Young Black Voters to Their Biden-Supporting Parents: 'Is This Your King?'

[BeyondGeography]

HOUSTON — A groan erupted at a debate watch party at Texas Southern University last week as former vice president Joseph R. Biden Jr. got a question about slavery and racism and gave an answer about Venezuela and record players.

But amid that exasperation, some students channeled their inner Beltway operatives and began a targeted rapid-response campaign. Tyler Smith, 19, texted his grandmother after the debate, hopeful that Mr. Biden's meandering answer may have swayed her from supporting him. Amaya St. Romain, 19, mounted a three-day lobbying blitz on her mother and her great-grandmother, making sure they had seen the former housing secretary Julián Castro’s criticisms of Mr. Biden onstage.

In meme-speak, the efforts amounted to Killmonger, the villain in the Black Panther movie, challenging the people of Wakanda: “Is this your king?”

...At Texas Southern University, a historically black university founded in 1927 and the site of last week’s Democratic debate, dozens of students, ages 19 to 23, differed on their top candidate. Senators Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, and Kamala Harris of California were among the favorites, as was one of the two Texans in the race, former Representative Beto O’Rourke.

For Mr. Biden, though, students carried mixed feelings. They respected his tenure as Barack Obama’s vice president, but implicitly rejected his campaign’s central premise, that the primary goal of Democrats in the 2020 election should be defeating President Trump. They pointed to systemic problems they said the country must address, such as inequality, climate change and gun violence. The Democratic nominee, they said, should embrace progressive proposals like canceling student loan debt, the Green New Deal and gun buyback programs.

More at https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/20/us/politics/joe-biden-black-voters.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

[oldsoftie]

1. Fine. Take your eyes off the main goal & you'll get nowhere.

NOTHING you want can be accomplished without WINNING the election.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

2. This is actually not a great way to look at activism. Electoral politics is one tool to cause

change. A Democrat in the White House can make some things easier. But there are plenty of ways to accomplish change. Saying nothing can get done without it is so limiting.

[Clash City Rocker]

3. But it's a true statement

Nothing can get done about any of those issues with Trump in the White House.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

30. Precisely why Bernie is the obvious choice!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!! or
Elizabeth & Bernie 2020!!
Either way, welcome to the revolution!!!

[oldsoftie]

44. But we want someone who can actually win. nt

[hedda_foil]

6. That's the thing. Many of us don't believe Biden would win the election.

I am very concerned that Trump would wipe the floor with him. I know that sounds awful and it is, but Joe has slowed down substantially and he just isn't as quick witted as he was just a few years ago. Trump is a demented a-hole but he's quick on the attack and shows no mercy.

[cwydro]

16. This.

Sadly, as much as I like Biden, I see the same.

[highplainsdem]

22. And many of us believe Biden has the best chance of beating Trump, and polls back us up.

[Gore1FL]

35. I remember when the polls said the same about Kerry and Clinton.

Let's work the process and elect the primary-hardened candidate that emerges.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

32. Of all the top tier candidates, if nominated, Joe would have the WORST chance of defeating

the Dick-Tator-in-Chief.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!! or
Elizabeth & Bernie 2020!!
Either way, welcome to the revolution!!!

[BlueMississippi]

56. bwahahahahahahahahahaha

[SergeStorms]

43. And I see this for Warren.

Do you honestly think they won't come for Warren? Do you honestly think they won't find something on any democratic candidate we put forth? I like all of our potential candidates, but you have to know the GOP is not going to play fair. I like Warren and respect her immensely, but I honestly think if they bring heat to bear against her she'll fall over like a two-legged card table. I know her supporters think she's made of steel, but she hasn't been tested one little bit so far, so how would you know? If you think 'Pocahontas' is as low as they can go against her, you have another think coming. It took her a long time to repair the damage done by that little boondoggle.

