Not Feeling the Bern

The Bernie Bros don't get it. I heard some of them saying that somehow the Southern states don't count because they are 'red states.' 

But that's the nature of red states-they usually have a very white Republican party and black and Latino Democratic party. To suggest that black votes should be ignored is just another sign that the Bernie Maniacs don't get it. 

More proof of that.

https://twitter.com/mattjgny/status/704881350554230784

Bernie may have matched with MLK but it's interesting that the older black folks who actually remember segregation and MLK are almost unanimously in support of Hil. What does this tell you? It tells me for one thing, that they are very risk averse and Bernie is a huge risk. 

Micah Cohen and Farai Chiyadeh had an interesting exchange at FiveThirtyEight's liveblogging last night:

Micah Cohen:

Farai, so after tonight’s results, it’s probably safe to say black voters just aren’t buying what Sanders is selling. Why? Are there a lot of causes? One big one?"

http://fivethirtyeight.com/live-blog/super-tuesday-primaries-presidential-election-2016/

She responded:

"Micah, it’s true that Clinton overwhelmingly won the black vote in Super Tuesday states where she beat Sanders, including Georgia. Pragmatism about black political interests and how the game is played is likely the primary factor, since Sanders has also spoken to issues of core interest to black voters."

"But a candidate speaking to the issues that a demographic cares about isn’t enough, no matter your race, and particularly so for black voters. Many black voters could support Sanders’s positions, but if they don’t think he knows how to wrangle Congress, there’s a risk in voting for him. I can’t help but think of President Lyndon B. Johnson wrangling an ambivalent Congress to pass civil rights legislation. He was known for his ability to work inside the political system, which may be tactically more important for black voters than white voters."

"I’ve seen some self-described white Sanders voters express anger on social media, saying that black people are voting against their interests. But one of the roles the president plays is interacting with Congress and pushing (or aiming to block) the passage of legislation. And black and white voters have very different experiences with government when it comes to supporting legislation. This University of Chicago study shows how, all other factors aside, black support for legislation means it’s less likely to be passed.If white voters support a bill, it’s much more likely to be passed and adopted. But if black voters support legislation, it’s actually less likely to pass. That argues that black voters may have a tactical interest in an establishment candidate they think can work behind the scenes in their interest, and there’s a perception that Clinton may be better at insider politics. That also tracks with the broader support on the Democratic side for an experienced candidate, versus on the GOP side for an anti-establishment candidate."

http://fivethirtyeight.com/live-blog/super-tuesday-primaries-presidential-election-2016/

This is a point Charles Blow of the NY Times has made as well. Speaking for myself, this is my view as well. I trust HRC's pragmatism much more than Bernie's promise you everything strategy. 

It is not a rose garden. It requires fighting to win not just seeing victory flow down like manna from Heaven. 

Black voters as well as Latino voters seem to feel this way. As do for that matter, more moderate white voters. 

What we are seeing is that the Emoprogs that were calling for Obama to be primaried in 2012 have a base but it's still a minority in the Democratic party, Thank God. 

Dana Milbank also makes a good point. Dems aren't overall angry with their party. 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-democrats-didnt-feel-the-bern/2016/03/01/f95c25f0-dff4-11e5-9c36-e1902f6b6571_story.html

I see why the GOP base hates their Establishment but ours is pretty cool in my view and many Dem voters I speak with feel the same.