Ta-Nehisi Coates: "Joe Biden Shouldn't Be President"

[emmaverybo]

158. Because Biden leads with black voters, critics are bound to examine his relationship now

Last edited Sun Jun 23, 2019, 02:54 AM - Edit history (1)

and earlier in his career to racial issues.

At least in South Carolina, it does not seem that his support among Black voters has changed. He
still maintains his favorability with an older demographic while younger voters tend to be more
skeptical about his ability to represent their concerns or prefer other candidates.

What I find “disingenuous,” to use Symone Sanders’ excellent word choice, is the virulence with which white liberals are attacking him, speaking not out of their own experience, but their near-patronizing concern about black people’s concerns. Black people are not some monolithic voting group white progressives should assume a voice for in promoting or undermining candidates.


Leading the charge with a new weapon, the usual anti-Biden wing is in over-drive, first hashing and rehashing the fundraiser, milking the anecdote for all it’s worth, then digging up “evidence” from fifty years ago. Now, we get an opinion from Ta-Nehisi Coates that we should take as authoritative because he is a recognized genius and thus should know who should not become our next president.

I understand Coates’ prominence as a writer and activist. I respect his spear-heading an investigation into reparations. I respect his standing up in the fight for a more just and equal America.

However, some of the exchange here exemplifies an insidious and insulting approach to Biden bashing. An opinion though it has a following is still only an opinion.

Worse, in the post you respond to, we find a blatantly false premise about “most African-Americans,” used to make the argument that Biden, if our nominee, would lose us the election.

Just for the sake of honesty, I thank you for correcting this bit of bandwagon propaganda with fact.