Let's face it. The GOP is nasty, dirty, and they're probably the worst group of humans on the planet, and they'll come after whoever is the ultimate democratic candidate with no holds barred. Don't be so quick to jump on Joe, or anyone else, because Warren could very well be facing this crap in the near future, and do you want people jumping all over your candidate when it happens?

[hedda_foil]

50. Of course they'll come for Warren, but she's much more nimble and future oriented.

[SergeStorms]

53. And you know this....

how? You never know how someone will react until the time is at hand. Like I said, it took her quite some time to recover from 'Pocahontas'.

[hedda_foil]

57. A whole damn lot of experience.

And you?

[SergeStorms]

61. Me what?

Are you denying the fact that Trump's 'Pocahontas' remarks set her on her heels for quite some time? She's lucky it didn't come later during the debates and her campaigning. And your "whole damn lot of experience" runs quite hollow seeing as she hasn't been tested by anyone or anything to this point. She's been smart and evaded any of the sniping other candidates have engaged in. Things have run very smoothly for her thus far, and I'm not saying she hasn't run a great campaign so far. I'm worried about what happens when the GOP lowers the boom, and they will. It's coming, so she and her supporters better steel themselves for the inevitable. Then we'll see what she's made of. Hopefully she'll surprise me and be a steely-eyed presidential candidate!

[oldsoftie]

46. If he shows signs of weakness mentally that concerns me, I'll change.

Right now, he hasnt. And Warrens pie-in-the-sky multi trillion dollar programs will energize the trump voters who are now fence sitters.

[caraher]

51. I don't think there are enough fence-sitting Trump voters to matter

My personal hunch is that we win by turning out more of our people, not by magically persuading people who are somehow still "on the fence" about the shambling nightmare in the White House. If you're that blind you're beyond hope.

[oldsoftie]

70. Could be, but '16 showed a few things.

All just my opinion, although some points are provable.
First, the 2 candidates were the least liked in history. Thats a fact borne out by several polls.
Second, there was a measurable number of trump voters who voted for Obama twice. Because? See #1.
Third, Ambivalence of some Dems & Jill Stein.
Fourth, Independents. These are the people who win elections. These are STILL the people who will win the election. If they arent excited about the Dem choice, they'll likely stay home more than vote trump again. Last time, they went for trump. So thats a big positive for the Dem candidate.
Wildcard? What will the hardcore Sanders people do when he's not the nominee??

[Boomer]

17. My goal is to win back the White House

And I don't think Joe Biden can do it. He is, in my eyes, a high-risk candidate to run against Trump.

I think Warren stands a better chance, and that's why I support her now, in the primaries. Precisely because winning the WH is critical.

[redstateblues]

27. Right now Warren is tied with Trump in WI. Joe is up 9

She is weak in the rust belt and with POC

[Bradshaw3]

29. General election polls this far out are virtually worthless

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/should-we-take-these-early-general-election-polls-seriously-no/

And Biden is weak with young POC voters as this story attests, so this meme about POC voters is false; Biden is also weak in several other categories. Warren will win the rust belt. Her economic policies play well there.

[redstateblues]

78. Policy promises don't win elections.

Warren’s policies are based on the Senate flipping to our side. I hope it happens but probably won’t.

[Boomer]

47. And we have a year left to go

Warren has my primary vote and we'll see where she is by this time next year.

If Joe Biden wins the primaries, then he will be our next presidential candidate and I'll vote for him for president.

Pretty simple.

[pnwmom]

24. Not everyone thinks Biden will be the strongest in the general,

despite his high name recognition now.

[tirebiter]

58. ...high popularity...

There I fixed it for you

[pnwmom]

59. Not really. Just as with Hillary, he isn't as popular a candidate for President

as he was while working for the Obama administration.

In ranked choice voting, Elizabeth Warren is #1.

https://www.vox.com/2019/9/12/20860985/poll-democratic-primary-ranked-choice-warren-biden

[blue-wave]

41. +1000

And seems to me that there is one person currently sitting in the White House very worried about Joe. If the breaking news about the quid pro quo with the present administration, Russia and Ukraine is further confirmed, they want Joe out. We will win with Biden, even Trumps knows this.

