Bernie: I want an America where young black men are not harassed, killed and shot in the streets.

[ram2008]

Bernie continuing his tour of not reaching out to minorities(sarcasm), brought down the house in Iowa and brought the crowd to its feet by railing against the absurdity of the current criminal justice system and the need for reforms. He also called for bringing 11 million immigrants out of the shadows and onto a path toward citizenship. Very excited to see what he says at today's rally in Pheonix.

"And like everybody in this room, I want to see an America where when young black men walk down the street they will not be harassed by police officers, they will not be killed; they will not be shot!" (Standing Ovation)

"To his credit, President Obama did something extraordinary the other day, he had the courage to go to a federal jail and talk about the absurdity of a criminal justice system in which if we don't change it 1 out of 4 male African Americans born today will end up behind bars. That is NOT the America we believe in."

"And that's why we believe it makes more sense to invest in jobs and education, not jails and incarceration!"

"And to our 11 million brothers and sisters who are living in the shadows today, we say loudly and we say clearly we are going to bring you out of the shadows and on a path toward citizenship. And we're not going to divide families up, brothers and sisters... we are the wealthiest nation in the world, there is nothing we cannot accomplish."

Whole speech is worth watching, but comments about specifically about race start at 15:00 ->

[LWolf]

1. I'm glad to see him specifically addressing social justice issues.

I've always known, based on his record, that he was a champion of social justice. With the current state of the nation, though, those most affected by injustice need to hear it.

And they are. I hope we're all listening.

[99th_Monkey]

73. Me too, and especially about innocent unarmed blacks getting gunned down by cops

i really needed to hear that from Bernie, even though I've donated, volunteered, and attended
a Portland OR organizing/meet-up for him already. That whole Netroots dust-up was great in
a way, because Bernie fucking LISTENED to BLM's pain and passion and then embraced it .. what? ..
within a few hours, in a major speech before 12,000 supporters. Now that is a real people's
representative, if ever there was one. I love this guy.

[Enthusiast]

79. Bernie is amazingly resilient and competent.

[LWolf]

85. Tell me more about his embracing,

and the speech before 12,000...I haven't been to the 'puter since yesterday afternoon.

[Autumn]

2. Thanks for this ram.

Recommended and bookmarked for later viewing

[JaneyVee]

3. So why so many no votes on gun control?

[HooptieWagon]

4. Why did Hillary vote to drop cluster bombs on children?

[JaneyVee]

8. Why did he vote no on closing GITMO and yes on F-35s?

[sabrina 1]

61. Why did Hillary support almost all of Bush's policies when she had the

chance to join Bernie and other courageous Democrats, see Barbara Lee eg, to vote against them? NCLB, now she says she might have made a mistake, Bush's Iraq War, now she says she might have made a mistake, The Patriot Act, still waiting to my knowledge, for an apology for signing away our Constitutional rights.

The 'mistakes' she has made, her opposition to Marriage Equality eg, have been huge, more like the votes we would expect from the right.

Bernie otoh, has a nearly perfect record on all this issues.

So explain to us why we Liberals, should support someone who voted FOR everything we opposed while she was in the Senate, and AGAINST issues like Marriage Equality which we liberals and Bernie supported?

[Luminous Animal]

86. Why did he got no on GITMO? Here you go...

"A number of important questions remain unanswered regarding the rather complicated issue of not just how you close down the facility, but what you do with the prisoners,” he added. “Are there some who should be released, are there others who should be returned to their home countries, are we confident that under Bush the correct determinations were made with respect to these prisoners’ status as ‘enemy combatants’? In order to answer these questions, President Obama has appointed a high-level committee of top administration officials who will be issuing a report in the coming months. I think that it is prudent to review that plan they develop before we spend $80 million in taxpayer money.”

[Scootaloo]

28. To "look tough" and secure the Arab-hating demographic of her party

Which seems to have worked marvelously.

[6chars]

76. ?

[hootinholler]

5. How many strings are on your guitar?

I keep hearing the same note over and over.

[TheKentuckian]

7. Gun control would make the police and the court system less racist?

A lot of us are gun owners. My grandfather and his cousins were all avid hunters and owned what some would call "arsenals". Hell, more black people than whites among people I know are gun owners and most have a concealed carry permit and some that don't are seriously considering it.

