Is it racist or race-insensitive to ask a person of color why they are voting for HRC?

[Fast Walker 52]

I've seen a couple of posts implying this, and then I heard Markos of Daily Kos say this on the radio yesterday. While I sort of understand where they are coming from, it still seems like an evasion.

Of course, no one HAS to explain anything. But what's the harm in asking someone this? Isn't this what a political forum is about? I certainly wouldn't mind if someone asked me to explain my vote.

[Jester Messiah]

1. Probably. It seems to depend on your motivation for asking.

If the question is rooted in a feeling of "I can't fathom why you would do this; because it really seems like you're violating your own best interests" then it's going to chafe because you're presuming to know better than they what their best interests are. At least, so I glean from watching and listening.

[dr.strangelove]

2. If you are asking them because they are a person of color, of course it is!

It means that you assume that based on their skin color, yo uknow what issues are important to them and that the candidate you support is better for them. Its incredibly short cited and racist. Assuming a person has any viewpoint based upon the color of the skin brings us back decades in terms of race relations. The color of your skin has nothing to do with your political thoughts. Within the party, there are many different views, and those views are shared among many different races.

Now if its a person you are friends with and want to have a conversation about candidates, that would be different.

[Fast Walker 52]

7. thanks... to be clear, it's not that I've done this, I just didn't even know it was an issue

and obviously, online, you don't even know if the person is a POC unless they state it or you ask.

[nc4bo]

3. As long as it's asked respectively and honestly, I don't see the problem.

But unfortunately, even if asked in the most benign way possible, there will be those who take offense and will do everything possible to twist it into something nefarious.

My thoughts are, it's impossible to correct a course if you don't ask for directions and a map. Your fellow humanbeings will either help you get there or take great pleasure watching you take wrong turn and wrong turn, hoping you stumble and lose your way.

It's the nature of humanity.

[Fast Walker 52]

9. yes, this was my thinking

unless you spend a huge amount of time here, and know what everyone has been through (impossible), it seems fair to ask people their opinions, as long it is done respectfully and honestly.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

4. What others said. Basically yes, it is.

Look, AA posters are a minority onsite, just as in the general populace. And they've all been asked to explain their voting preferences dozens, if not hundreds of times by now. So even if it weren't 'race-insensitive', it's got to be pissing pretty much all of them off by now. How would you feel if you were asked to explain your vote over, and over, and over, and over, ad nauseum?

[Fast Walker 52]

8. Ok, thanks. I didn't quite realize this dynamic before, but I can understand that.

That being said, it is a political site, and aren't we supposed to discuss politics here? But also, it seems like POC are doing this questioning as much as non-POC, so is that still race-insensitive?

Obviously no one should be questioned about this over and over, but no one is being forced to respond either.

I guess the big question is how much is this an issue, and are POC being turned away from Bernie by this behavior to a significant degree?

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

10. I don't think this particular issue is turning away AA voters in any great numbers.

Why are so many AA's behind Clinton? What I hear most often is that 'she's been there', 'she's put in the time' etc. She's been preparing to run for President for decades, and she knows how significant it is to have AA voters behind her, especially in primaries. So yes, she's 'been there', spending time in AA communities, putting in face time, lending her presence as a 'draw' to fundraise for AA candidates. And that counts, even if she's been doing it specifically to further her own ends.

Bernie probably never intended to run for President until he did so. He's just been plugging away, doing the job ahead of him day in and day out for all those decades. And given what his job has been, there hasn't been nearly as much focus on specifically AA issues as he had back in his days during the civil rights era. So he's not known, and not trusted.

And the Clinton supporters, as well as the campaign itself, has done a fantastic job of turning that distrust into outright hostility, by painting him in the worst possible light. Any time something happens, or even doesn't happen, tweets go out on social media, press releases go out to newspapers, corporate media jumps on the 'story' to proclaim how sucky on race Sanders or his supporters are. And unless there is objective proof available, that image 'sticks'. Look at the 'English Only' story. The only reason that isn't still running constantly is that someone happened to have videotaped the entire thing. And it all started out with fervent Hillary supporters who had civil rights 'street cred' lying to paint Bernie Sanders supporters as blatant racists.

