Bernie Sanders tries to meet with Black leaders but nobody shows up: Only 6 CBC members attended

[Gothmog]

I saw a question on the bernie page and decided to provide a report on the attempt at a meeting held by Sanders with the Congressional Black Caucus http://www.salon.com/2015/09/11/bernie_sanders_ties_to_met_with_black_leaders_and_nobody_shows_up_only_6_congressional_black_caucus_members_attend/

In an effort to court African-American support for his presidential campaign, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders held a meeting this week with members of the Congressional Black Caucus, but only 6 members showed up.

According to Politic365, “the meeting took place outside the Capitol Building so that the members could talk politics and election strategy in depth.” And according to the invitation, the meeting was meant to serve as “overview of CBC priorities and a conversation on pressing issues impacting the African American community.”

Sanders, whose campaign has been beleaguered by accusations of racial tone-deafness, did address “the systemic problems facing minority communities,” according to one senior aide to a CBC member....

Although Sanders has seen his poll numbers surge in the first two early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire, two states with a very small African-American electorate, he’s hardly gained traction in the third primary state, South Carolina. A new PPP poll found Clinton leading Sanders 66 to 12 percent in the state with 78 percent of African-American voters holding a positive view of the former secretary of state. 27 percent of African-American Democrats support Sanders in the Palmetto state.

One of the CBC members who attended was Sheila Jackson Lee who is a strong Clinton supporter. She had representatives at the event that I attended a week or so ago.

[djean111]

1. I do not believe any dems in Congress are going to risk angering the Clintons at this point in time.

Personally, I will just be ordering some more Bernie bumper-stickers.

[Gman]

5. It's absolutely not that they don't want to risk angering HRC

It's that the do not want to support Sanders. It's not like they want to support Sanders. It's that they want HRC to be the next president.

[yeoman6987]

10. Sorta telling that sanders worked with some of them 20 years

and on 6 show up. Something is going on that we are not aware of. Wouldn't at least his friends in the congressional black caucus show up for if nothin else support?

[arcane1]

32. "I expect that we’ll have many more productive meetings like this in the future" n/t

[BlueStateLib]

56. more like ~9

bernie sanders was elected to senate in 2006 and is half way trough 2nd six year term

[stevenleser]

66. No, Sanders had 16 years in the House before that. Nt

[m-lekktor]

38. Everybody knows that the Clintons keep a "grudge list".

And no ambitious DEM politician wants to be on it!

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/bill-and-hillary-clinton-whos-on-their-grudge-list-and-what-did-they-do-wrong-9068208.html

[Gman]

46. Put it this way

You never back a loser. Because when you lose you have to go back to and will need something from the winner. So it's politically stupid to not go with the consensus winner.

And those in higher office generally won't get involved in lower races because regardless of who wins, the higher office holder will make some group mad and they will also vote in his race.

[cascadiance]

76. Then why did many Hillary Clinton supporters back a loser in 2008?

No, the real reason that they aren't supporting them is that dark money is paying for people to endorse and support Clinton, and threatening to pay those to shut down those who support Bernie.

It's not really hard to see in the country of corruption that we live in now!

And polls show Bernie a lot closer now to Clinton in September of 2015 than Obama was to Clinton in September of 2007. Check them for yourself!



So, are you going to tell me that people should have stayed away from Obama then when he was losing worse than Bernie is now?

[LondonReign2]

94. Thank you! I've been trying to figure out how to overlap those two graphs for a while!

[Gman]

96. So what did Obama do to consolidate everyone?

Hint: he moved to include the Hillary supporters

[cascadiance]

100. I think you need to be more descriptive of what he actually did to "include Hillary supporters"...

That can mean a lot of things.

There were a lot of divisions then too. What did Obama change to get VOTERS's support who supported Clinton?

