Bernie Sanders’ Problems With Black Voters Go Much Deeper Than Him Just Blaming The Media (WaPo)

[Gothmog]

112. I am the OP of one of the threads you listed and it is not racist to report the facts

Sanders is not appealing to a couple of the key demographic groups in the Democratic coalition. The polling shows this and the fact that only six members of the CBC showed up at a Sanders meeting is further evidence of the fact that Sanders' appeal is not working outside a very narrow group of supporters.

I like Sanders and he is closer to my positions according to that online quiz than Hillary Clinton's position but I am supporting Hillary Clinton because I am not convinced that Sanders is viable in the general election. If you want to expand Sanders' appeal to other groups, Sanders needs to demonstrate viability.

Viability is very important to African American voters. Sanders is not going to appeal to voters in key demographic blocks without some real evidence of viability. 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 and I doubt that Sanders will make significan inroads with the African American community without this proof. I was a bundlers event last week held by some African American professionals and right now in Texas there is strong support for Hillary Clinton in the African American community.

It is not racist to point out facts and the polling numbers are facts. Prove to me and others that Sanders will not get blown out in a general election contest where the Kochs will be spending $887 million and the RNC candidate may spend another billion dollars. Without that proof, you can not blame voters in a primary situation for not wanting to support your candidate.