So no, I don't think any real number of people are switching their votes away from Bernie because they're asked to explain their votes - if they were going to vote for Bernie, they're probably going to give you the same reasons any other Bernie supporter will. And the rest of them were ALREADY Clinton supporters.

[Fast Walker 52]

16. Makes sense, I agree. But still, Bernie Sanders literally chained himself to black people back in

the 1960s, and he still isn't trusted by them. Just too ironic.

[MNBrewer]

5. POC should obviously NEVER be asked any questions about anything

[ladjf]

6. IMO, no one is obligated to reveal their thinking about any candidate.

If one wished to volunteer political information, that's another matter.

[Hiraeth]

11. This seems to fall into that category of How something is said as much as What is said.

[Rebkeh]

14. This

+1

[Fast Walker 52]

17. Sure. Keep in mind, I'm referring to something someone else said, not a direct interaction I had

so I don't know the context. But I do know there was a post yesterday from someone in the AA group who was very upset about being questioned about their support for HRC. And I can understand it could be upsetting if it is asked over and over or poorly framed. This AA post said they weren't allowed to have their own opinion and other fairly extreme statements. I asked for more context and needless to say in retrospect, my questions did not go over well.

[Hiraeth]

19. well, I am POC and I am voting for Bernie Sanders for a lot of reasons but, mainly selfish:

The main reason I am voting for Bernie is economical. Bernie is the Only Candidate on either side who has said that he will not touch SS.

As I am nearing retirement age this issue is very dear to me.

And so, I hold up the old adage that people vote their pocketbooks.

Hope this helps.

[fleur-de-lisa]

12. I think it is.

The implied message behind the question is "Don't you know you're voting against the interests of POCs?". Whether that is the intention or not, it doesn't matter.

African Americans, and for that matter, most POC, who are online actively discussing politics are ACUTELY aware of the issues this country faces, especially issues that directly affect them. They don't need white people to explain the political landscape to them.

I'm white and I don't care if someone asks me to explain my choice. But I think it's different when the question is asked of minorities. It always comes off as condescending and paternalistic. I just won't go there.

[Rebkeh]

15. This too nt

[TIME TO PANIC]

13. No, it's not racist, if you ask respectfully. Ask yourself this.

Are you offended if a POC ask you why you're voting for who you're voting for?

Don't POC have the right to engage in political debate?

How will we ever understand each other if we don't communicate?

POC don't need our condescending protection from hard questions.

[Fast Walker 52]

18. I agree that it shouldn't be racist, if asked in the appropriate way. And this is a discussion

site after all.

But the comments above do indicate that asking this can be a sensitive issue.

[Bernin4U]

20. Mainstream America is an anti-progressive culture

If you're at a company lunch or dinner, along with a dozen members of your team, would you openly ask your boss who she's planning to vote for? And then question her on her choice?

Of course not. Yet in Europe, this is extremely normal. Heated political discussions are not only accepted, but expected. Yet somehow, after speaking your mind and matching wits for hours, no one leaves the table with a bruised ego. No one thinks any less of the other.

Here, we mistake political correctness for progressivism. While they have some similar traits, they are not the same. Political correctness is seeking never to offend. Essentially, it's go along to get along. It causes a barrier to real progress, because now everybody is afraid to talk to anyone else, especially when it's not already clear that they share the same viewpoint.

Progressives will openly speak their mind. Even when it's not popular. Just look at Bernie. And they'll accept that they're not going to be 100% right. And that there's always so much more to learn. It's like being a scientist. The opposite of "we already had all of this all figured out 2000 years ago".

Non-progressives tend to be much more guarded. Just look at the HRH group. How many times have we heard and seen how it's pretty much impossible to have an honest discussion with them on actual issues? Progressives love to talk about issues, because we see the critical problems facing humanity as far more important than avoiding the chance of bruising someone's fragile ego.

Now, for progressive demographics? The one, the only thing we have seen in this cycle is that millennials are proving to be generally progressive. Hooray for them! But for any other demo's, like gender or race? I'm not aware of any trends. Women and minorities are not showing themselves to be particularly progressive, afaik.

Of course, everybody always knows what's best for themselves. Just consider our recent rampant obesity, popular musical taste, and penchant for over 3 decades of Reaganomics.

[eridani]

21. Advocating for a candidate is NOT demanding that they vote for that candidate

The polite thing is to give everyone you talk to their own chance to do advocacy.