The response of #BLM by white liberals indicates the overall problem... [View all]

[Drunken Irishman]

It's clear there is a huge disconnect between white liberalism and the largest Democratic constituency out there - and it's one that has been there since the early days of the Obama administration. The response of white liberals, who instead of being reflective about their position, are outright hostel to a growing aspect of the base that has, for the last 40-plus years, been the backbone of the Democratic Party, is part of the problem - and maybe why the BLM groups feel the need to speak out so heavily.

Instead of complaining about what they're doing - maybe focus on why they're doing it.

And yet, from what I've seen, the response has been pretty damn patronizing - you should support Bernie because, gosh, he's done so much for black America. Just listen to his speeches! You should support Bernie because he's fighting for total income equality, which will totally benefit blacks in this country. Moreover, then it's white liberals who turn around and deflect that criticism by pointing to the first black president and saying, "go heckle him! - not the white guys!"

Do I think the intent there is as nasty as it's coming across? No. But I think there is a huge blind spot when it comes to white liberals and race. You wanna know how I know? Because I've experienced it. The fact of the matter is that no amount of compromising, empathy or understanding is going to get us to fully acknowledge the issue from the perspective of black America. Bernie Sanders will never know what it's like to be black - he will never know the struggles of growing up black in America, especially black and poor in America.

That's not Bernie's fault - or any of our faults - but the way we approach this overall issue can be our fault. But from the start, whether it's been on BLM or the overall administration of the first black president, many white liberals have used the same tactics, even if with motives completely opposite, of the right - parading out other blacks to prove their point to black America, tearing down the actions of the first black president, dismissing a good portion of what he's done and all this reflects on black America who, in large part, still supports Pres. Obama.

Granted, you'll find a few in the BLM community who do not support Obama, who feel he's been too tepid on this matter, and who have, in fact, heckled him - just as they did in Selma when he gave his all too important speech.

It happens - but the outrage then was minimal. There were a few people who brought it up, but on the whole, no one seemed to be as defensive about it when it happened.

Even now, even today, I see white liberals posting links from black supporters of Bernie, as if that validates their whole point. It doesn't. It doesn't no more than when FOX News brings Allan West out in front of their audience to trash the President. The assumption, of course, is that because it's coming from a black voice, it automatically has more merit and can be used by whites to hide behind. No, no it can't.

This has been something the left does a great deal - namely with guys like Tavis Smiley and Cornell West. It's a way white liberals can hit Obama on issues that, on the whole, they'd feel uncomfortable hitting him on because of his skin color.

And don't think many liberal blacks haven't taken notice - they have. It's why, even here on DU, there are concerns and questions among those black supporters of the President.

It's also why it's so important to listen to their concerns instead of spouting off on how their movement is dead to you. In the end, the Democratic Party will only go as far as the black community allows it.

Bernie won't win the White House on the backs of white liberal voters. He won't even win it on the backs of white voters. He'll win it, just as Obama did, with support from blacks and Hispanics - two demographics that overwhelmingly supported the Democratic Party.

But whatever you're doing is not helping. It's only turning black support off your guy. Step back, let 'em vent, listen to their concerns and go from there. I mean, I get where much of this is rooted - as I'm not a fan of heckling. I think it's rude. But there is also a reason this is blowing up like it is, and the refusal to address that reason is only damaging your candidate with a huge group of people that matter - and deflecting the criticism onto Obama or Holder is not the way to go, because that'll just alienate those groups that much more.

At least that's how I see it.