Bernie Sanders Says Not All Voters Who Feel 'Uncomfortable' With Black Candidates Are Racist

[TomCADem]

I understand that Nina Turner has somehow declared herself the arbitrator of all things racism, but perhaps she could explain Bernie's comments that just because you do not feel comfortable voting for a candidate because they are black does not make you a racist.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bernie-sanders-andrew-gillum-stacey-abrams_n_5be48626e4b0769d24cadd68

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) drew criticism Thursday after saying many white voters in the South who felt “uncomfortable” voting for black candidates for the first time were “not necessarily racist.”

The comment came in an interview with The Daily Beast published Thursday, in which the senator discussed the difficulties faced by black gubernatorial candidates Andrew Gillum in Florida and Stacey Abrams in Georgia.

“I think you know there are a lot of white folks out there who are not necessarily racist who felt uncomfortable for the first time in their lives about whether or not they wanted to vote for an African-American,” Sanders told the outlet. “I think next time around, by the way, it will be a lot easier for them to do that.”

A number of writers and activists of color called Sanders out for implying it wasn’t racist to reject a candidate based on race.

[Cha]

1. Yeah yeah.. that makes no sense

[George II]

2. Again? Didn't he learn last time he talked about this and got slammed?

[still_one]

5. Unbelievable

[TomCADem]

7. Bernie Sanders' MLK comments anger Barack Obama supporters

The main thing that happened is Nina Turner's outrage with anyone daring to question whether Bernie best fulfills MLK's views. I guess for Nina it is okay for Bernie to effectively blame the failures of the Democratic party on Obama with the faint praise that he is charismatic.

https://www.salon.com/2018/04/06/bernie-sanders-mlk-comments-anger-barack-obama-supporters/

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has once again aroused controversy, this time after he made comments about President Barack Obama at an event honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that critics claimed disparaged the first African-American president and supporters insist was taken out of context.

On Wednesday, during an event in Jackson, Mississippi honoring King's legacy on the 50th anniversary of his death, Sanders discussed the future of the Democratic Party with members of the audience.

"The business model, if you like, of the Democratic Party for the last 15 years or so has been a failure," Sanders told the audience, according to BuzzFeed. "People sometimes don't see that because there was a charismatic individual named Barack Obama, who won the presidency in 2008 and 2012."

Sanders added, "He was obviously an extraordinary candidate, brilliant guy. But behind that reality, over the last 10 years, Democrats have lost about 1,000 seats in state legislatures all across this country."

[Celerity]

21. This article is from November 2018 nt

[George II]

23. Thanks. I just read the excerpt. Huffington Post has too many popup ads and drop downs....

....it's getting almost impossible to read.

[Celerity]

24. +100

[NurseJackie]

3. Disgusting. Making excuses for racists?

I'm going to vomit.

[Peacetrain]

4. Oh for the love of God Bernie.. that is the epitome or what racism

is.. fear of the other because of the color of their skin.. judgments about being uncomfortable around someone because of the color of their skin.. that is RACISM..and RACIST

[George II]

11. To think that Biden gets bashed for "gaffes", this is INTENTIONAL, not a gaffe!

[Peacetrain]

14. I am just gobsmacked.. this is a thought out argument that is what is so sad

and as you said, not a trip over the tongue or looking for a word that is easier to say

[Happy Hoosier]

6. Keep digging Bernie....

He seems incapable of learning.

[Happy Hoosier]

8. Imma guess the usual Berners won't touch this. NT

[Moderateguy]

9. I can't decide if he's this tone deaf or

is trying to attract MAGAts to vote for him

[getagrip_already]

26. ding ding ding....

He is following trumps model. Exploit the untapped racists. They are trump loyalists, but he is trying to convince them to cast crossover votes since there is nothing on the gop ballot to bother with.

He is actively asking russia to find those emails........

[bucolic_frolic]

10. awkwardly tone deaf

Candidates usually have personnel to advise the candidate around sensitive issues and nuances. Hard to believe this one slipped by media advisors, so it's just spontaneous.

[TomCADem]

12. Well, Here Is Bernie Dodging Questions on Racism By Namedropping MLK

These are not isolated events. Bernie has a history of scapegoating immigrants and literally ignoring questions of race by name dropping MLK as a catch all answer:

Link to tweet

[bucolic_frolic]

15. I didn't mean to suggest spontaneous as isolated.

I meant not well coached ... not rehearsed, allowing insensitivity to leak through. Media coaches would prep a candidate for messaging in sensitive areas. I'd suspect there is no such going on in that campaign.

[relayerbob]

13. Um, I always thought Obama was black

[mcar]

16. This FL voter won't forget

[Skid Rogue]

17. It's 2020 for Christ's sake! What are they then?

[IluvPitties]

18. Nina, will you ask Bernie to apologize?

[cwydro]

19. Yikes. Tone deaf.

Bernie, really?

[Sloumeau]

20. I'm thinking that this is really bad. :) nt

[Celerity]

22. You really should note in your OP that this article is from 2018,

in November. Some in this thread appear to think this is a new event.

[Cha]

25. Kick

[Loki Liesmith]

27. Oh who cares?

This is petty shit.