The Netroots Nation videos of Bernie and Martin.

[madfloridian]

Last edited Sat Jul 18, 2015, 10:13 PM - Edit history (1)

Editing to change the link to Bernie's video. Someone just found the full interview, which is the one I saw live. Thank you, Skwmom.

Keep calling our candidates racist. Keep shouting them down without allowing them to speak. There will be no winners at all then.

The Netroots Nation seems mostly pleased with all of it at their twitter feed.

https://twitter.com/Netroots_Nation

They should apologize to our candidates.

[Cali_Democrat]

1. Who should apologize?

[madfloridian]

2. I said it before...the ones in charge of this fiasco.

In many minds now this annual gathering has lost respect.

[PatrickforO]

8. The people who put on this debacle should apologize for utterly shitty crowd control.

Yeah I hear free speech, but had I been there I would have been totally disgusted because I wanted to hear the CANDIDATES talk and then answer questions, NOT hear them be shouted down by an unruly crowd, and edged off the stage by people who mostly want to talk themselves and don't seem to care what the serious candidates are saying.

Manners lesson 101: DON'T shout down people who agree with you.

[Ed Suspicious]

49. Right. These candidates are allies to PoC. I could see this tactic used against the Pukes,

but to use them against ones allies is misplaced anger. I will say that this episode did show me that there might be a disconnect between what is said by these candidates and the actual social justice implications of each candidates ideas. That needs to be addressed.

[jwirr]

70. The host of the meeting. He did little to stop any of it.

[DinahMoeHum]

3. Netroots hasn't been the same without DailyKos. . .

. . .and Markos Moulitsas.

[madfloridian]

4. In the past I used to donate to send a Dem to the conference...

Never again.

[ram2008]

5. Let's not give these 'protestors' any more attention

It's clear they weren't interested in anything dialogue but instead hijacked a forum for publicity (planned with the help of the hosts nonetheless)

O'Malley and Bernie will continue addressing the needs of minorities as they have been over the course of the campaign.

[daybranch]

36. Again Bernie keps on track

Bernie's wisdom comes through. Bernie is clearly against the same things that Black Lives Matter confronts. I am sure O Malley would have done better, if given more space and time. I am a supporter of Black Lives Matter but I recognize that without voter drives and candidate endorsement, their goals will be negatively impacted. O'Malley is only saying that we are all in this. The police are only restrained by the potential backlash against their actions. This to a great degree is a class as well as a racial issue. Economic inequality limits this backlash , more so regarding African Americans who are obviously disproportionately adversely affected by the economy ( unemployment) as Bernie pointed out.

[No Vested Interest]

6. Look how rude the moderator is - using his smartphone , for twitter, no doubt-

while his invited guest, a serious presidential candidate, speaks.

[PatrickforO]

7. Boy, they sure did a crappy job of crowd control.

Seemed like everyone wanted to hear themselves talk instead of the candidates.

[marym625]

9. I'm not thrilled with the obvious setup

But I am glad that the Black Lives Matter people had a platform.

Both O'Malley and Sanders should bring people from this movement with them, like Sanders does with the students who have outrageous loans.

I agree that the organizers owe an apology for hijacking and the time taken without dialog (which frankly, would have made more sense) but I'm not really upset about this. In fact, I'm glad it happened.

[madfloridian]

10. They hijacked the 2 most progressive candidates.

I see no good coming of that.

[RiverLover]

16. +1

There is NO good from what happened today. And count me as another who no longer respects Netroots Nation any longer.

Idiots.

[marym625]

25. I do

I'm sorry we don't fully agree on this one. Well, except the organizers owe both candidates an apology

[840high]

72. ...^ that

[peacebird]

17. I think dialog would have been helpful. Screaming over does nothing to advance their cause.

They need to meet with Bernie & Martin and bring ideas about specific things that should be done, policies that will help move BLM forward.

Bernie talks about the corrupt out of control criminal justice system, about living wage, about education and employment not incarceration. BLM folk should seek out his campaign & Martin O'Malleys to advance their ideas of other reforms.

[marym625]

23. I completely agree

As I said, dialog would have made much more sense. And I think that the organizers owe both candidates an apology.

