2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Black Voters in NH Unconvinced by Sanders [View all]Liberal_Stalwart71
(20,450 posts)This is quite evident in how we approach the two main political parties:
First, we know that the Republican Party is indifferent, at best, and hostile, at worst, towards black voters.
Second, we realize and understand that the Democratic Party is only a little better than the Republican Party; it is more representative of America than the Republicans--and a little less hostile to people of color than the Republicans.
Thus, our heart may tell us that while Bernie Sanders is probably the better candidate on issues that matter to us as a whole, HRC has the BEST CHANCE of being elected.
White liberals, listen up:
Black people were squarely in Hillary Clinton's corner in 2007. Not only did we not know (collectively) who Barack Obama was, we didn't think he could get elected. It was only until after Iowa that some of us started to be attracted to him. And it was only AFTER the Clintons' racist campaign kicked off before the SC primary that more of us sat up and paid attention to Obama.
The strategy? Obama can win. And he could likely beat the Republican challenger.
This is NOT happening with Bernie Sanders, sadly. Most of us are simply not convinced that he can win. We may not like the Clintons, but we believe that she has a much better chance of beating the Republicans.
You're going to have to accept this reality and stop talking down to black voters.
Unless Bernie Sanders HIMSELF can change the narrative and convince us, not only can he win, but also CAN HE DELIVER IN A REPUBLICAN-DOMINATED CONGRESS? We don't want to hear about Hillary Clinton. We already know her. We want to hear what BERNIE SANDERS is going to do! Stop using HRC to deflect. Sanders is the one who needs to convince people.