We need to ask ourselves: Will we have an America that remotely resembles a sliver of decency if Trump has four more years?

[Fiendish Thingy]

4. Some things are safe and inevitable, until they aren't

If we inspire and motivate the youth vote, WE WILL WIN.

[Anon-C]

28. Well how about AOC as VP...do you think that would energize the youth vote?

[Fiendish Thingy]

34. It would, when she's old enough nt

[Anon-C]

42. ...

[whopis01]

37. She is too young to be Vice President

Not in this election, nor the next.

[oldsoftie]

45. It would certainly energize the RIGHT, even if she was old enough to run.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

48. Yes, would LOVE it... but AOC's not eligible to be VP.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!! or
Elizabeth & Bernie 2020!!
Either way, welcome to the revolution!!!

[HeartlandProgressive]

5. the status quo is not a winnable platform

how many times should we watch the safe bet fail to win?

[emulatorloo]

19. Trump and Mitch McConnell are the "status quo" now

EOM

[BeyondGeography]

8. Hi there

Great to have you on board.

[BeyondGeography]

10. Actually I was a DeBlasio guy until this morning

[Bradshaw3]

31. Ha! That was a good one

You must be heartbroken.

[stonecutter357]

11. good let's go Joe !

[Dream Girl]

12. I guess there are some things you have to live long enough on this earth to know

"Younger blacks" need to respect the wisdom of their elders and not make them out to be uncle toms or some such. We cannot risk another term of this monster or it's over for all of us...progressives, moderates, black, gay, women, etc. We don't have any wiggle room this time. I think about my 19 year old AA son and love him to death of course, but wouldn't necessarily defer to his political judgement. I will never forget the young African American who was interviewed at the DNC convention. She was a Bernie supporter and blithely state that if Sanders didn't get the nomination she would vote for Stein. She had a smug little grin on her face and I just shock my head and said lawd have mercy. I think about her often when a new atrocity pops up and wonder how she's feeling about things. Not so smug now I bet.

[oasis]

33. +1,000,000

[Thekaspervote]

36. Thx for sharing personal experience.. so much more than just an opinion!

[BlueWI]

63. Younger voters have longer to.live in the world older folks created.

President Trump, a warming planet, a shrinking middle class, and intensifying racism. They didn't create these conditions - older people did.

We owe them a listen IMO, and I am 55. I regret that we will be leaving them a boatload of imposing challenges environmentally, socially, and politically.

[Dream Girl]

75. Off course we do. We need to listen to each other.

[JI7]

13. majority of white people support trump

[BeyondGeography]

21. Not seeing the relevance

[JI7]

23. it's very relevant.

[BootinUp]

14. Gawd forbid old folks vote how they want to. Lol

[Jose Garcia]

15. Killmonger dies in the end of Black Panther

[highplainsdem]

25. Exactly. It might be smartass, but really isn't smart, to echo the villain.

[whopis01]

38. It is only the author of the article who uses that phrase.

There is no quote from any young person whom he talked to who used that line. It is his interpretation of what they are doing.

[highplainsdem]

40. The line seems to be getting a lot of applause from Biden critics on Twitter.

[whopis01]

77. That may be - I just meant in context of the article.

That particular line appears to be attributed to the young black voters quoted in the article - but reading carefully, it didn't come from them. It was the author's addition.

[emulatorloo]

18. I doubt bombarding one's relatives with clips of Castro's meltdown will change minds.

Except maybe about Castro.

[DrToast]

20. lol right? What kind of strategy is that

Here watch this clip of Castro being 1) a complete a-hole and 2) wrong!