Now if it was her corporate contributor "supporters", then I'd agree with you. He campaigned on "Hope and Change" for the voters that they wanted then, and Hillary didn't campaign as heavily on that message then. But he obviously worked with those that supported Hillary financially who supported him financially as well to do well for those at Wall Street, etc. by not prosecuting them in subsequent years and staffing the cabinet and other administration positions with more corporate friendly entities too, which perhaps was "including Hillary supporters" in that capacity? Well, if that's the kind of "including Hillary supporters" you think that Bernie needs to do to win, then I don't think that will happen this time around, and I think many current Bernie supporters and other voters don't want that form of "inclusion" either. They want to move away from politicians owned by special interests. Arguably even Republicans are having those concerns when supporting Trump, who's the only candidate on the Republican side who's not taking outside money to fund his campaign and funding it himself.

[LondonReign2]

106. I don't think moving to the right of center is going to be in Bernie's playbook

[frylock]

109. There's only one proven loser in this race.

[azmom]

7. Yep. I'm not holding out for

Any establishment support.

[madokie]

23. ME too

[HerbChestnut]

2. You gotta start somewhere.

Considering Bernie's recognition with AA voters is sub 50%, it's almost like starting a new campaign.

[azmom]

3. Hillary is the establishment candidate.

The establishment will change when the people put the pressure on them to change not one second sooner.

[deutsey]

41. +1

[cyberswede]

4. 6 people isn't "nobody" - it's 13% of the CBC

And...

An aide for another CBC member told The Hill that despite their absence, “many CBC members appreciated this opportunity for Sanders to explain his vision for the country.”

“If he’s serious about his candidacy, I expect that we’ll have many more productive meetings like this in the future,” the aide said.

[Scootaloo]

8. And Rangell, Conyers, and Jackson Lee aren't small names

Most of the absences were due to scheduling conflicts, as well.

This is a good thing - a step on the path to great things

[stevil]

60. What are they waiting for?

Eh?

[Scootaloo]

61. Who's waiting?

[stevil]

68. I dunno,

"Most of the absences were due to scheduling conflicts, as well."



I guess we will see, I guess the revolution will have to wait a little longer.

[Scootaloo]

69. Congresspeople tend to be busy. Well. The Democratic ones, anyway.

[stevil]

71. True

I guess they are too busy to endorse Bernie. I love a good excuse.

[Scootaloo]

72. I didn't know we were talkign about endorsements now. When did the subject change?

[stevil]

73. You are right, I dug a little deeper and changed the subject

His support from the Black Caucus will improve when scheduling conflicts are resolved. That is all there is to it.

[Scootaloo]

74. You were digging alright n/t

[stevil]

75. I was digging your excuse

Schedule conflicts and all....

[demwing]

86. If you feed him, Scootaloo, he'll only get more hungry

don't feed the stevils...



Carry the flame, Feel the Bern

[Scootaloo]

91. Oh! Like Loge in the hall of Utgard-Loki. Gotcha

Pesky jotunn.

[demwing]

99. Yes! like wildfire itself!

well stated...

[demwing]

85. And if you support Hillary, a little longer still

...years longer...

[jfern]

63. Conyers and Rangell are both of the founding members still in Congress

So not exactly the most obscure members.

[Scootaloo]

64. That's what I'm saying

[NorthCarolina]

11. Well, you know to 'some' unless 100% of them show up that spells trouble.

Never mind that is is entirely possible that the caucus selected which representatives would attend, not feeling it necessary to have 100% attendance. Their assumption must be that CBC members are not capable, or don't have the propensity, to communicate amongst themselves apparently.

[Scootaloo]

70. And if 100% DID show up, they'd simply be dismissed osmehow

[beam me up scottie]

15. Thanks for posting the facts. The op left out this part too:

Perhaps as a sign of Sanders’ potential with African-American voters, the AP spoke with one Black Lives Matter activist in Charleston, But Muhiyidin d’Baha, who praised Sanders for “his evolution” in how he talks about economic and social inequities. Sanders was infamously interrupted by protestors affiliated with the movement twice this summer. d’Baha told the AP that although the group had no intentions to endorse a candidate, he believed that Sanders has an edge over Clinton.

“She is hopelessly compromised from years in this system,” d’Baha said, while Sanders talks openly of “a political revolution.”