I don't get the question in context of the statement. The votes (which I support and agree with) and the belief that black folks shouldn't be harassed and killed by cops are lightyears from mutually exclusive.

[JaneyVee]

10. Im all for criminal justice reform...

But cops aren't the only ones killing blacks. America just buried 9 wonderful souls killed with the help of lax gun laws.

[jwirr]

36. Yes, and that was a literal mistake made by the FBI when they missed a part of Roof's background

check.

IMO Bernie voted on gun issue that represent the way his state wanted him to. They have a gun manufacturer who supplied guns for the American Revolution. They are also a state of hunters like my own state of MN.

As president of the USA I expect him to reflect the wishes of the people of the USA.

[eridani]

70. And he has very often said that rural Vermont is not the same as a large city.

High gun ownership and low crime--he is representing his constituents, but clearly understands that the US is way larger than Vermont.

[Enthusiast]

80. Just imagine, respecting the wishes of your constituents! nt

[Recursion]

9. Gun laws are disproportionately used against minorities

Though, more realistically, it's probably because Vermont has a high proportion of gun owners and he was voting the way his constituents wanted him to. (Which, to a large extent, is his job.)

[ram2008]

12. Also I think he looks up to the Scandinavian model of socialism

High gun ownership rate, with very low gun violence.

[JaneyVee]

13. So if his argument is States rights, then...

Why enact a 50 state federal repeal of PPLCA?

[Recursion]

15. PPLCA is one thing I definitely disagree with Sanders on

And I'm relatively skeptical of most gun control proposals. All I'll say about his vote is that it's disappointing (it's not even particularly a "red meat" issue to gun owners, which would at least be politically understandable).

[jwirr]

38. What states rights argument? There is a great difference between states right to disobey federal

law and voting the way your state wants you to vote.

[cui bono]

65. Yes. Two different things entirely. n/t

[NCTraveler]

14. He told you why directly. He minced no words.

The gun problem is a gang issue in LA and Chicago. Not a problem of rural white America.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/05/politics/bernie-sanders-gun-control/

[99Forever]

16. ...

[jeff47]

17. Make sure you pretend there were no yes votes on gun control.

[JaneyVee]

18. So he's evolving?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

21. Why the "Ds" and "Fs" from the NRA?

[beam me up scottie]

25. Sanders Votes for Background Checks, Assault Weapons Ban

Sanders Votes for Background Checks, Assault Weapons Ban

Wednesday, April 17, 2013
WASHINGTON, April 17 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today voted for expanded background checks on gun buyers and for a ban on assault weapons but the Senate rejected those central planks of legislation inspired by the shootings of 20 first-grade students and six teachers in Newtown, Conn.

“Nobody believes that gun control by itself is going to end the horrors we have seen in Newtown, Conn., Aurora, Colo., Blacksburg, Va., Tucson, Ariz. and other American communities,” Sanders said. “There is a growing consensus, however, in Vermont and across America that we have got to do as much as we can to end the cold-blooded, mass murders of innocent people. I believe very strongly that we also have got to address the mental health crisis in our country and make certain that help is available for people who may be a danger to themselves and others,” Sanders added.

The amendment on expanded background checks needed 60 votes to pass but only 54 senators voted for it. “To my mind it makes common sense to keep these weapons out of the hands of people with criminal records or mental health histories,” Sanders said.

Under current federal law, background checks are not performed for tens of thousands of sales – up to 40 percent of all gun transfers – at gun shows or over the Internet. The amendment would have required background checks for all gun sales in commercial settings regardless of whether the seller is a licensed dealer. The compromise proposal would have exempted sales between “family, friends, and neighbors.”

In a separate roll call, the Senate rejected a proposal to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. That proposal was defeated by a vote of 60 to 40.

http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-votes-for-background-checks-assault-weapons-ban

The sudden "concern" about racial issues and guns is noted.

[LondonReign2]

59. Utterly trollish

Has zero to do with the content, but mission accomplished. So "reasonable", as you like to proclaim yourself.

[KittyWampus]

6. and yet again, Sanders talks about racial issue briefly then loops back to economics...

he is a Socialist who sees all problems as class struggle.

Young black men aren't in jail because of a lack of jobs. They are there because they are disproportionally targeted.

BTW, Vermont despite having a very low number of black residents has one of the highest rates of blacks in jail.

[ram2008]

11. They are in jail because of poverty

Did he not just say he wants to end the absurdity of criminal justice system and the harassment and targeting blacks in the street? What else could he possibly say?

