Another black woman supporting Hillary Clinton

[MrWendel]

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/3/2/1494943/-Another-black-woman-supporting-Hillary-Clinton

By ShockedAndAwed

How about this? It’s the relationships. Black people understand the importance of this election. Right now, we’re voting based on what we know and who we know. And we know Hillary Clinton. Do you think we don’t care about wars and foreign policy? People don’t see pictures of every soldier, marine, airman, or sailor that dies in these wars. Yet, we know that our sons and daughters, husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, nieces and nephews, and grandchildren are among the many lost to war. We are the ones sending them off to fight these battles. And we are the ones receiving their bodies if they don’t make it home alive. You think we do not care about economic inequality? Black and brown people are the most economically disadvantaged people anywhere. You think we don’t care about free college? What does that matter when we are graduating children from high school that can not read? Or filling our communities with children that give up and drop out long before graduation? Or filling your jails because of the lack of education and opportunity? Please don’t talk to me about how we got here. We know all too well how we got here and it was not Hillary all by herself. Yes, there has been bad policy. Yes, she has voted/supported the wrong way on some issues. Yes, she has told us things and then changed her mind. So have many others that we have supported.

Some people are all about forgiveness until it comes to Hillary Clinton. There is no sin so slight that it can be overlooked. For her there is no redemption. Well, some people in general and this black woman in particular don’t think she is the Devil. We can see the flaws in people, forgive them their mistakes, hope that they learn from them and move on. I’m not looking for a savior, I already have one of those. I’m looking for someone who will hear me, will take my concerns into consideration, and make a decision based on the many voices being heard. She’s already been pushed more to the left in this primary season. And that’s great. “Oh she’s just saying what people want to hear.” Really? What politician do you know who is saying things people don’t want to hear?

After this election, we need to have a seat at the table. We’ve been at the table with the Clintons for many many years. Suddenly, we need to beg some unknown to invite us to sit at his table. And according to a recent photo, that too late invitation has not been reciprocated.

I asked a millennial, a black male, who he was voting for. He said Bernie Sanders. I asked him why and he told me. I then asked, what if he doesn’t win the nomination. He replied, “I’ll vote for Hillary Clinton; I’m not stupid.” Right now Hillary Clinton is the favorite. I equate it to the horse races. Hillary already has the Kentucky Derby. She’s a proven winner. We are now at the Preakness. If she wins, we’ll work for a Triple Crown. And if she doesn’t, we will switch to the one that stayed on her tail and work to win Belmont. We know that whatever bad things you think will happen to you with a Trump presidency, multiply that a thousand times and you get the lives of black and brown people.

(More in link)

[Nitram]

1. Excellent!

It seems many on the left really don't understand the good things the Clintons have done over the years.

[brer cat]

2. The issues define us as democrats,

not the person sitting at the head of the table. "After this election, we need to have a seat at the table" because that is where the issues are discussed and ultimately become policy. That is the prize. Every person who decides to stay home instead of voting, who advocates voting third party is willing to give up that seat and let republicans set the policy without our voices. Not me and mine. We are democrats and we will vote for the democratic candidate no matter what name is on the ballot.

[Kind of Blue]

3. "Suddenly, we need to beg some unknown to invite us to sit at his table."

See, that's the thing. I've known of Sander since he stepped into Congress and liked him a whole lot. But never did I imagine he wasn't including me at his table.

[Basement Beat]

4. Agreed...

I'm in the same camp there.

[Kind of Blue]

5. Yeah, more of an eye-opener

less of an introduction for some of us.

[UMTerp01]

6. Bernie folks are so sensitive

I'm new to the DU and because I didn't immediately start kissing Sanders behind I got blocked from so pro Sanders group. I'm actually undecided but so much for coming to a forum where you'd think varying opinions can be celebrated. Instead, sensitivity seems to rule the day and less than 10 posts in I'm blocked because I don't back your guy? Whatever.

[ZX86]

7. As a person deeply concerned about my community.

I am much more concerned about policy than I am about relationships. I don't need or desire a relationship with celebrity politicians. I want policies that serve my community. Let's be real. The only time you'll see a politician is when they are campaigning. Smiles and handshakes once every four years does not serve my community. Policies that affect my community day in and day out is what is important to me.

What brings me comfort is not a politician I can hang out with and feels comfortable hanging out with me. What brings me comfort is knowing everyone in my community has access to quality healthcare. Everyone! I don't need a seat at the table. I need my kids to have a seat in college. I need every child in my community to have a seat at college. These need to be understood as rights that no one can take away. Not some boutique program thought of as some pet project that can be haggled over and ended once an administration has ended.

The issue of over promising is problematic as well. I completely reject the notion of "promises" in political campaigns. This is a media tactic to generate gotcha questions. Politicians can't promise results. They can only promise to pursue goals. No one would accept a home team that declared they would not seek to win the championship but only to win a few games, maybe, because winning a championship is not realistic. I want a politician to set a goals that help my community and fight like hell to obtain those goals. Not lower my expectations of what a fair society should be by starting negotiations at half a loaf and maybe we'll get crumbs.