[wellst0nev0ter]

64. Except he was right

And the "fact checkers" were completely derelict in their verdict. Biden's own campaign website says about 10 million will be left uncovered under his means-testing compromise plan.

https://www.dailykos.com/story/2019/9/13/1885213/-Castro-was-Right-Biden-Said-Buy-In-MSNBC-and-Others-Should-Apologize-for-Bad-Fact-Checking

[Hassin Bin Sober]

26. This is disqualifying

[George II]

54. No it isn't.

[PhoenixDem]

55. Depends upon the definition

To some, polling higher than BS by double digits consistently is disqualifying!!

It becomes doubly disqualifying when trillion dollar plan after trillion dollar plan falls flat and none of the manufactured smears work.

[ancianita]

39. They must be getting divisive propaganda to discourage them from voting at all. Because they

KNOW that not voting Democratic will make their issues disappear under a Republican president.

If Republican polls show numbers dropping Biden, Trump will probably start making noises about doing the things "the blacks want." lol

From now on I don't trust media that show Democratic divisions. From now on I wouldn't be made to doubt my party's unity by any reports that show voter divisiveness. We know there are always internal differences, but amplifying it only serves probably horse race media profit.

[still_one]

52. I sure wouldn't extrapolate anything from the NY Times after the crap they pulled in 2016, and their

wonderful Judith Miller trash propagating the WMD lies.

I could go on, but suffice to say, I subscribe to the Washington Post now

[ancianita]

60. I hear you. But I despise Jeff Bezos for lots of non-news-related reasons.

[NCLefty]

62. I believe all young voters have a poor turnout rate.

/shrug

[wellst0nev0ter]

65. I wonder why...?

[JI7]

66. because young people are far more focused on other things . young people of every generation

had low turnouts .

[wellst0nev0ter]

67. Or they are not inspired

We have a president abusing his powers to try to strongarm a foreign government to take out a political rival, and all Biden can say is "I'm not a crook"

[JI7]

68. no, they are just not focused on politics. they are newly independent in the world

and they are focused on their social lives and other things. as i said, young people in every previous generation also had low voter turnout .

there are candidates other than Biden running. Biden wasn't running during the previous decades when they had low turnout .

they had low turnout even for Paul Wellstone .

[BeyondGeography]

69. Millennials are almost as large as boomers and half of them voted in 2016

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/04/03/millennials-approach-baby-boomers-as-largest-generation-in-u-s-electorate/

Expectations are they will vote in even bigger numbers in 2020.

/shrug

[DrFunkenstein]

71. Bill Clinton The First Black President, Biden The Third By Proxy

There's a generational shift in the African-American community about whether or not that statement makes any sense. Younger Black voters question whether or not Biden should be automatically supported simply because he had the proverbial "Black friend."

It's a bit like the difference between a movie like Green Book and one like BlackKKlansman. For older Americans, Green Book is a comforting and comical reversal of Driving Miss Daisy. For the younger generation, it is offensively patronizing.

Similarly, younger African-Americans want to judge a tree by the actual fruit it will bear for them, not by the fact that it once was in the shadow of a great tree.

[LincolnRossiter]

72. Some young black voters probably have this mentality.

Last edited Sat Sep 21, 2019, 12:31 PM - Edit history (1)

Good thing our parents, many of whom were active in the Civil Rights Movement, still vote in great numbers.

FWIW, of all bases of support on this forum, Warren supporters make it the hardest to not become divisive. You guys are really something.

[Kahuna7]

73. I just can't with my millennial AA grandson...

He was a staunch berner who didn't bother to vote after Bernie lost. Okay. Later he was like...'I still think Bernie would have won,' and next time he thinks he will vote for.....sigh......The Rock.

I should listen to him?

[LincolnRossiter]

74. I really don't get the antipathy toward Biden. He isn't even a conservative Democrat.

I guess for some younger folks and more liberal whites those of us who aren't looking for revolution just need move out of the way or drop dead or something. I’m only 36 but just love Joe.

[Dream Girl]

76. This may be a fissure Russia can exploit

Cull younger blacks and depress African American turnout. It was the Hillary is racist meme that depressed AA turnout Last time