Poverty -> Lack of education/role models-> battle for resources -> Committing Crime to survive/Violence -> Jail -> and the circle continues

Economics is the root of all of it.

[msrizzo]

26. With all due respect.....

Sandra Bland was not poor.

[artislife]

34. I seems to me she may have been targeted as an agitator...nt

[msrizzo]

35. That's what I believe, actually. nt.

[artislife]

39. Which is just outrageous. RIP. nt

[Comrade Grumpy]

19. Maybe you should write his speeches for him.

[SoapBox]

20. Ya...Bernie and TRump...two racist peas in a pod.

[KittyWampus]

31. weird, I would never call or even imply he's racist. But you seem to need to build

that bogus assertion up to knock it down.

[BrotherIvan]

22. Y'all are so transparent

Bernie Sanders is not in the habit of lying like other candidates. If he came out on stage and said, "I will end racism while I'm President," he would be laughed at by every black and brown person in this country. And yet, Hillary people demand nothing less. Why?

I wonder why you would attack the candidate with the best record on civil rights? Hmm, could it be that maybe she has some of the stench of the Crime Bill and Welfare Reform and 2008 on her? Are you trying to play offense so everyone forgets that shit? Believe me, they might have tried to forget, but they will remember.

The funny thing is that many who believe themselves to be "politically savvy" have fallen for this campaign-generated swiftboating. And now a whole segment of white Hillary supporters have taken up the trumpet and just *care* so much. They care so much they hammer it in every thread to prop up their candidate. Isn't that special, a campaign talking point.

Transparent as glass.

[beam me up scottie]

29. "I wonder why you would attack the candidate with the best record on civil rights?"

I was wondering the same thing.

Could it be that this is just a game to some people?

I wish I could rec your post.

[KittyWampus]

33. It seems more like a game to the people who support a Socialist who is running as a Democrat

in a primary for the Democratic nomination.

[beam me up scottie]

37. Lol. Cheap shot at Bernie and his supporters but we don't think the S word is a slur.

Why is it only Dems who are way too far to the right of Bernie think socialism is a dirty word?

[KittyWampus]

40. #1. I am far left. #2. It's not a matter of supporting socialistic programs

or saying socialism is a clean word or a dirty word.

The ISSUE is Sanders sees everything primarily from a Socialist perspective.

He see first the class struggle. Which is why his rhetoric is the way it is and has been for the last 50 years.

[beam me up scottie]

41. Too late.

When someone starts hurling around that term like it's an insult I remember all of the right wing Republicans who do the same exact thing.

Like I said, cheap shot.

[KittyWampus]

43. LOL! It takes someone who used to be a Socialist (me) to hear it coming from another.

I didn't use the word as an insult. LOL!

I pointed out Sanders' adherence to a Socialist script he learned 50 years ago means he incorrectly reduces everything to a class struggle.

This is a simple, true assessment of him, his rhetoric and his world view.

Not everything reduces down to a class struggle.

[beam me up scottie]

45. Shouting "Socialist!" at Bernie supporters is like shouting "Benghazi!" at HC supporters.

It's a real turn off.

Don't expect people to listen to you after doing so, you may have valid points but I stopped listening.

[KittyWampus]

47. BMUS, I lived on a commune after University. I didn't "shout" socialist.

I did mention it.

That said> I do think if we were having a philosophical discussion with him he would absoluately lean towards democratic socialism more than truly communistic socialism.

But the framework he uses is Socialist. Old school.

It's not about him being "bad". It's about him being one-note and limited.

[beam me up scottie]

58. Fair enough.

I disagree that he's old school and limited but that's what the primaries are for.

Valid criticism should be welcomed.

[Vattel]

78. He doesn't reduce everything to class struggle.

That is just nonsense. If you actually listened to him, you wouldn't push that silly meme. For example, when he talks about police violence against blacks, he talks about the need for police reform, for community policing, etc. Class struggle doesn't enter into it.

[dreamnightwind]

83. Also he's very big on the climate catastrophe

which is not primarily a class issue, and Bernie is not approaching it as one.

The one-note see-everything-as-a-class-struggle talking point is incorrect.

Even if it was correct (and it is not), we should be so lucky to finally have someone sticking up for us in a class struggle. The $2 billion dollar woman (or how ever much she will raise for this election) is certainly not going to wage a class war on our side.