I am still not sorry that the group received attention. I'm glad they were there to get the word out that so many, unbelievably, have no clue about I don't want to see it happen again. Not with these two candidates. And I have to wonder how any other candidate would have responded

Don't forget that People of color fear for their lives, every day. Sometimes, every minute of every day. So what if they took up a half hour of a candidates time? Big deal

[JDPriestly]

80. It was the one chance for the rest of us who were not demonstrating

to hear what the candidates have to say on all issues in front of an audience that is liberal without the filter of news media. Something very important was taken from all of us by the demonstration that was too long and too loud. Black lives matter and what they were saying is important, one of the most important issues in our country right now. But the demonstration was too long, too loud and too unruly. The rest of us were cheated by the demonstrators.

I would have liked to have heard from O'Malley in particular although I am a Sanders supporter.

I thought Sanders handled the situation very wisely. He is a no nonsense guy who deserves and demands respects. I think everyone sees that. I couldn't have blamed either of the candidates if they had simply walked out. There was no attempt at dialogue on the part of the demonstrators, just screaming.

Black lives matter. And O'Malley and Sanders have good proposals for fighting the poverty and faults in our criminal justice system that breed and nurture racism.

Racism is an attitude. It can't itself be changed by politicians.
Police brutality can be dealt with as O'Malley suggested by implementing laws that require transparency in the employment records of officers and special prosecutors in cases of police brutality with funded investigators who are independent of the police department.

But racism is a matter of culture and of economics. It's the culture of white distancing from Black people and sometimes vice versa, the separation and the ignorance each about the other and the resulting stereotypes about the economic status and values of Black people that cause the racism. White people often do not really know Black people. When they do, they are not racist any more.

[marym625]

84. were you there?

I can't tell if you are assessing from watching or if you actually attended. If you attended, what was the conversation afterward?

I agree that it was handled badly by the protesters. They should have had a real conversation. The host absolutely sucked.

Rather than repeat myself, this is why I think http://www.democraticunderground.com/128026482#post6

There are a few really good thoughts about it on that thread too. Actually, this post we're on and a few others have good thoughts on this

If nothing else, Black Lives Matter sure got the conversation going again

[JDPriestly]

89. No. I wasn't there. I watched the video of Elizabeth Warren's speech

yesterday at the meeting. It was great.

The Netroots Nation really cheated liberals and O'Malley and Sanders with this very childish looking outburst. A demonstration was appropriate but not the extreme discourtesy to Democrats who are clearly liberal on all issues especially race and police brutality.

What made me very suspicious is that Obama has been president for 6 years during which we have seen one terrible incident of police brutality against Blacks after the other and many other incidents of racial horror like the shooting in the church, yet very few demonstrations have been aimed at Obama or the White House and very few questions have been asked of him about what he wants to do about the racism.

So it seems that only white presidential candidates are criticized for their lack of action on the issue of racism. Obama could have done a lot of things to make the situation better. He hasn't done much. Sorry. But that is the truth.

[marym625]

91. I agree but with a note

That there has been much anger shown toward both President Obama and Holder for their lack of words and actions. More so with Holder.

I think if the Black Lives Matter people had the opportunity to do the same with Obama or Holder, they would have

I agree that the way they did it was childish. They had such an unbelievable opportunity and I think they blew it. I also think that host was at least half of why it went so badly. He was really awful. In many different ways.

I think NN screwed up big time and most definitely owe both candidates an apology.

That said, I respect the movement and the individuals that had the courage to take part. And I commend both candidates for their reactions

[jeff47]

24. Well, that was the theory. In fact, they had a meeting scheduled.

But shouting was more important, apparently.

[pa28]

11. Hijacking a candidates speech is obnoxious but Bernie handled it with aplomb.

Rallies and town hall meetings are Bernie's strength so it was only a matter of time.

[peacebird]

15. He handled it nicely. I support BLM, and totally get their frustration, but I think they were wrong

This was not a good way to advance their cause. Do they think any of the Republican clown car cares about them? Bernie & Martin O'Malley do. Rather than scream over them, perhaps open up a dialog with them and their campaigns about what BLM thinks SHOULD be steps forward.

[Autumn]

12. I had joined up for e mail updates from Netroots Nation while

I was waiting for it to start but screw that, reading their twitter feed it looks like they used O'Malley and Bernie and aren't even bothering to hide it.

[winter is coming]

13. Good luck getting anybody to show up for the next Netroots Nation. n/t

[Autumn]

29. One thing for sure, as far as I'm concerned it it comes from there I'm not

going to be interested in it. This is on par with that guy who did the Acorn videos.

[haikugal]

61. James O'Keefe....that was the first thing I thought of, same result...and he took down ACORN. nt

[peacebird]

14. Actually I thought Bernie did pretty well.

He told them he would leave if they wanted him to - which they deserved. But then he stayed, he answered the questions.

