We don't need another racist president

[Autumn]

Is Michael Bloomberg, the man who saw potential suspects in every Black and brown face, all that different from Donald Trump?

By Renée Graham Globe Columnist,Updated February 18, 2020, 2:43 p.m

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/02/18/opinion/we-dont-need-another-racist-president/?fbclid=IwAR1_N6bBloNjJdqwahIZPSjMrqZJnXc9arLPzV_qvu9JMmc2QrSagcPcCiM

Michael Bloomberg is expected to make his presidential debate debut Wednesday night in Las Vegas. Given how much he’s already spent on his campaign — $400 million and counting — I expect to see him on the stage in a $38,000 Bolotas armchair with a $20,000 cashmere Hermès blanket draped across his legs.
We should also expect excuses, equivocations, and evasions about the racist policies he enforced, as New York’s mayor, against communities of color.

Bloomberg will probably apologize again for “stop-and-frisk,” which allowed anyone to be stopped, searched, and questioned by police if there was “reasonable suspicion.” That suspicion fell disproportionately on young Black and brown men. Bloomberg did not start “stop and frisk” — that dishonor belongs to his predecessor, Rudy Giuliani. Yet he expanded the program, terrorizing communities of color in ways that continue to have devastating repercussions.


Is the man who saw potential suspects in every Black and brown face all that different from the man who called Mexican immigrants rapists and criminals?
But it also speaks to the divide between those willing to accept as appropriate another man who views constitutional rights as negligible. On social media, white liberals are scolding people of color for criticizing Bloomberg’s candidacy, preferring to see a billionaire businessman as the best way to beat another billionaire businessman. (If Trump wasn’t a billionaire when he came into office, his grifting presidency has probably gotten him a lot closer.)

That’s an easy calculation to make for those who’ve never experienced fear every time you see a police officer, even when you know you’ve done nothing wrong. (The vast majority of those stopped and frisked were innocent.) And that doesn’t even cover the deep psychological impact of knowing that, for someone like Bloomberg, the skin you’re in makes you a suspect.

Now you might have heard that Bloomberg is super sorry about all that. After years of defending this policy, even after studies proved it was both racist and ineffective in lowering crime rates, Bloomberg conveniently offered up his first apology just before launching his presidential campaign. And since he said it in a Black church filled with Black people, you know he really, really meant it.

[guillaumeb]

1. But he apologized.

He said the words.

[Autumn]

4. Here are a few more paragraphs from the article

With only one caucus and one primary done, this race is still wide open regardless of whom the media ignores or fawns over. There is one candidate I will be happy to vote for next month and, hopefully, in the general election. Yet I’ve said all along that, come November, I will cast my ballot for whoever gets the Democratic nomination. Like many voters, I believe there is no greater issue than defeating President Trump.
Sitting on the sideline isn’t an option, but a Bloomberg nomination would prove a harsh test.

With his bottomless resources, Bloomberg is expected to spend $500 million by Super Tuesday next month, when he’ll have his first opportunity to compete at the polls. Money got him to New York City Hall and he’s banking on it carrying him to the White House. It’s a devil’s bargain too many Democrats are seriously considering.

If Bloomberg’s money can amplify his hollow apologies while submerging his sins — including his reportedly sexist treatment of women — voters of color in November may find themselves caught between a racist rock and a racist hard place.

[guillaumeb]

8. In the end, if these 2 were on the ballot,

Bloomberg is the clear choice, not because he is perfect, but because he is not Trump.

[Autumn]

12. The truth is a pile of dog shit on the ticket against Trump would be a clear choice.

[Act_of_Reparation]

5. And changed his party affiliation to Democrat.

So yeah, we can totes trust this guy.

[guillaumeb]

11. We are regularly reminded that one of the candidates has an (I) after his name.

So yes, Bloomberg does have that affiliation.

[ancianita]

2. Maybe you could reprint your piece on DeBlasio? It could be really helpful right about now.

[Autumn]

9. That was a great podcast. I really enjoyed it. nt

[ancianita]

14. Is that in your Journal? I can't find it, but did see the DeBlasio piece from The Hill. Even that

would be a good repeat in the DPF right about now.