[grasswire]

17. thanks for posting that

WOW

[beam me up scottie]

18. Ikr?

Some of her supporters like to think Hillary's got a lock on the minority vote but all Dem candidates have to earn it.

[appalachiablue]

25. Thanks for posting this important omission, musta been a fluke.

[beam me up scottie]

26. My pleasure!

[arcane1]

28. You mean the OP was deliberately misleading? Good Heavens!

[beam me up scottie]

29. Well it didn't fit the narrative.

They reported and left it up to us to decide.

Good thing we're smarter than the average bear/Fox News viewer!

[jeff47]

93. Another fact the OP didn't bother to include

Clinton isn't bothering to show up for her meeting with the CBC. She's sending staffers.

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/253448-hillary-staff-to-meet-with-black-caucus

[beam me up scottie]

104. Well isn't that special?

She cares enough to send the help to talk to the black people.

[Le Taz Hot]

6. The good news is that there will be more meetings

and maybe a few more will be brave enough to tell the Clintons that attending a meeting isn't showing support, it's attending a meeting.

[artislife]

9. We have work to do

And we are.

So now we work on why they weren't interested.

[imthevicar]

12. This is no lie!

Sanders is in a better position at this point in the election than Barack Obama was in 8 years ago. and the momentum shows NO signs of letting up. Sanders Will Be Potus!

[Gothmog]

14. That is false

At this time Obama had a ton of endorsements and was raising money like crazy.

[magical thyme]

22. Bernie is raising tons of money, and he's seeking the endorsements of the people

he represents.

[Gothmog]

34. Why don't you compare endorsements

Here is a listing of the endorsements for all of the Democratic candidates https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endorsements_for_the_Democratic_Party_presidential_primaries,_2016#Hillary_Clinton Sanders still does not have any endorsements from any of his fellow members of congress who know him best

[magical thyme]

36. because imo those endorsements don't matter. what matters is who *the people* endorse.

[cascadiance]

77. That's like saying you like Fox News as a news source because they get more advertiser money...

... than other more progressive sources of news. Does that make them better and a news source we should listen to?

[frylock]

112. Fox is the highest rated cable news agency..

that's how you know they're good!

[frylock]

111. Nothing more influential than being endorsed by a group with a 75% disapproval rating..

do you cast all your votes based upon congressional endorsements?

[hack89]

44. Go look at Obama ' s numbers in 2007

Bernie is not even close.

[hack89]

50. I was talking about money nt

[Ed Suspicious]

51. This isn't about money. The fact that hes kicking clintons ass on

the cheap in the 1&2 states shows that.

[hack89]

52. And the fact he is getting his ass kicked in the other 48

Will definitely show that ultimately it is about money.

[Ed Suspicious]

53. Clearly you just don't get it, but you will.

[hack89]

54. This is my tenth presidential election

Every election there is the great progressive hope that will make this election different from all others before. Except they never are different. BS has yet to demonstrate he is a transformational figure - if he was, he would have had some actual accomplishments by now. Because that is what transformational people do.

[Ed Suspicious]

57. So is it a lack of money or is he a bad candidate? I think he's the right candidate at the right

time. I doubt there is any chance I'll convince you otherwise. I think the American public will be more successful. Trends matter. His trend is a positive one.

[hack89]

59. He talks a great game

But has very little to show for so many years in office. Being president is not an intellectual exercise - it takes a skilled leader with the ability to engage in the dirty work of partisan politics. He has not shown any of that. There is absolutely nothing in his past that shows he is capable of leading this country.

[Scootaloo]

67. It'll be my fifth

And I think it's a little weird that while I understand that presidents are not, and never can be transformational, revolutionary figures, gentlemen such as yourself with longer experience in "the game" seem to still argue for or against as if they were. US politics is a low, plodding process towards progress, sometimes with backwards stumbles, often with long pauses.

Sanders is a step forward. We understand he's not a long jump. But compared to Clinton being either a pause, or a stumble (depending on how much "warm purple sauce" she wants us to swallow) we'll take that step forward.