[cui bono]

67. And that's why he marched for civil rights in the 60's.

Last edited Sun Jul 19, 2015, 02:05 AM - Edit history (1)

Mm-hm... keep trying. This meme is old though, so beware, people are used to countering it.

[onecaliberal]

54. The game is the so called democrats who keep voting for corporate

Masters and the status quo and then keep wondering why things don't change.

[cui bono]

66. Wow! You really went there.

Last edited Sun Jul 19, 2015, 02:04 AM - Edit history (1)

Total RW attack. Shame on you.

Bernie is running as a Democrat for president. He's doing so because he thinks he has to. I do too.

Bernie is one of the best Democrats there is. He out-Democrats the Democrats that have a 'D' after their name. He is like FDR. Did you hate him too? Or is Bernie advocating for something far removed from an FDR New Deal platform? What are the socialist policies he is running on?

[KittyWampus]

32. Deleted comments

Not worth the bogus alerts it'd get.

[jwirr]

42. Bernie Sanders has never been elected as a socialist even though there is a socialist party in

most states. He has identified himself as a Democratic Socialist which is the party that we know best as the party of most of the Scandinavian countries in Europe. And they are capitalist countries with strong social programs.

[KittyWampus]

44. and yet he reduces everything down to class struggle and economics like a Socialist

and not a Democratic Socialist.

[jwirr]

46. Well he can do more than one thing at a time. What he says is relevant to all of us and I say that

as the oldest member of my family who are almost all POC.

yes there is discrimination and police brutality - I do not need him to tell me over and over about that - we live with that everyday. I will accept that he is aware of it and has a plan for helping. And I will accept his history of civil rights action as proof. And as MLK said that plan includes helping my family get paying jobs and education.

So many are acting as if he should go to Iowa - where I lived most of my life among a mostly white population and talk non-stop about the problems of race. What they want to hear in Iowa is what the hell he is planning to do about their problems. That is what they want from Hillary also. When Jesse Jackson went to Iowa when he was running for president he actually talked to the farmers about their problems but Bernie is not supposed to do that. If he does he is accused of no caring about the rest of the country.

In Cedar Rapids Iowa last night he was the only candidate who did bring up those issues.

You can continue to demand he talk about what you want but instead I think you should ask your candidate to start telling us clearly what she thinks about TPP and Keystone XL and Glass-Steagell. She seems to be very reluctant to say much about economic issues.

BTW isn't wealth inequality class struggle? It is to me.

[KittyWampus]

48. Reading my post to you, I erred. Bernie is definitely closer to Democratic Socialism than Socialism

when it comes to practicalities but his rhetorical framework is closer to that used in Socialism.

And I admit that seems like I"m splitting hairs. So sorry for that.

[jwirr]

53. That is okay - I like sparring with you.

[KittyWampus]

55. Bickering. Like family does.

and the thing is, if O'Malley drops out I'm voting for Bernie in the NY primary if he's still in.

Unless Biden joins, then that changes everything.

[jwirr]

56. Nice to hear. I am in for Bernie because I have liked him long before a lot of people even knew

he existed.

[BrotherIvan]

49. I read all of your edited comments

I didn't think one was hideworthy and I would hope that no jury would vote to hide it. People should be able to read what you think and see where you stand. I think this thread makes it very obvious.

And my answer is yes, the thread I posted was entirely transparent. I was making fun of people who push this stupid meme. And yet, here it is again.

[KittyWampus]

51. well, I promise to stay out of them entirely from now on. Have a good weekend.

oops- but I still will push the point that Bernie's frame of reference is first and foremost from class struggle.

It's his oeuvre.

He's been doing it too long to change.

It may resonate with you.

It did with me when I was 16-18.

I'm pretty much an old hippy-chick who once even lived in a commune for a short time.

And I can appreciate a lot of his rhetoric. But it's limiting.

We'll see how he evolves that way over the next several months.

My edits were for clarity and style

[BrotherIvan]

52. Oh good

[Admiral Loinpresser]

62. Sister, I think if you look at

public response, Bernie's appeal to self-IDed conservatives and Republicans is much better than any other Democratic candidate. As an old hippie dude, I have seen this country losing a class war for over 30 years. If you're interested I can come up with sources showing Bernie's appeal across party lines.

