The original writer of 'Not good enough, Bernie' that was made into an OP & posted two

[appalachiablue]

Last edited Fri May 29, 2015, 10:40 AM - Edit history (2)

days ago is blogger, Nancy Letourneau of Horizons in case any of you didn't know. Someone on the DU OP of the same name from two days ago posted this information.

The critical OP piece suggesting Bernie isn't race conscious or is racist on May 28 has generated much discussion in defense of his impeccable, long history of Civil Rights work and involvement with issues of benefit to PoC.

Regardless, there are now posters on several OPs saying Bernie failed PoC in his announcement speech, esp. compared to Hillary's, and that people are taking criticism of him too seriously. OR, they're claiming that racism was never implied, which is Gaslighting.

The word 'optics', as in Bernie's Burlington crowd being not diverse and too white, and other terms like 'St. Bernard', 'political Neophyte' and the old 'idealist' vs. 'realist' are being used heavily, suggesting a good bit of coordination by the participants. Welcome to the Road to Primaries!

*NL now has a new blogpost in defense of Too Big To Fail Banks & how they shouldn't be broken up. Things make a lot more sense in light of this information.

*NANCY LETOURNEAU Photo, and Website for immasmartypants; see 'About Me' and Blogposts.
http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/p/about.html

[merrily]

1. Besides bloviating on the internet, I wonder what the fuck Ms. Letourneau has done IRL to further

any worthwhile cause?

[JEB]

2. K&R for exposure.

[Doctor_J]

3. return of the PUMAS

I'd forgotten how destructive and noxious they are. I have suspicions as to whether they're actually dems

[arcane1]

10. Remember FUD?

That's exactly what that blog was intending.

[Autumn]

4. That's interesting.

Thanks for posting this.

[appalachiablue]

11. Definitely, it's important but this one is far less professional than I would have expected.

Nevertheless we must quickly counter the insinuations and manoeuvers to malign, with truth to try to prevent any damage which can spread. Bernie's record and integrity are impeccable but detractors will still toil to demean for obvious reasons.

[catnhatnh]

5. The thing you have to get...

...is just how hard it is to attack Sander legitimately. Lacking a clear avenue of attack you have to be ready to swing either way at every opportunity. Bernie was kicking off in Burlington and with a black population of 1.2 percent you would expect to find about 60 blacks in a crowd of 5000.

What's the actual count?? I have no idea, but if the writer can get you counting she has already won. Conversely if a sizable black presence was found she could accuse him of filling the crowd with non-local blacks for political gain. If I were writing the headline would then read "Is Bernie Guilty of Black-Stacking?" See-I got "Bernie" and "Guilty" right there side by side and never even actually accused him of one damn thing. Heads I win, Tails he loses...

Now some here have accused the supporters of another candidate of smearing Bernie. I don't buy it. A single blogger laid in ambush and she was gonna hit Bernie with SOMETHING. And in our world every hit, fair or foul will be posted here. If there was any failure it was in vetting the source.

We just need to post the truth and move on.

[appalachiablue]

7. Good explanation and examples of sly manoeuvers to assault and demean. I'm getting it,

and how untrue, low and absurd much of it is. Also the motivation. And ambush is the word! *Q. what do you mean about '..any failure it was in vetting the source' ? Meaning the OP including the NL link? or smthg. else- Agree that we need to counter the lies with facts and move on, so as to Not increase attention, the desired intent.

[Triana]

6. KICK....

....because we MUST be aware of the propagandists among us.

[appalachiablue]

8. Absolutely, even among our ranks perhaps, sorry to say. Yet I hope not. Thanks for the kick.

[Buzz Clik]

21. Will you be as diligent in exposing those spreading lies about the other Dem candidates?

I certainly hope so!

[Autumn]

30. You are in a safe haven group for supporters of Bernie Sanders.

You may do whatever you wish with other candidates. This is the only warning you will recieve

[smokey nj]

32. You read my mind!

[Autumn]

33. Another post, block them.

Time for zero tolerance.