[marym625]

27. I agree

And I think O'Malley did well too.

[peacebird]

28. Getting ready to watch O'Malleys video now!

[HooptieWagon]

60. I agree. Bernie handled himself well considering the unruly protesters.

The moderator was amateurish. NRN loses credibility for allowing a mob to hijack the forum. And the protesters logic befuddles me. Sanders and O'Malley the 2 most progressive candidates...the mob was preaching at...no, shouting at... the choir. BLM blew their chances ... lost the scheduled meeting due to their unruly behavior. I guess their cause wasn't as important as camera time.

[KittyWampus]

18. Thanks for the primary source. Both candidates did as well as can be expected.

BLM members might want to focus their approach.

[aikoaiko]

19. Big cheers for Bernie in his video

The majority of the attendees seemed happy with him.

[Skwmom]

20. Why did the video of Bernie abruptly end? n/t

[madfloridian]

22. When I saw it there was an ending, and a thank you to Bernie. So I don't know.

[GoneFishin]

21. Makes sense. Shout down the guy who is most supportive of your cause, in the midst of him

making an important statement in support of exactly the cause you are fighting for.

They need to decide what are their goals, and decide if alienating and exasperating those who support them is a smart strategy.

[DinahMoeHum]

31. Like I've said, don't play your allies like adversaries. . .

. . .dumb move.

[Skittles]

45. agreed

completely idiotic

[Agschmid]

67. It's interesting you say this...

They need to decide what are their goals, and decide if alienating and exasperating those who support them is a smart strategy.

I bet some on DU feel the same way...

[KoKo]

26. A DU "Must WATCH!....to see how Bernie Triumphed in Answering the Protestors Questions!

Truly DU did a Much Better job at Covering this "Net Roots Nation Event" than "Daily Kos" or ANYONE ELSE!

Kudo's to DU'er Madfloridian for posting Senator Bernie Sanders Replies than answerd "Black Nations" Questions!

[still_one]

30. This is very sad what I have been reading. It is obvious they do not want to work with the current

candidates in the Democratic party running for President. If they are so passionate about this, and believe the Democratic candidates running for President are "racist", then why don't they offer up a candidate that aspires to their views.

I agree, they should apologize to our candidates. You don't invite candidates to come to your Town Hall, and then you are rude to them

[marym625]

32. That host was rude and really touchy feely.

[mahina]

33. There's someone at DU, I don't know who, that knows if those folks yelling are for real or if this

is political theater on the lines of the Broward County "protests".

I would really like to know, because I wouldn't put this past some.

Not talking about Hillary folks, talking about the Republicans. They don't want Bernie's message out.

If the protesting voices are legit, they need some mentoring, because that is not an effective path to building support.

[GoneFishin]

35. I could believe it. They were getting exactly the attention for the cause they purported to promote,

and were chanting right over and drowning out the only guy who is starkly and unambiguously supporting their cause.

So you have to wonder what is their true goal if they can't be quiet even when someone agrees with them 100% and is giving a national spotlight to their cause?

[appalachiablue]

58. One would think the organizers of these important events anticipate and have

plans regarding disruptions from individuals or crowds, warranted ones like BLM or intrusive ones. Most probably do. It seemed Bernie's host was definitely put in the middle, distracted certainly and maybe caught off guard. In any case things went alright and Bernie delivered his major points and answered some questions. Moving things along is a management matter usually. Really appreciate the video.

K & R

[LordGlenconner]

34. Hope they save some energy for the GOP

[madfloridian]

37. Twitter feed for @Netroots_Nation is in a celebratory mood.

Having shouted down the two most progressive candidates. Good candidates, good people.

https://twitter.com/Netroots_Nation

[MisterP]

47. everyone make sure and get screencaps before they take the whole thing down

[HooptieWagon]

63. That's disgusting.

The event came off as being poorly organized and amateurish, on top of being sabotaged by the Media guy. It's a real black eye to NRN, and the unruly BLM mob really blew the opportunity to create constructive change. Disrupting a sympathetic crowd isn't how it's done. New leadership is needed.

I thought both candidates handled themselves well under the circumstances, but I doubt any candidates will bother showing up next year.

[madfloridian]

38. Kick

....

[Vattel]

39. I just watched the Sanders part. He did great. The moderator also did fine.

I am just not seeing the problem with this event. The people want to be heard too. Were they rude? Maybe a little, but in the context of almost never being heard, who can blame them?

