Heckled at forum, Bernie Sanders still trying to refine message to black voters

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

The audience's heckling of Sen. Bernie Sanders started when he offered a stem-winder of a response to a question about how he planned to attract the support of women of color.

The Democratic presidential hopeful veered into an explanation of why party unity was crucial to defeating President Donald Trump, whose presidency he said had worsened racism, sexism, and homophobia. He pledged that even if he doesn’t win that he’d do “everything" to ensure that the Democratic nominee becomes the next president.

The grumbling crowd, made up predominantly of women of color, at Wednesday’s She the People presidential forum in Houston let it be known that they weren’t satisfied with his answer.

“What about black women?” someone in the crowd shouted.

One of the moderators, MSNBC’s Joy Reid, nudged Sanders back to the question: Why should black women support him?

“Black women will be an integral part of what our campaign and what our administration is about,” said Sanders, a response that elicited more grumbles and boos.

-more-

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/heckled-at-forum-bernie-sanders-still-trying-to-refine-message-to-black-voters/ar-BBWirIh?li=BBnb7Kz

[BlueFlorida]

1. Refine?

If statements of marching with MLK Jr. and endorsing Rev. Jesse Jackson didn't work ....

[awesomerwb1]

2. Well, he's new to politics to be fair.

[Xipe Totec]

3. Ain't so much tone deaf as color blind nt

[SidDithers]

4. But he chained himself to a black woman in 1963...

Isn't that enough?

Sid

[honest.abe]

10. And ate lunch with Killer Mike at his fav restaurant.

What more do they want?!?

[SidDithers]

12. And not just any lunch. It was a SOUL FOOD lunch...nt

Sid

[Wounded Bear]

5. Bernie is sorta like a soft version of those "All Lives Matter" types...

While he has ideas that would actually help poor black people, things like raising the minimum wage, increasing medical coverage, etc. his solutions are generic progressive answers to societal problems. Not surprisingly, black folks are saying, "Hey, we have specific problems. What about those?"

He probably cares more than it seems, but from the clips of the forum I saw, he wasn't giving specific answers to questions offered.

[loyalsister]

11. He faltered on that

I was really disappointed when he referred to racial minorities and working class people as if they are different groups. There are plenty of racial minorities whose economic situation may be best described as working class.
He has a lot to learn and a short amount of time. He's a good guy with strong ideas and he seems to be entreched in a way of thinking that does not see people of color included among those he represents.

[Hortensis]

6. "Refine"?! Sounds to me like it's been "refined"

of all real meaning. I suspect that's partly ingrained as his passions are for his economic issues, but also deliberate strategy in both 2016 and 2019. He's trying to lead combined leftist economic and left-wing populist movements.

As a populist leader, he needs to woo large numbers of social conservatives like disaffected trumpsters and those famous white male working class Democrats who decamped to the Republicans because they were upset at the prospect of losing their institutionalized white male advantages. But PoC? As a leftist leader, Sanders wants to be able to claim black support, but actually having it would be problematic for a populist leader, who couldn't do what PoC require in return for their support anyway.

[honest.abe]

7. Bernie will never be able to connect with AA voters.

He simply doesn't get it. Too much time in Vermont.

[Cha]

8. WOC@#SheThePeople wanted

answers to their questions. How hard was that?

I bet Joe Biden would have given them a real answer on the "White Nationalism" question.

WOC are our largest voting block.. they've always been there for us.

[mcar]

9. One thinks someone who's been planning a run for 2 years

would have "refined" their message sooner.