[onetexan]

3. Sure Bloomberg has made some poor policies during his term as mayor. But he is not a racist.

Stop the lying.

[Act_of_Reparation]

6. He oversaw a program he knew disproportionately punished minority children.

It's the textbook definition of racism, for fuck's sake.

[onetexan]

16. i'm not going to waste my time with people who are doing purity tests

Obama deported people. Are you going to call him racist as well?

[Act_of_Reparation]

22. "Purity tests"

So we're not going to have standards then. At all. All you gotta do to be a Democratic candidate is be a Democratic candidate.

What could go wrong.

[Autumn]

7. I'm not lying. I didn't write the article I just posted it. Obviously there are people who disagree.

You can always refute the article paragraph by paragraph if you can. But I think calling me a liar is easier.

[onetexan]

17. You're just a Sanders apologist. Not wasting my time with your purity test nonsense.

[Autumn]

21. I'm just a Democrat talking about our Primary and the candidates in it. Try ignore.

[LanternWaste]

10. Sounds as bad as "respect police to avoid getting shot in the back of your head"

Thankfully, the rational mind realizes both nuance and mistake are not the inherently singular definition of any one man.

Sure, the occasional half-wit and the rare dullard may try to paint Bloomberg and Sanders as racist, but we know better.

[ancianita]

18. Right now, this is about Bloomberg. The facts on the ground and his public statements show

that he has been a racist leader in word, deed, policy and practice.

Prejudice is individual. Racism is prejudice + power. Bloomberg is the racist both black and white people say he is.

He had better give an Obama style (Pastor Wright) speech if he expects to live his racism down and/or get the black vote.

[Squinch]

19. I totally forgot about that one!

[Autumn]

20. I think that's just common sense. Notice the "to avoid getting shot in the back of your head"

[Squinch]

13. So that would mean that Biden would be out for writing the crime bill that resulted in

the unwarranted incarcerations of thousands of young black men, then defending the bill in 2019;

Bernie would be out for voting for the crime bill and then justifying that vote;

and Bloomberg would be out for stop and frisk.

Well... that WOULD thin the field quite a bit.

[Autumn]

23. Here's what I think. No one in politics for half a century is perfect. But Biden is a man of honor,

as is Bernie.

[Squinch]

24. Yet they performed blatantly racist acts in pursuit of what

they thought were higher goals. Just like Bloomberg.

And while I would hate to be stopped and frisked, I'd hate to be unjustly jailed a whole lot more.

[Autumn]

25. But the problem is where Bernie and Biden explained their actions B didn't. He held those for

years, and Bernie and Biden are not sexist and misogynistic. Neither would ever even think the things B has openly said.

[Squinch]

26. Biden was justifying the crime bill last year. Bernie has

never apologized for his vote.

And really? Bernie would not even think sexist things? Like the creepy rape fantasy story or his assertion that too little sex gave women cancer?

And yes, Bloomberg explained his action in great detail. Most recently in a speech and a commercial. He explained that the murder rate of young black men at the time was skyrocketing and no one had been able to stop it. So he tried everything at his disposal. He thought getting guns off the street would help.and stop and frisk was the way to do that. He has said he realizes stop and frisk was wrong. During the last years of his administration, he cut the program way back.

At the same time, though, other Bloomberg policies reduced the murder rate of young black men by 50%. And still other policies reduced the incarceration rate in NYC by 40%. So though he performed this terribly racist act, he separately gave some enormous benefits to the group he wronged.

What has Bernie done for the population he wronged to offset HIS terribly racist act?

[Autumn]

27. I suspect a lot of those stopped and frisked black men were unjustly jailed anyway. For one

reason or another. That's the problem with racial profiling.

[Squinch]

29. Look again. Incarcerations were reduced by 40%. That means

your suspicion is baseless.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

15. Couldnt agree more. Blatantly racist statements like Mike's made cant be undone by simple apologies

There are not enough billions to cover it... sorry, that's just how I feel.


Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!

[Uncle Joe]

28. Kicked and recommended

Thanks for the thread Autumn.