[smokey nj]

36. Will do!

[marym625]

31. What Autumn said. Also

Last edited Fri May 29, 2015, 09:29 PM - Edit history (1)

If this kind of outrageous, disingenuous, dishonest crap is spread about anyone and I can prove that it is bullshit, damn straight I will

Will you debunked this stuff about Sanders when you see it?

[BrotherIvan]

43. Yes

[arcane1]

9. It was written by a white person?

The same kind of person people are tired of hearing from when they tell black people how they should feel about race, was telling black people how to feel about race?

[appalachiablue]

13. Twisted isn't it? Co-opting black people's experiences and grievances all for political gain.

[carolinayellowdog]

15. The whole "social vs. economic justice" argument is twisted in precisely the same way

I'm appreciative of the fact that being a black 1%er is no protection against being murdered by a white policeman, or subjected to the multitude of indignities faced by POC on a daily basis in this country. But to use that awful fact as distraction from the equally awful fact that a helluva lot more than 99% of black Americans are in the 99% in terms of wealth-- makes me wonder about people's loyalties.

Here is an article worth looking at. Critical comment worth quoting here:

It compares the 2009 median household wealth of a non-white family today, and places net worth at just $18,100. That is not the African Median household net worth, which is only about $5,700. When the numbers stated that the white households are 7 times richer than their black counterparts, that is incorrect. They are actually about 20 times richer when we look at $142,000 to about $5,700.

[appalachiablue]

22. The lack money in black households & inequality between median income blacks & whites is

staggering and appalling. I've followed this for a good while, it's frightening and destabilizing for black people and the US overall to put it mildly. It's like how the employment nos. don't figure in people who have left, given up looking for jobs, or those scraping by on temp and part time jobs, sometimes 2 or 3 with long hours and no benefits, and of course the large no. of people in prison who are officially out of the workforce.

Our economic security, meaning those not in the 1-5% at the top, is the lowest it's ever been in modern times, despite a media spun 'recovery' that's benefited primarily the wealthiest through the rising stock market. It's a dangerous environment for people- especially blacks, PoC, minorities-the most vulnerable and also the position of the US geopolitically.

Last night on Thom Hartmann's program, "The Big Picture" he did an hour-long special on the state of the US economy with distinguished economists. Was it an eye opener. I'll try to remember to post it when it comes on YouTube.

[SoapBox]

12. With creeps like this...

You will be damned if you do and damned if you don't...period.

They will just continue to TYPE up their spew, for their own twisted purposes.

[appalachiablue]

14. Yep, typing and blogging away in hopes something will spread and damage which has been

mildly successful, so far in just 2 days since kickoff. Ever more reason why these posts must be watched for, countered quickly with truth to extinguish and move on. Not belabor them which just adds exposure- the obvious, desired effect.

[ms liberty]

16. the member who posted her blog on this, regularly posts...

Her blog posts, and appears to be a big fan of hers...

[appalachiablue]

45. Some of the blog material like keeping the TBTF banks together and favoring the TPP

indicates a hard neoliberal economic disposition.

[Buzz Clik]

17. Although this was first revealed two days ago...

... it never hurts to point it out again.

However, for you to claim that she suggested that Sanders is a racist needs verification. This is the entirety of her piece about Sanders's announcement:

It is due to all of the above that I have to say that when Sen. Bernie Sanders kicks off his presidential campaign with a suggestion that he is launching a "political revolution to transform our country," and yet makes zero mention of any of the issues that burden people of color in this country, my response is simply..."Not good enough, Bernie."

I have no doubt that DUers dialed it up a notch, but unless you provide solid documentation, to blame all that on Letourneau is irresponsible.

[appalachiablue]

18. I never blamed anything all on NL but accurately and appropriately posted that her blog

was the basis for and included in the recent writer's OP. The blog and OP are the reason why dozens of people have responded in defense of Bernie's stellar long history of Civil Rights efforts and his recognition and work for PoC and all backgrounds. They're not doing this without cause and just to fill their days like some people. There's your 'verification'.

[Buzz Clik]

20. Your explanation clarifies this comment:

The critical OP piece suggesting Bernie isn't race conscious or is racist on May 28

Until you explained, it seemed that you were attributing calls of racism or lack of race consciousness to NL.

