Interesting diary on DK about AA voting patterns

[Nonhlanhla]

I'm only posting one paragraph. The essay is well worth a read in its entirety.

So now on to the hot topic right now. Why isn’t Sanders message resonating with black voters? It’s not a lack of knowledge of him. If a message starts to resonate, people start to research the messenger AND spread that message, that creates a positive feedback loop. 24% of Twitter users are black, and Twitter if it’s anything is a viral message machine. The very fact black voters don’t know a lot about him AND aren’t trying to learn about him is an issue in of itself. The main reason Sanders message hasn’t resonated is, in my opinion, a communication problem. The candidate and the campaign’s answers to points that black voters raise about aren’t being answered correctly. Even worse the campaign and surrogates are often doing more damage than good with bad communication. What do I mean by not adequately addressing the questions being asked?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/3/3/1492931/-Why-black-voters-vote-the-way-they-do-and-advice-on-how-to-win-them

[NurseJackie]

1. Observant ...

Even worse the campaign and surrogates are often doing more damage than good

... where have we read this before? Where have we SEEN ACTUAL EXAMPLES of this before? Nobody is imagining or exaggerating it.

[malthaussen]

2. Excellent article.

A lot of useful and new information in it. I'm sure the author will be crucified.

-- Mal

[JudyM]

3. This is the best piece I have read on these issues. Thanks so much for posting.

It gets into some subtle misunderstandings that DUers like me are really trying to grasp.

I would rec it twice if I could.

I look forward to some good dialogue on this thread once more POC DUers get a chance to read it.

[firebrand80]

4. I tried to point this out months ago

It was clear to me that Bernie wasn't communicating effectively with Black voters. I was met with (somewhat arrogant) claims of "once they get to know him."

[malthaussen]

5. moi aussi

... and I didn't even understand all that this article explains. I especially remember being told by a supporter (a good person, I'm sure) that he "didn't want to hear it" when I suggested Mr Sanders might be having a problem reaching black voters.

-- Mal

[malthaussen]

6. You should x-post this in Good Reads...

... as a forum with a shelf-life of more than 10 minutes. It needs to be seen.

-- Mal

[Nonhlanhla]

7. Thanks for the suggestion.

I posted it there too.

[Chitown Kev]

10. That's a good suggestion....

I posted and OP with this story last night and it got few comments even though I cut it into several pieces.

[malthaussen]

11. That's the problem.

Especially in GD and GDP, unless the post strikes an immediate spark, it will fall off the radar in minutes. So many good posts and links go unseen because the readers only look at what's "trending."

-- Mal

[Nonhlanhla]

12. Oh I'm sorry

I did check briefly to see if there was another post on this. If I had seen yours, I would have simply kicked and recced it instead of posting a duplicate.

[Arazi]

16. I kicked, recced and commented on your excellent OP

its a great piece!

[Blue_Tires]

8. Excellent read

Well thought, well reasoned, and evenly analyzed...

Which means sadly most DUers will ignore it...

[bklyncowgirl]

9. The "revolution" will not be easy. This is a very good, even handed and insightful article.

As a supporter, I'd like to see the Sanders campaign adopt some of these ideas.

[Nonhlanhla]

13. Quite honestly, I think it is too late

I'm not saying that to be mean, please believe me. I just think as far as this election cycle is concerned, the die is cast. Hillary has simply managed to build a broader coalition than Bernie, and the numbers indicate that this will likely carry her through. I do hope that many of Bernie's ideas will remain in the conversation, though, and that all of us will unite to defeat Lord Voldetrump, and then afterwards keep the pressure on for progressive issues.

Anyway, I hope more people (both Hillary and Bernie supporters) read the excellent diary above.

[bklyncowgirl]

22. It ain't over 'till it's over but I do agree the odds are high.

I do love the longshots though and every once in a while one of them comes in.

[RobertEarl]

14. It is obvious

He's not communicating well with much of anyone.

If he was getting all the free press like Trump and was as well known as the Clintons, he would be able to communicate because people would listen.

[Nonhlanhla]

15. Might I suggest that you read the article?

Your response does not suggest that. Bernie's problem with African American voters is not a lack of free press.

[RobertEarl]

19. Word salad from you

Read reply below to yardwork.

[yardwork]

17. You're doing that thing, right now.

You're telling people of color that it is their responsibility to hear Sanders' message. That is condescending and as an outreach strategy, is always doomed to fail.

