Black Lawmakers and Their Staffers Split on Bernie Sanders plus an astonishing quote

[BernieforPres2016]

http://www.buzzfeed.com/darrensands/black-lawmakers-and-their-staffers-split-on-bernie-sanders#.nwN5629De

This is an article on the CBC endorsement of Hillary over Bernie a few weeks ago. I think the whole thing is interesting, but there was one quote near the end that I thought was truly astonishing and revealing:

<“Obviously Bernie is appealing” to voters, Rep. Elijah Cummings told BuzzFeed News. “To raise $6 million is nothing to sneeze at. And you’re talking about people with a little bit of money. So he is appealing to a group of people who Hillary needs to pay attention to. While the polls show that she’s got some of the black vote, those ‘$34’ people probably fit into the same economic situation as many African Americans — and you still don’t know how many of those are African American.”>

So if people have a little bit of money, Hillary needs to pay attention to them. As opposed to people who don't have a little bit of money and consequently can be ignored.

[thereismore]

1. I don't know exactly what "little bit of money" means. I think he may mean "not much money",

which would change the whole meaning.

[arcane1]

3. That's how I interpret it as well. n/t

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

2. I actually don't think his take on it and yours are quite the same.

He's pointing out that these are people who can afford to donate $34, not $2700. That the 'same economic situation as many African Americans' refers to the working poor, people who do need help (or 'attention'). Folks who can afford to donate $2700 are doing well enough already under the current setup that they probably don't need much 'attention'.

So I don't think Elijah Cummings is saying 'ignore poor people!' in that quote.

[BernieforPres2016]

4. Appreciate the comments

Maybe it's just me. I have thought Cummings was a pretty decent guy based on what I've seen of him in Congressional hearings from time to time, particularly around the financial crisis.

But I don't get the idea that there is a group of people that Hillary needs to pay attention to, as if there are others that she doesn't need to pay attention to.

[Bluenorthwest]

5. Cummings was a DOMA yes voter so I think poorly of him.

But I think he's trying to say people with less money are a valid constituency.

[HoosierRadical]

6. You are off base

what Rep Cummings is saying is, Bernie's donors are regular working people, who have little money, but with the little money they have, they are making the decision to donate to Bernie because they believe in his message, it would behoove HRC to pay real attention to them i.e. us, instead of just giving lip service. I don't think she will listen, she doesn't think there is anything wrong with the system.

[LiberalArkie]

7. Hillary can not truthfully pay any attention to the $34 people. It would invalidate her entire

message. The Clintons learned politics in Arkansas where you always had dirt on friends and enemies. And that is why every public figure never say anything bad.

[HoosierRadical]

8. I just read the article

It gives me hope that the staffers know that HRC is not good for the interests of AA and that their bosses, sold out the people. As the campaign leaves the south, I'm hoping enough of the AA electorate will support Bernie.