Bummer that, in one of your editing cycles, you deleted the shoutout to my sig line.

[appalachiablue]

23. I'm flattered that you follow me. I actually like icons of saints, and St. Bernards a lot.

[marym625]

34. The OP in question was also very visual

The horrors of the Chicago police picture . certainly tried to lead one in a horrible direction.

The added comments and pictures, combined with the title, were absolutely meant to infuriate the reader and link a picture of Chicago cops doing such degrading things to a black man, to Senator Sanders

To defend that is dishonest, or worse

[madfloridian]

26. That paragraph was designed to connect Bernie to racism. Of course it was suggested.

It is due to all of the above that I have to say that when Sen. Bernie Sanders kicks off his presidential campaign with a suggestion that he is launching a "political revolution to transform our country," and yet makes zero mention of any of the issues that burden people of color in this country, my response is simply..."Not good enough, Bernie."

What the hell else do you think was meant?

[Buzz Clik]

27. It sure as hell doesn't even vaguely imply "Bernie is a racist"

It might hint at him being insensitive to the issue, but only if you're inclined to think that in the first place.

To me, that paragraph simply says that Sanders has got to cast a wider net when it comes to issues. And, I fully agree.

[madfloridian]

28. It ties him to racist stuff by mentioning him with no other context.

But since this is in the Bernie group, I won't argue anymore. We try to keep it pleasant here and emphasize the truth.

[marym625]

37. You were warned

And now you are blocked from the Sanders group

I know that the defenders of that horrible piece of smut want to claim we can't read. However, the intent was more than clear. It was meant to inflame and denigrate Bernie Sanders.

Defend that garbage elsewhere

[Puglover]

42. OUTSTANDING BLOCK!

[libdem4life]

46. I'm not even part of the group, and I'm relieved.

[BrotherIvan]

44. You forgot what was the "above"

That is the really nasty part. And your selective editing is noted.

[Cheese Sandwich]

19. Oh lovely. And here she is defending TPP and Fast Track....

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2015_04/fast_track_isnt_so_fast055257.php

[appalachiablue]

24. It's sad how neoliberals are terrified of silly notions that all their wealth will be taken-

my goodness. The Washington Monthly, look at the associations, interesting.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Monthly

[DeadLetterOffice]

25. Jury results on this OP

On Fri May 29, 2015, 12:17 PM an alert was sent on the following post:

The original writer of 'Not good enough, Bernie' that was made into an OP & posted two
http://www.democraticunderground.com/12809630

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

excuse me, when did we start trying to out identities in DU? Do you really want to open a door where photos and names are put out here so that people can extend internet hate to rl? Remember, when they put dr tiller's name on a website, they said that was free speech until someone blew his brains out.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Fri May 29, 2015, 12:30 PM, and the Jury voted 1-6 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No one got "outed" in this post, it's public information about the blogger who wrote the piece that started this whole Bernie and racism shitstorm. Breathe.
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Bernie is a real person, too. To seek to connect him with those pictures is deliberately nasty bullying. She is real. Bernie is real. Actions have consequences.
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #7 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: That does seem over the top

[appalachiablue]

29. Thanks. As stated in my OP, info. about the blog & writer was posted in the DU OP of interest.

Last edited Fri May 29, 2015, 08:08 PM - Edit history (1)

It's where I first saw it- the blogsite, photo and 'about me' bio info. from the blog- noted in several posts to the OP. The posted material can be viewed if you care to scroll down the thread.

Also, the *blogsite link is included at the very *Top in the OP Main Body, below the 2 illustrations.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026737025

[marym625]

35. May I suggest

That you only have the one link to the blog. We don't want her getting clicks

[appalachiablue]

38. OK-

[marym625]

39. Just a thought

I don't mean that you SHOULD just don't like her getting more money for her "work"

[appalachiablue]

40. Sure thing. Bernie had a great turnout last night I think, had to open up another room-

[marym625]

41. FABULOUS!

I wish I had a car so I could go this weekend