The Root: I Can't Believe Black People Might Actually Vote for Michael Bloomberg

[kpete]

… [J]ust when you thought it was over, you’re forced to choose between an unabashed white supremacist and a billionaire fugitive slave catcher who submitted a sealed bid for the presidency of the United States.

First, you try to get free.

When all else fails, you vote for Michael Bloomberg…

Michael Bloomberg is a white quadrillionaire with infinitely deep pockets and a record of getting shit done. Even if the “shit” he got done came at the expense of our sons and daughters, defeating Donald Trump is the most important factor in a lot of people’s decisions on who they will vote for. Michael Bloomberg’s rise isn’t a condemnation of the other candidates as much as it is an example that black people know white people better than anything else in the universe.

One of the biggest factors in a large number of black people’s primary voting criterion is who they think white people will vote for when the curtain closes behind them in the voting booth. We know Bernie has better policy plans. We know Elizabeth Warren is a better communicator. We have seen Buttigieg’s Douglass plan.

But we also know white people.

Donald Trump is proof of what they will do.

For many black people, the prospect of an unchecked, second-term white supremacist outweighs the choice between Medicare for All and a public option. It’s heavier than student loan forgiveness or foreign policy. It’s bigger than all of the economic proposals and tax plans combined. It’s not even that people don’t think the other Democratic candidates can defeat Donald Trump. We just don’t know if they can defeat the overwhelming self-interests of white people.

https://www.theroot.com/i-cant-believe-black-people-might-actually-vote-for-mic-1841611802

[cherryinpa]

1. Unfortunate

Strong opinion, but one that cannot be discounted because it reflects what many of the party will feel - and frankly I can't blame them.

The best option here ie Biden but if he can't go the distance then Klobuchar or Warren work absolutely fine.

If Klobuchar and Warren don't make it then we'll still get to the destination with Pete or Bernie (or even Hillary).

But to back a billionairre Republican?

It will tear us apart - pure insanity.

[emmaverybo]

5. Any of our candidates, if we unite and rally around them, has as good or better a chance to beat

Trump. Any better represent our values, our principles.

[Goonch]

2. Bloomberg has

the will, skills & resources to tromp Trump. Nothing else matters.

[customerserviceguy]

4. Certainly not principles

like racial justice.

[emmaverybo]

7. Thank you. Out the window with racial justice, constitutional rights. But only if we give in to

fear, which clouds our judgement, makes us rush for the exit, when in fact it’s just another fire-trap.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

12. That is not a good place for the party to go to.

[hlthe2b]

3. Charles Blow published a similar discussion, but he is infinitely more credible than Harriot

whose constant attempts to paint Biden as an "unrepentant racist" showed most of us a great deal about Mr. Harriot.

I am NOT defending Bloomberg, but as far as I'm concerned, Harriot has lost me (and quite a few others) and I'd dearly appreciate a direction to Mr. Blow's article, if the issue is to be discussed.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/12/opinion/michael-bloomberg-stop-frisk.html

[frazzled]

8. Agreed

Frankly, I can’t understand how any Democrat, black, white, or otherwise, would think of voting for Bloomberg. But we live in strange times.

As an aside, I’d like to point out that not all billionaires are tough-on-crime racists. While Blow notes that Bloomberg “spoke nonchalantly about giving these young people criminal records for marijuana, ignoring the enormous harm these criminal records cause to individuals and whole communities,” it should be recalled that our new billionaire governor in Illinois, JB Pritzger, recently expunged the records of 11,000 individuals convicted of marijuana infractions. Gave them full pardons in recognition of past injustice, mostly racially based.

[emmaverybo]

9. I posted this article with link as an OP just now. It is excellent. I also posted Harriot's a while

back. His is a profound take on the terrible choice AA voters face, and the history they bring to it.

[kabelle]

6. Black people are intelligent, independent thinkers

The author is mad because he wants black people and all people to vote for his favorite candidate instead.

[honest.abe]

10. What choice do they have?

None of the other candidates except Biden have a solid connection to the black community... and Biden is going in reverse and no sign of stopping. Black folk arent gong to risk it with Sanders, he has burned too many bridges and he would probably lose anyway against Trump. Pete? Hardly know him except that's he's a mayor and a gay guy. Amy.. she's nice but how does she help us?? So up pops Bloomberg with very good ads thumping Trump and making people feel optimistic again.

Not surprising at all that many are ready to jump on the Bloomberg wagon

[Cal Carpenter]

15. That's not true

Nationally, Bernie is currently polling at 30% among Black voters, just a few points behind Biden.

He's at 48% among Hispanic voters. Interestingly, his lowest share is among White voters, at 28% (still the highest of all the candidates).

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287518270

[abqtommy]

11. It's my experience that SOME white people are against you but many other white people, such as

myself, are for you even if you do make unnecessary and untrue generalizations.

[flotsam]

13. I've worked with, lived with, and served with Blacks

If they chose a candidate and lined up behind him or her I would join them. Sadly no black candidate is still viable and no other candidate addresses their grievances, which are valid.

[mgcgulfcoast]

14. I cant believe that anyone supports Bloomberg

We must be desperate when some people are clinging to George Bush's buddy.