[madfloridian]

41. I know that most people here see no problem...

with treating our 2 most progressive candidates rudely and abusively.

I guess that surprises me.

[Vattel]

64. Idk, maybe I am being too easy on them. But Sanders handled it well.

[beam me up scottie]

40. The candidates showed up in good faith and were shouted down.

I understand the anger and frustration of the blm movement, unfortunately it now looks like an ambush orchestrated by the organizers.

Good luck getting anyone to speak there again.

[KoKo]

43. I was over at KOS reading replies and there were many there saying what "You Say"

that they felt that "Rules had Changed" and they wondered if any Dem Candidates would ever show up to "NetRoots Forums" in the Future!

I hope that's not the case but this latest does lead one to wonder..

[beam me up scottie]

46. It's awful.

I feel terrible for everyone involved, I know how this will be played in the msm and no one will come out a winner.

[KoKo]

50. ...!

I think so, also. But, remain hopeful for "Push Back."

Gotta do...what We Gotta Do!

[beam me up scottie]

51. Yes we do.

I hope something good comes of this.

Maybe after the dust settles.

[KoKo]

56. Dust is going to settle much in the coming explosions.....

Me Thinks..anyway. Not..give up.

[beam me up scottie]

57. Thank you, KoKo.

I read your post down thread and I'm glad you're trying to counter the spin.

Some are using this incident to attack Sanders' record on civil rights and we both know why.

[Travis_0004]

42. What a bunch of assholes

A question was asked, and they started yelling before Bearnie could fully answer the question.

[winter is coming]

55. Yeah, that wasn't a quality strategy. n/t

[madfloridian]

92. Well, they are going to do the same thing at every debate.

[Raine1967]

44. This was a train wreck.

and I am going to say something that a lot of Sanders supporters are not going to like, he initiation response was mor like a father telling the kids to shut up and sit down.

Sanders had the chance to come in after the shit storm that O'malley had to handle (and I think O'Malley dealt with it as well as anyone could)

Sanders came in knowing that this was far from from over. (not faulting him for that)

Having said that, Sanders came in knowing he was not going to be blindsided. O'Malley was blindsided.

Look at Sanders expression compared to O'Malley's when these people started chanting *Say My Name*

O'Malley sat back, listened and tried to respond. Sanders came across as annoyed that his message was being interuppted by protesters. He was ready to walk of the stage.

One listened, one was annoyed.

[KoKo]

54. Raine...you have to listen to how Sanders handled this...It was the Perfect Response

to the Protestors who had a genuine point of view they wanted to express.

The Disinfo on DU that Sanders "walked out, wasn't engaged, was miffed or drowned out and gave up" as opposed to those pushing that O'Malley handled everything the way it should have been handled was very BIASED.

It wasn't until I could watch what really happened with "madlforidian's" posts of the Video that I could make sense of what had gone on Today at Net Roots Nation and realize that many DU'ers were SPINNING what really went on.

Many of us were out doing other things on Saturday and couldn't get Feed or Video to know what the heck went on and relied on DU Posters to Inform Us...not realizing how Partisan DU is these days and that the Owners of this Site are Hillary Clinton Supporters and therefore there might be folks here suppoting Hillary's Views doing Disinfo/Misinfo or working to "play down" news about the other Candidates.

Its well within the rights of the OWNERS of DU to DECLARE for THEIR CANDIDATE....but, as long as they still toleratate those of us who disagree with their Choice then I think they are kind enough to still allow us to POST...but that there are those working for Hillary who will always have the "First Dibs" as to SPIN.

It's just Politics......but, it doesn't mean that Dissenters of Hillary are Banned until the Primaries are Decided that "We GET THE "Heave Ho Out the Door."

Until then I hope that in the "Spirit of Democracy" that there is still DEBATE and DISCUSSION allowed here on this Site working to get a Dem Candidate Elected inspite of the Differences between Site Owners and the Participants?

Bernie Here..is Well Worth the Watch!

[Raine1967]

65. KoKo, I did, and I really came away with something very different.

he did not walk out, I didn't say he did.

I saw both videos. Bernie came across as agitated. That is not me buying into DU misinformation, that is what I saw watching both videos.

[KoKo]

69. Thank you for watching...We disagree in our interpretations of Watch/Listen...but..

I guess we are dug in with our differing views....Didn't see the "agitation" but frankly if I'd been there I would have been a bit "agitated" also by being confronted with the antithesis of what I'd worked for my whole life and told I was insensitive to "BLM," when he clearly explained what he hoped to do as President.

But...whatever.