It's Sander's responsibility to convince people.

[RobertEarl]

18. No

I am saying it is obvious Bernie is not communicating well with anybody. If he was he'd be winning. Get that? No distinction of color, you are the one bringing color in.

See, I believe in Bernie and think that if he is heard most everyone would also support him and he'd win everywhere. He's not so all I can conclude is that he is not being heard.

Trump is sure being heard, right?

[yardwork]

20. The OP is about African American voting patterns and why Bernie's message is not being heard.

If you read the linked article, you will note that one of the points made by the writer is that it is a big mistake for Sanders' people to say that certain states don't matter. Take a look. It might be interesting.

[RobertEarl]

21. Certain states don't matter

Hell, in SC just 13% of the Dem voters even bothered to vote.

How dumb is that?

[wildeyed]

23. No.

Bernie Sanders is communicating just fine. Many of us do not agree with his priorities or think his policy positions are realistic. And personally, I don't fine the guy appealing.

Good and honest people can have the same information, but come to different conclusions.

[Chitown Kev]

26. Well, as this short paragraph suggests, many blacks are on Twitter

and they see attacks on black people by people that say they support Bernie Sanders on a regular basis.

And, yes, if they see so much of that, you will get tuned out after a point.

[wildeyed]

24. There was a lot I liked about that article.

But my impression has been that blacks do know about him, and as a result, many choose not to vote for him. That it is a well informed choice.

He has been very, very clear that he will prioritize income inequality issues over ballot access and civil rights issues. Any experienced political watcher knows that a politician only has so much political capital to spend. And he very clearly told voters where his would be spent. Some black voters were persuaded by his reasoning, but many were not.

I know that as a white voter who highly prioritizes ballot access and civil rights issues, I understood what Sanders was saying. Pretty sure that black voters picked up on it too.

Politics is a bitch. It ALWAYS requires compromise. Sanders will not compromise his core beliefs, which is what his base loves about him. But it made it impossible to expand his coalition or change his messaging. And I said that this would be his downfall from the beginning. That and the fact that he was really an activist, not a true politician. Oh well....

[Chitown Kev]

25. I agree with Sanders

that campaign finance reform is a serious issue.

But for someone who defines a "political revolution" as getting millions of disinterested voters into the process, he really doesn't seem to be doing that (Barack Obama was much more successful at this).

Also it is the very rare politician that can also be a political activist. IMO< you can't do that type of thing from the Oval Office.

I would rather Sanders remain in the Senate, personally.

[wildeyed]

28. Campaign finance is huge.

one of my main issues. But I don't believe that his strategy on that will work. And it makes my brains melt when newbie Sanders supporters go on about how he is the only one talking about it. We have BEEN talking about it, they were not listening.....

And yes, Obama was a better candidate, an incredibly charismatic individual. And better prepared, too. But it was his vision of a united party and a united country that I really loved. Sanders divides. You are either his supporter or The Establishment. His supporter or an oligarch supporter. An FDR Democrat or a third wayer. Young vs. old. Southern and less educated on issues or his supporter. And on and on.....

That doesn't work mathematically in a democracy where you need a majority to win. And it doesn't work for me, personally. On some basic level, I still yearn to be the UNITED Sates of America. Just like Obama said. Quixotic, I know, but I still want that.

To be that united party demands that all stakeholders have a voice in setting policy and priorities. And all stakeholders to know that they are not getting everything they want. There is inherent compromise in the process, something that a leader needs to acknowledge. And something a politicians needs to do to win in the big leagues.

Sanders made it clear that he was not going to do that, to give other stakeholders a voice in setting agenda. His lack of appeal to historically marginalized groups is really that simple, IMO.

[Nonhlanhla]

27. In all fairness to the article

I think they're saying something similar to what you're saying in your first paragraph, namely that African Americans do know about Sanders, but still choose not to vote for him, and that it is a well informed choice, rooted in their own self-understanding, particular concerns, and perspectives on who Bernie is (and who Hillary is).

For me too Bernie's tendency to channel civil rights (and gender issues) through the lens of class, is a problem. Your observation in your second paragraph is excellent! (That his political capital will be spent on class issues and not on other issues, even if he cares about those other issues.)

[mcar]

29. K&R

[Nonhlanhla]

30. I found the info on abandoned houses to be very eye-opening

I knew it was an issue, but this diary made me understand it a bit more.