If you think you can sneer at bernie supporters because our candidate isn't going to be radical, revolutonary change, then you suffer a severe lack of understanding bout what's going on, and all the elections in your past apparently aren't bringing you any enlightenment on the subject.

[hack89]

81. So Bernie 's talk of a revolution is just talk?

He is the one positioning himself as a transformational figure. Do you think he views himself as a small evolution ary step forward?

[cascadiance]

79. And you have to go back TWENTY elections to match the conditions of the middle class of today!

People in both parties want someone not bought by special interests and against the bipartisan corporatist crap that's being thrown at us like free trade crappy bills, etc.

That's why Trump is leading the Republicans, since he's not taking other people's corruption money (he has his own), and since he's also pushing back on things like the TPP and H-1B Visas too that were areas that got Ross Perot 20% of the vote when Clinton won with a PLURALITY back in 1992 when the corporatists in both parties pushed NAFTA then.

Bernie is what many people want now to reverse the corporate takeover, that they really won't get from any candidate, even Trump (since he's a part of that 1% even if he's not taking corruption money from it).

The times are different this election, and most Americans are just plain SICK of our government. The current record low favorability ratings of congress is a testament to that.

[hack89]

82. Times are different every election

Until reality sets in.

[cascadiance]

101. "Reality sets in" says nothing...

What are you meaning by that?

[hack89]

115. Bernie is not a transformational candidate

And this is not a transformational election.

[frylock]

113. And these are one of those times that are different..

significantly different than it was in '92, but I encourage Team Clinton to Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow.

[hack89]

114. Time will tell. nt

[cascadiance]

78. UMMMM Look at them for YOURSELF!!!!

Bernie has a lot smaller gap now according to these graphs in September of 2015 than Obama had in September of 2007...

[hack89]

80. I was talking about money

Sorry for the confusion

[demwing]

87. Funny. Bernie's talking about money as well...

but while he's talking about removing its corrupting influence, you're talking about how to get more of it, and more, and more...

[hack89]

88. "Bernie is raising tons of money"

that was the post I was responding to.

I agree with him about the influence of money on politics. But that is irrelevant right now - he will need a lot more money to be competitive.

[demwing]

89. How much? A billion? Is that REALLY what's required?

You may fight fire with fire, but you don't fight the corrupting influence of money in politics by having a race to see who can waste a billion $$$ first.

BTW, it looks like Bernie's getting maximum bang for minimum buck right now, so I'm not worried in the slightest. I'm guessing you aren't either, but since you can't defeat him on policy, attack him on process. I get it, good luck with that.

[hack89]

90. We are going to find out

because if Bernie does win, it will be on a shoe string budget.

I don't have to defeat him. All I plan to do is vote for whoever the Democratic nominee is in the general election. I am merely enjoying the spectacle that is American politics.

[imthevicar]

48. B.O. wasn't expected to have any effect, Most of his doners were Big Money.

His Poll Numbers were not as Impressive, HRC still lead in NH and Iowa, and He had still not secures the endorsement of Prof.Cornel West. That's what I call Being in a Better Position! Now Call Me a Liar!

[Gothmog]

13. Sheila Jackson Lee is supporting Hillary Clinton

I was at a bundler event a week or so ago where I met Amanda Renteria who is the COS staff for the Clinton campaign. Sheila's had two representatives at this event.

Sheila was a very strong supporter of Hillary Clinton back in 2008. I worked with the Obama team on the Texas two step caucuses and a number of African American votes in Harris County were upset that Sheila was supporting Hillary Clinton over Obama. In Texas, there are county conventions held for each state Senate District in Texas. In my county we hold three separate county conventions because my county is gerrymandered by the GOP. Sheila lives in SD 13 in Harris County which is a gerrymandered district where African American voters are crammed in by the Texas GOP and so this district was very strong for President Obama. Here is a you tube video of Sheila at that SD 13 county convention.