[Raine1967]

77. It's all good, KoKo.

people see things differently.

[madfloridian]

74. I was agitated and furious 5 min into Bernie, and all during O'Malley

I have never seen a forum that literally turned over 3 progressive candidates to be yelled at by protestors. They made no effort to control things...they even let them take over the stage.

It was an outrageous scene.

[Raine1967]

76. I can't disagree, madfloridian.

It was a train wreck and I think in the end it speaks very poorly for the future of NRN.

[arcane1]

78. He was likely annoyed because he had scheduled a meeting with those same people

and this is how they treated him before the meeting. I'd be annoyed too.

[Raine1967]

79. ??

Do you really believe that Bernie had a meeting scheduled with the the protesters and that is why he seemed agitated?

[arcane1]

81. It's a fact. He cancelled the meeting after the event.

Maybe not the specific human beings that were protesting, but he was scheduled to meet with people from BLM.

[Raine1967]

82. if that is the case, that isn't really cool.

why would he do that? ETA: was it the same people or not? (I re read you first post to me)

[madfloridian]

83. It wasn't cool for them to yell and insult him.

I would have cancelled the meeting, too.

[Raine1967]

85. Is there a link somewhere that said that he was going to meet with the people behind BLM?

I may have missed that on DU.

Arcane made a good point that the meeting might not have been with the people protesting.

I am not sure if it was a good idea to cancel the meeting altogether. Walking away from the face of serious diversity is not a really good thing.

and seriously. as I said, this was a train wreck.

Cancelling a meeting is a bad response

[arcane1]

86. I'm not sure if it was the same people, but they represented the same group

Or at least claimed to.

As I understand it from reading posts here, he was going to meet with BLM tomorrow to discuss topics of interest to them. Between that, and the tweets from the event host, it's a bizarre situation.

[Raine1967]

87. Thanks for that answer.

sincerely.

I'm not here to slam anyone. This is my take on watching these videos. If Sanders had a meeting planned. I would love to see a link about it.

Bottom line for me. this meeting should happened regardless of these protests. If there is a cancellation, I don;t think it will be a good thing.

[arcane1]

88. This is all I really have on it

This post and a couple of other posts talking about it:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=456374

[Thinkingabout]

52. I noticed how calmly O'Malley handled himself, he is worth taking a look.

Cool under fire, kinda like Obama.

[madfloridian]

53. He did a good job.

[Thinkingabout]

59. yes

[AnAzulTexas]

62. what a pitiful bunch that was in that crowd

typical 'go against your best interests" thought processes that only harm the greater part of the population.

and data shows that only a third of any bunch is going to take a little bit of their time to actually make it to a voting booth...

[kenn3d]

66. LIVE: Bernie Sanders' Phoenix rally

I can't post OP yet (DU newbie here) but for anyone interested there is a live youtube feed from tonight's Phoenix Rally available here:
" target="_blank">

Estimating 8k or more attendance. Also realtime chat alongside with (currently) 1300+ viewing from 25 states and many other countries (Canada, Australia, Europe, etc)

Maybe someone will repost the link OP.

Hope the stream survives...

Kenn

PS: The host has repeatedly stated this is NOT a FOX NEWS affiliate.

[Skwmom]

68. You didn't post the entire Bernie video.

I think it's important that people watch the entire video and make their own assessment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=31&v=wHhrvKlZyS4

[madfloridian]

71. I edited my post. It looks like the same one now. Check it out in the OP

I did not post the shorter one on purpose. It was the first I found on You Tube.

[madfloridian]

73. Keeping this kicked because the media is twisting things.

[historylovr]

75. K & R

[madfloridian]

90. Thanks, and another kick.

So much wrong information being spread around, want to keep these visible.

[TM99]

93. Thanks for the truth instead of more spins and lies.

This is only going to back fire if it is not the start of an equal opportunity protest movement directed at ALL candidates, the debates, and the convention.

[madfloridian]

94. Watching that today really truly upset me.

It means that our candidates' records mean nothing at all. It means they are going to attacked even as they are trying to speak.

[TM99]

95. Fear and rage lead to outbursts

that are not always as effective as we imagine they will be.

Channel that anger into a consistent protest message and I am behind it 100%.

I expect to see BLM protest future Town Halls and campaign stops of ALL candidates - Dem & GOP.

I definitely expect to see them protest the Democratic Convention.

If this was not a staged event of rage directly solely at the two most progressive candidates thus far in the Dem pool then I expect to see more of this, not a one off affair.

