The '70's were a long time ago

[JPPaverage]

I can tell you that I have changed a great deal since those days. So why am I saying this? Because if I can change, so can others. Joe Biden for instance. Things were a lot different back then and younger people have to understand that. We can all change and evolve, provided we have something resembling a brain.
Kamala Harris and others seem to be intelligent people. So stop and think before you give repukes any more ammo to beat our candidate, whomever he or she may be.

[SidDithers]

1. Then he should have said that...

And he shouldn’t have been waxing nostalgic about working with segregationist just a couple of weeks before the debate.

Sid

[DownriverDem]

3. Look back

DC was different then. You seem stuck on the past. Make us all mad and trump wins. Harris has a lot of baggage herself too.

[Politicub]

8. Do you not get it? Biden brought it up and used segregationists to make

a point.

He brought up the ugly past. That’s what’s frustrating about this. Everyone else gets blamed for “making us all mad” when it’s Biden who put it out there.

Indeed, everyone has baggage. The baggage will come to the forefront as the campaigns continue. But it’s ridiculous when a candidate undermines what he’s trying to say by bringing up his own baggage.

[George II]

5. He was working with DEMOCRATS, who were more than just "segregationists".

[Politicub]

9. That makes his comment even worse. If his schtik is working with

republicans, then he should have used an example of that.

Great- he could work with the bottom-dwellers of his own party. I give Biden two snaps in a z-formation for him letting us know that bit of trivia.

[Demsrule86]

7. He didn't ...he just pointed out that there were other times when he and others had to work

together to get things done...and some were awful people...Harris has been called out for her actions as DA and AG (pretty serous stuff too)...someone replied..."nine years ago big deal..." What goes around comes around. I am more and more convinced that Harris will not be our nominee.

[Hoyt]

18. Yeah, thwart desegregation and equality of schools. Wouldn't be bragging about that.

[Demsrule86]

20. Yeah kind of disappointed that Harris isn't more interested in desegregation and all...

busing was a tool used to desegregate ...a person could be against busing and not be against desegregation but nice try.

[Hoyt]

22. Not really, unless one is fine with letting segregationists drag their feet, which is what Biden

allowed by working with them.

[Demsrule86]

25. She has taken Biden's position...and of course what most here refuse to acknowledge is those

segregationist you reference were committe heads and no one got anything done without working with them...and Biden points out if I could work with these dregs...maybe we can still forge some path to get stuff done...maybe...who knows?

[Hoyt]

29. One can rationalize anything. Fact is, Biden helped segregationists drag their feet ensuring

equality of education, to our detriment.

[quickesst]

30. Joe Biden worked with segregationists. ...

.... when it was of benefit to the general population. He was absolutely 100% against segregation and segregationist ideals. But you already knew that.
Here's something to chew on. Without any proof whatsoever, no video, no audio, no witnesses, absolutely nothing as proof, Harris offered up this cheap shot to her supporters.

"Praising and coddling individuals who made it their life work and built their reputation off of segregation of the racists in the United States. That’s a problem. I would not be a member of the United States Senate if those men that he praised had their way. I wouldn’t." Kamala Harris

And her supporters ate it up . How anyone could possibly defend this blatant mischaracterization is beyond me, but I'm sure some will try. Start with the proof of praising and coddling.

[DownriverDem]

2. Totally agree

What a lot of young folks don't get is that the country is not as far right as they are. We have to win the Electoral College which is state by state. A progressive Dem woman running as VP would be a great ticket.

[murielm99]

4. I met my first trans person back then,

and had to have a big attitude adjustment.

[UniteFightBack]

6. I was born in 71 so thanks for

making me feel old.

[zentrum]

10. Thing is, it hasn't changed

Last edited Thu Jul 4, 2019, 04:20 PM - Edit history (1)

...all that much from the 70's enough for black people. Still attend underfunded schools, still deal with covert segregation in schools, still see a prison system funded instead of education, still have higher death and infant mortality rates, still are red-lined by the banks, still dealing with systemic racism in all institutions.

Seems somehow that only a group of protected members can talk about how their thinking has "evolved".

If we want turn out in the vote of the black community, the "evolution in thinking" needs to be a lot more honest and deep reaching.

Biden really really had it wrong then. He needs to step up more now. As I hear it, 1/4 of black voters who voted for Obama in 08, and 12, stayed home in 2016. That wasn't Bernie's fault since he never had particular influence with black voters.

[Demsrule86]

21. Nonsense...Biden is not responsible for failing at desegragation ...it died when Reagan was elected.

And what we need to do is not return to a 50 year old failed policy...Biden was right about that,but fine new ways to combat inequality.

[Chitown Kev]

24. Then putting out some alternative proposals

would have been a great way to counter what Harris was saying. Given that he should have anticipated being challenged on those fundraiser comments by someone, he should have had something...anything...ready to go

[Demsrule86]

26. Ah no...not in a 90 second debate question. But you have to run on relevant issues...and

that won't be the issues we win on in a general. This is not a base election...we need voters in three states. We need to run on issues that matter to them.

[George II]

11. People should crack open a history book and read about what it was like in the '50s....

....60s, 70s, and even into the 80s.

Here is the electoral college map in 1960:

[Turin_C3PO]

12. Interesting that northern New England was Republican.

I wonder why they chose Nixon over Kennedy.

[George II]

13. For the most part they were republican for decades - all those states voted republican....

...from 1972 through 1988, too.

Good source for the electoral college maps over the years:

https://www.270towin.com/historical-presidential-elections/

[Arkansas Granny]

14. I have changed a great deal since the 70's and so have my attitudes on

social matters such as marriage equality and abortion to name just a couple.

During the time that Biden was referring to politics were not as polarized as they are now. Both parties were more willing to work together and compromise to get a deal that was more palatable to both sides. Neither side got everything they wanted, but neither did one side completely steamroll the other.

Sometimes you have to work with people who have differing opinions in order to get things done. That doesn't mean that you excuse or embrace those opinions, you just don't let them stop you from making some progress toward your intended goals.

[Midwestocrat]

15. But Led Zeppelin is forever!

Otherwise... yes, you're right.

[Horizens]

16. WTF !

The glaciers are melting
Seas are rising
Alaska’s on fire
Record heat abounds
The U.S. runs concentration camps
Health care (Obamacare) is under assault
Income inequality is growing
The tax code is outrageous.
Children are being murdered in their classrooms
Executive corruption is the new norm
The justice dept. has been politicized
There’s a degenerate imbecile in the white house

And Harris et al want to debate a position Joe Biden took 2 f’ing generations ago?

WTF ….

[oasis]

17. You are 100% right.

[Hoyt]

19. Yeah, wouldn't want to criticize someone violating very essence of Democratic Party -- Equality.

[WA-03 Democrat]

27. So you think Biden is racist?

Someone should tell President Obama. Or we can just watch the circular firing squad.

Joe Biden is not a racist.

The Russians want us divided...again.

[Hoyt]

28. I think Biden helped segregationists drag their feet ensuring equality of schools.

I'm disappointed in that.

[Cha]

23. Thank you, JPP.. I think Biden can

handle anything that's slung at him, though.