I doubt that Bernie made any headway with Sheila but I will ask her at the Johnson Jordan dinner at the end of the month

[questionseverything]

30. ask her about this too pls

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-watch/wp/2015/08/13/in-texas-police-stick-hand-up-womans-vagina-to-search-for-marijuana/

woman are getting raped by the cops on the side of the road???

this is what the war on drugs has come to

[Gothmog]

33. Tickets are not that expensive

You can come and ask your own questions. The lady who was mistreated badly by the police is suing and has a great case. http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/National_News_2/article_102565.shtml

Attorney Sam Cammack III vowed to “make them pay,” as he and Charnesia Corley detailed the inhumane treatment she said she suffered at the hands of one male and two female deputies on June 21.

“They completely stripped this 21-year-old lady naked and held her face down on the ground with her hands hog tied behind her really with handcuffs and had her feet up behind her ears, causing her a tremendous amount of pain. And they spread her legs open and stuffed their fingers inside of her and had her in that position for 11 minutes,” Atty. Cammack told The Final Call. He said his client intends to sue the Sheriff’s Department for $20-30 million.

As noted in your article, two other ladies are suing the Texas DPS.

[questionseverything]

39. harris county is a couple thousand miles from me

so no i can't come ask her myself

is sheila asking justice (the feds) to get involved in this, or maybe they already are involved.....i am asking you because you are there

this kind of thing would be disgusting if it happened to a prisoner but for it to happen to a free woman with no freaking probable cause is insane

this shows the real cost to the war on drugs

[Gothmog]

45. The Johnson Jordan dinner is in Austin

[NJCher]

16. Well, it's not like Bernie's twiddling his thumbs

See this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251588019
It's the Cornel West thread.



Cher

[jeff47]

19. And how many showed up for Clinton's meeting with the CBC?

Oh that's right, she didn't meet with them. She's sending staffers instead.

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/253448-hillary-staff-to-meet-with-black-caucus

[dorkzilla]

62. this needs to be a stand-alone thread...

They're saying only 6 people showed for Bernie, but Hillary sent staffers. At least HE showed up

[Doctor_J]

20. It's hard to believe that Clinton can go all the way with a campaign based entirely on race

Especially after her 2008 hail Mary appealing to white voters. If she and her supporters continue on this course, she'll need to make do without my vote.

[magical thyme]

21. they fail to mention that the majority of them had scheduling conflicts

and there will be more meetings scheduled.

There was only one mentioned who stated that she's already supporting Hillary so couldn't be bothered. And one who "forgot."

[frylock]

24. Tries to meet? If they met, which they did, then he suceeded in meeting with them..

better luck tomorrow.

[Gothmog]

31. The Sanders campaign has not provided evidence of viability

I keep asking how Sanders is viable in a general election campaign where the Kochs will be spending $887 million and the GOP candidate will be spending another billion dollars and the answers that I keep getting are not satisfactory. You are welcome to ignore political reality and the traditional concepts of politics and campaign but do not expect others to accept your claims without proof.

Sanders is not going to appeal to voters in key demographic blocks without some real evidence of viability. For example, African American voters are concerned about electability http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2015/09/bernie_sanders_presidential_campaign_what_would_it_take_for_the_vermont.html

. For as much as black Americans might like his policy positions—which fit their enthusiasm for a stronger safety net—they’re also strategic voters, not ideological stalwarts. Electability is key, and as a consequence, they tend to back the establishment choice: Al Gore over Bill Bradley; John Kerry over John Edwards. On occasion, blacks will back a factional candidate, like Jesse Jackson in 1984 and 1988. But Jackson had the reverse problem—he couldn’t win enough whites.

Again, Sanders would have a stronger campaign if someone could provide a good explanation as to viability

[arcane1]

35. Changing the subject by replying to your own OP

Classic

[Gothmog]

37. Sanders is doing very poorly with African American voters

That article explains one of the key reasons for this poor polling. You are free to ignore these facts

[arcane1]

40. "I expect that we’ll have many more productive meetings like this in the future" n/t

[Scootaloo]

65. You know, I got bored of playing whack-a-mole when I was six

I'm glad to see such a silly game still has its devotees, though.