Post New Left activism is divisive, rage-fueled, cannibalistic, and not all that effective.

[historylovr]

99. I guess we will see.

[madfloridian]

96. Watch the host spend more time on cell phone than being attentive to presidential candidates.

Watch him allow the stage to be taken over as O'Malley is forced to stand twiddling his thumbs.

Both candidates did amazingly well in the face of the utter lack of organization or respect.

This truly is an example of working against one's best interests.

In years past this event had many major politicians, but I doubt they will fighting off eager politicians next year.

[madfloridian]

97. What Bernie was saying when the shouts got louder...

“Black people are dying in this country because we have a criminal justice system which is out of control, a system in which over 50% of young African American kids are unemployed. It is estimated that a black baby born today has a one in four chance of ending up in the criminal justice system.”

The protestors were not happy and shouted him down yelling Black Lives Matter, which is what he was talking about.

“Black lives of course matter,” Sanders said. “I spent 50 years of my life fighting for civil rights and dignity, but if you don’t want me to be here that’s OK. I don’t want to out-scream people.”

[99Forever]

98. As best as I can tell, NN has just made...

... themselves irrelevant to a large slice of the active political landscape.

Congrats. Brilliant strategy folks.

[Nite Owl]

100. I can certainly understand

the anger of "Black Lives Matter" but if anyone was going to truly listen to them and help them it would be Bernie and O'Malley. They did this demonstration for the wrong people and need to apologize to them.

[Number23]

101. "OUR candidates" "THEY should apologize"

Oh my!

[madfloridian]

106. How would you prefer that I word it?

I am finding lately that it is impossible to word things without offending.

What nouns or pronouns should I have used in the place of those you capitalized?

[Number23]

108. Black people are the most reliable Democratic voting block IN THIS COUNTRY

Categorizing a Democrat, even one such as Bernie Sanders, as "our" candidate when saying "they" (meaning black people) should stop attacking "our" candidate is odd at the very least.

[madfloridian]

109. This is my wording....

Keep calling our candidates racist. Keep shouting them down without allowing them to speak. There will be no winners at all then.

I don't think I was rude or insulting to anyone. I spoke in plural terms.

[Number23]

110. Your money quote was:

They should apologize to our candidates.

I very much read what you wrote, thanks. My point still stands.

[madfloridian]

111. I will try to be a better writer better person, much more careful.

Since there were two candidates I did not think I was being insulting.

[lovemydog]

102. Thanks for the videos.

I disagree with your conclusions but thanks for posting the videos.

My conclusion is that every candidate needs to educate themselves much more about black lives matter and understand that this situation won't go away by talking down to anyone. It's a genuine crisis. And it needs to be addressed fully and not with mere lip service.

[madfloridian]

103. I think that Bernie's decades of votes should matter...

when decisions are made to ambush forums and candidates.

When I was watching as it unfolded I was stunned that 2 presidential candidates were treated like that. I kept thinking someone would step and handle it.

Instead a candidate who has stood for civil rights and minority issues for years was turned into the bad guy.

I felt they kept him and O'Malley from giving their policies and stances.

[lovemydog]

104. I didn't think about it so much in terms of who the candidates are.

As to how they responded Tons of crazy shit happens on the campaign trail. I thought mainly about it more in terms of how critical the conditions that lead to black lives matter are. And to how poor the 'moderating' was.

[madfloridian]

105. No, it was not about WHO the candidates were. It was about what happened.

I gather I am just about the only one who watched it in real time who was upset. It was troubling to hear the shouting and chanting go on and on. I am not even sure the candidates were sure what they should be saying.

Maybe I just don't have a place in this forum anymore. Been thinking that a while.

They were invited to a forum for presidential candidates and they were ambushed. I thought they both did well under the circumstances.

I did not see any winners at all that day, and very few since then.

If this how the rest of the election time plays out no one will get their issues heard.

I gave up posting much about education because no one is listening. That's a lost cause.

[lovemydog]

107. I think everyone listens in different ways.

There are some serious issues involving black lives matter.

There's lots of time for people to see the candidates speak.

I didn't watch it in real time. I just watched the videos you provided.

Personally I think this reflects most poorly on that 'moderator.' What the heck? It was a clinic in how NOT to moderate a discussion with presidential candidates. Looking at his cell phone, going 'What? What?' Then 'Hold on. I'll ask you a question!' Then 'What? What?' Then 'Sorry your time is up!'

Still it's nothing like what happened at the democratic convention in Chicago in 1968. Now THAT was a clusterfuck.