The age of Reagan has made Bernie's policies and message mainstream, imo.

BTW, I have a lot of respect for O'Malley. He is definitely my second choice after Bernie and I think would have the potential to be an excellent president.

[dreamnightwind]

82. +1

[appalachiablue]

23. The new EPI report on US youth unemployment data shows that in the 17-20 age group,

unemployment for African Americans is 51%, Hispanics 33% and whites 31%. Youth unemployment in this country is a disgrace, a major social and economic venom robbing this generation of their future. Lack of investment in education and jobs for the young is causing more injury by way of drug use, crime, homelessness and other troubles. This is compounded by extreme racism and discrimination, brutal, predatory police policies targeting blacks and PoC in particular, also the poor of all groups, the mentally ill, vulnerable and more.

I don't think you meant to say that employment is steady among young African American men. That black people are profiled, abused, arrested and killed and it is rampant in this country, even in Vermont, and New England, NYC, LA, the South and all over is reality and an American atrocity that has to be addressed.

epi.org, research-young workers
http://www.epi.org/research/young-workers/

[PatrickforO]

75. So you want him to dwell totally on racial issues? Really?

There's a BIG electorate out there. Speaking for myself, I ALSO want to hear about reinstating Glass-Steagall, breaking up the big banks, free college, expanded Social Security, single payer healthcare and a host of other things, which taken as a WHOLE will make millions of American lives better. Absolutely address racism and address it aggressively, but we really need to talk about some other kitchen table issues besides that if we want to win the general election and begin getting things done.

And it's a complete bafflement to me why this isn't being pointed at Clinton too, after her performance in the 2008 primary. Because she DID play the race card several times, as did her husband. Yes it was a hard fought primary, but still...

As I mention below, I think this is a right wing 'divide and conquer' strategy. Because look down the list of the names of all the DUers who posted here and you'll notice that the ones most vociferously complaining about Bernie's so called lack of addressing racism HAVEN'T EVEN BOTHERED TO POST ON THIS THREAD!!!

That says something to me...and it ain't good.

[appalachiablue]

24. K & R a million. Thanks for the great post/video. Bravo Sen. Sanders! Speaking the Truth-

Summer of Sanders!

Do Not Underestimate Bernie Sanders!

SANDERSTORM is Here!

[beam me up scottie]

27. K and R!

Thank you for posting this!

[Prism]

30. "No president can do it alone . . . we need a movement."

There goes that Bernie as savior meme.

Such a shame. So many attacks against the man rely on people actively going out of their way to not listen to a word he says.

Why oppose a real candidate when you can attack an imaginary one?

[Le Taz Hot]

50. Not good enough!!11!!!1!

[beam me up scottie]

60. !

[cui bono]

68. Doesn't he know he thinks racism is over???

What is wrong with him?

[Le Taz Hot]

69. Well then, my ears must be playing tricks on me again

because I could have sworn I just heard him say that "we've come a long way towards ending racism but we still have a log way to go" not five minutes ago in RED Phoenix, AZ. I hate it when that happens.

[cui bono]

71. You might want to try q-tips.

Or just read posts on DU. That's a sure way to know what Bernie thinks and feels.

[appalachiablue]

81. No! He knows racism is over just like when SCOTUS decided on Voting Rights. I read it on DU!

[cantbeserious]

57. Go Bernie Go

eom

[arcane1]

63. Kicking

[historylovr]

64. K & R

[DLnyc]

72. " . . . let us stand together . . ."

Starting around 17:15 in video:

" . . . That is the America we can become if we stand together and not let them divide us up -- by race, by gender, by sexual orientation. Let us stand together, let us remake America together! Thank you very much!"

Important words!

[PatrickforO]

74. I like this thread K&R - however there are some significant people missing...

The people arguing the most vociferously that Bernie isn't addressing racism are NOT on this thread. Why is that, I wonder?

Because they keep posting and posting and posting and posting the same thing. I'm not convinced...he hasn't talked about...he needs to understand...

THIS IS WHAT DIVIDE AND CONQUER LOOKS LIKE, FOLKS. Do you wonder who might be behind it?

It might be a tortuous path, but I'll bet it leads directly to...

The Koch brothers.

Can you hear them laughing? I can.

[historylovr]

84. Because it goes against the narrative they've been driving, they absolutely cannot acknowledge it.

[jfern]

77. Clearly he's a racist /snark