[antigop]

58. add +1 to the "Bernie is unelectable" meme counter. nt

[Gothmog]

83. Sanders will not be able to broaden his base unless he can show viability

There are many people and demographics groups who will not support Sanders if they do not think that he is viable

[antigop]

84. add +1 to the "Bernie is unelectable" meme counter. nt

[ieoeja]

108. And I keep saying that is exactly why Hillary will lose the primary again.

Between her 2008 flame out and losing Iowa and New Hampshire in 2016, voters will stop thinking that she is viable, and turn to someone else.

In fact, it has already begun in response to the polling. I read my first "no longer thinks Hillary is a viable candidate" from a former Hillary supporter earlier today.

There are many people who will not support Hillary when they cease thinking that she is viable.

[uponit7771]

107. Sanders will "fight" them

[oasis]

43. Bernie's association with Cornell West may have been a factor.

[mythology]

49. That's unfortunate of them

Sanders is a sincere and legitimate candidate for the Democratic nomination. Even if they aren't planning on endorsing Sanders, they should meet with him. If Sanders does win the nomination, he's going to need minority voters to turn out for the general to replicate the electorate that Obama won with.

Plus it can't hurt to have either the presidential nominee or a sitting Senator to have opened a dialogue with the CBC for getting the interests of the CBC advanced.

[cantbeserious]

55. One Must Tread Lightly - Lest The DLC Third Way Juggernaut Take Notice And Spite Thee

eom

[SouthernProgressive]

92. He is pandering to LU students this morning.

Is it any surprise considering he is pandering to the enemy. Pandering to a group we all know have strong racist underpinnings. Pandering to a group with strong patriarchal and sexist underpinnings. Working side by side with West who has made some unbelievably ignorant comments about the President often touching on race. Sanders is really making some bad moves that will alienate people. He is banking on picking up enough isolationists and libertarians to make up for it. Sanders base is becoming frightening. I don't want the voices of the far right and isolationists in the Oval Office. Sanders is courting them. Not to change their minds, but to gain their support.

[LondonReign2]

95. What is he saying that is pandering? Or do think merely by showing up there he is pandering?

[Aerows]

98. It is so predictable.

If Hillary does it, it is smart campaigning and reaching out to potential voters.

If Bernie does it, it is pandering.

Meanwhile, 6 CBC members meet with Bernie Sanders and somehow that's a bad thing, while Hillary doesn't even bother going herself but hey, that's okay! Just another day of "IOKIYAHRC!"

[Armstead]

97. Let's all just out our fingers in our ears

We are still one nation. Unless Bernie goes there and announces that he has become a Born Again Christian, then I don't think there's a damn thing wrong with dialogue.

[David__77]

102. Do you oppose Democrats or progressives speaking at Liberty University?

I don't know what you mean by pandering (to give gratification to) in this context. What is it that he is gratifying? Is that racism, sexism, and patriarchy?

What was the means by which he gratified? Was that through presence alone, or with specific words said?

I don't have any opinion on speaking at Liberty University. I do understand that the institution itself is very conservative and that Democratic club was banned by authorities at one point (http://www.heathercaygle.com/2012/05/14/democrats-voting-young-at-conservative-liberty-university/).

[KeepItReal]

103. Students at Liberty University listening to a political speech are your "Enemy"?

They, too, are American citizens and voters who deserve to be addressed, enlightened, and maybe even convinced to support a Democratic candidate.

Sen. Sanders said straight up they won't agree with him on abortion and LGBTQ issues, but still consider the rest of his platform.

Sound like smart, inclusive politics to me. Not pandering.

[beam me up scottie]

105. Pandering? Like when Hillary told right wingers she supported a ban on late term abortions?

At least Bernie stood up for a woman's right to choose at LU, the same can't be said for Hillary.

Desperate and pathetic.

Get some new material.

[ieoeja]

110. Hillary on The 700 Club in 2008 asked about LGBT issues ... changes subject.

Obama on The 700 Club in 2008 asked about LGBT issues ... "you're just plain wrong."


Hillary on abortion: we should seek common ground with abortion opponents to make abortion rare.

Sanders today at LU on abortion: "we will agree to disagree."