--Montgomery (where I live) and Prince George's County--and Baltimore City--all went overwhelmingly for Ben Cardin. These areas contain the largest black population--and went overwhelmingly for Ben Cardin over Kwesi Mfume.

So, to suggest that black people only support black candidates; to suggest that they may have an issue with Sanders' religion; to suggest that they just vote for the most known candidate---all of these assumptions are bullshit!

We are and have always been strategic voters. The Mfume-Cardin race is one case in point. When Cardin had to go up against Mike Steele, the choice was clear.

Black voters have always voted strategically. And this is what many Sanders supporters cannot accept. It's not that Hillary Clinton is a perfect candidate in every single way. She's not. But if people believe that she can win, that's what they believe and I can't fault them for it.

Black voters have always voted strategically. I don't see that changing anytime soon.