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| Why Sanders Isn’t Winning Over Black Voters | |
| (30 days later) | |
| The story about Bernie Sanders is that he can’t win black voters. That first emerged when he lost the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016 and was reinforced by Joe Biden’s decisive sweep of Southern primaries. | The story about Bernie Sanders is that he can’t win black voters. That first emerged when he lost the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016 and was reinforced by Joe Biden’s decisive sweep of Southern primaries. |
| This has led to reflexive assumptions about the political sympathies of African-Americans, assumptions that fail to consider the entire political context of the primaries. The massive turnout for Joe Biden by black voters certainly reflects his role as Barack Obama’s loyal vice president and the perception that, against Donald Trump, he is more “electable” than Mr. Sanders. | This has led to reflexive assumptions about the political sympathies of African-Americans, assumptions that fail to consider the entire political context of the primaries. The massive turnout for Joe Biden by black voters certainly reflects his role as Barack Obama’s loyal vice president and the perception that, against Donald Trump, he is more “electable” than Mr. Sanders. |
| But consider a reason Mr. Sanders has done poorly among black voters that few are talking about: People with the most to gain by the numerous programs proposed by Mr. Sanders have also been the most disappointed by politics. | But consider a reason Mr. Sanders has done poorly among black voters that few are talking about: People with the most to gain by the numerous programs proposed by Mr. Sanders have also been the most disappointed by politics. |
| For millions, even when government “works” it is not working for them. When so many people have expressed the desire for government to do more, whether in health care, housing or debt relief, the failure of elected officials to act on any of this undermines the idea that voting is an effective way to improve lives. | For millions, even when government “works” it is not working for them. When so many people have expressed the desire for government to do more, whether in health care, housing or debt relief, the failure of elected officials to act on any of this undermines the idea that voting is an effective way to improve lives. |
| Despite all the talk of the importance of voting, we continue to see lines of hundreds of people waiting for hours to cast a ballot. Millions of ordinary citizens must look at the enormous obstacles that are put in front of voters and the anemic efforts to fix them and conclude that a vote does not matter. | Despite all the talk of the importance of voting, we continue to see lines of hundreds of people waiting for hours to cast a ballot. Millions of ordinary citizens must look at the enormous obstacles that are put in front of voters and the anemic efforts to fix them and conclude that a vote does not matter. |
| Not only does the constrained access to voting convey this, but Michael Bloomberg’s unleashing hundreds of millions of dollars into the primaries to buy ads and endorsements was a gross distortion of democracy. It inevitably reinforced the perception that not all electoral participation is weighted evenly. For some, it was evidence that the process was “rigged.” This doesn’t inspire civic pride; it fuels a deep and abiding cynicism about the meaning of elections and our political system. | Not only does the constrained access to voting convey this, but Michael Bloomberg’s unleashing hundreds of millions of dollars into the primaries to buy ads and endorsements was a gross distortion of democracy. It inevitably reinforced the perception that not all electoral participation is weighted evenly. For some, it was evidence that the process was “rigged.” This doesn’t inspire civic pride; it fuels a deep and abiding cynicism about the meaning of elections and our political system. |
| This is a big part of Mr. Sanders’s problem. But the only way his candidacy was ever going to be viable was to draw those who are disaffected by politics into the system. This was at least part of what he means by his call for a “political revolution.” It has always been about activating new voters to cast ballots and to join the organizing efforts necessary to push an ever-reluctant Congress to act. | This is a big part of Mr. Sanders’s problem. But the only way his candidacy was ever going to be viable was to draw those who are disaffected by politics into the system. This was at least part of what he means by his call for a “political revolution.” It has always been about activating new voters to cast ballots and to join the organizing efforts necessary to push an ever-reluctant Congress to act. |
| But for many of those marginalized voters, the notion of the political revolution is an abstraction when they have yet to see any social movement win meaningful reforms. Struggles today remain defensive, poised to stave off further cuts and privatization but infrequently making demands that successfully stop the practices they are protesting. | But for many of those marginalized voters, the notion of the political revolution is an abstraction when they have yet to see any social movement win meaningful reforms. Struggles today remain defensive, poised to stave off further cuts and privatization but infrequently making demands that successfully stop the practices they are protesting. |
| Recall that when teachers across the nation went out on strikes, they were mostly to forestall further cuts, privatization and attacks on the living standards. Black Lives Matter arose in response to debilitating police abuse and violence, but was unable to end it. It doesn’t mean that those efforts were futile, but it demonstrates the scale of the challenges to changing, let alone transforming, the status quo. | Recall that when teachers across the nation went out on strikes, they were mostly to forestall further cuts, privatization and attacks on the living standards. Black Lives Matter arose in response to debilitating police abuse and violence, but was unable to end it. It doesn’t mean that those efforts were futile, but it demonstrates the scale of the challenges to changing, let alone transforming, the status quo. |
| Of course, Bernie Sanders shares the blame. | Of course, Bernie Sanders shares the blame. |
| He has missed some opportunities to explain to black voters what sets his agenda apart, which has only reinforced the perception that he doesn’t appeal to them. And he has yet to deliver a comprehensive speech to clarify his views on the relationship between race and class. Since 2016, much of the media and some of his Democratic opponents have claimed that Mr. Sanders largely attracts white male voters — “Bernie Bros” — while dismissing the actual multiracial character of his base. The conclusion is that black voters are interested in “race” while Mr. Sanders and his followers are only interested in “class.” | He has missed some opportunities to explain to black voters what sets his agenda apart, which has only reinforced the perception that he doesn’t appeal to them. And he has yet to deliver a comprehensive speech to clarify his views on the relationship between race and class. Since 2016, much of the media and some of his Democratic opponents have claimed that Mr. Sanders largely attracts white male voters — “Bernie Bros” — while dismissing the actual multiracial character of his base. The conclusion is that black voters are interested in “race” while Mr. Sanders and his followers are only interested in “class.” |
| Not only does this miss the ways that some African-Americans had gravitated toward Mr. Sanders, but it completely ignores his robust support among Latinos that have been at the heart of his primary victories out West. The basis of the multiracial support for Mr. Sanders is precisely because of the ways that race and class intersect in their lives, particularly African-Americans’. | Not only does this miss the ways that some African-Americans had gravitated toward Mr. Sanders, but it completely ignores his robust support among Latinos that have been at the heart of his primary victories out West. The basis of the multiracial support for Mr. Sanders is precisely because of the ways that race and class intersect in their lives, particularly African-Americans’. |
| Indeed, by the end of February, Mr. Sanders’s support among African-Americans had risen, a Reuters/Ipsos poll noted he had overtaken Joe Biden in support among African Americans. More-African Americans have supported his signature policy, Medicare for All, at 74 percent compared to 44 percent of white voters. | Indeed, by the end of February, Mr. Sanders’s support among African-Americans had risen, a Reuters/Ipsos poll noted he had overtaken Joe Biden in support among African Americans. More-African Americans have supported his signature policy, Medicare for All, at 74 percent compared to 44 percent of white voters. |
| These are just some of the reasons that, for months, a majority of black voters under 35 have favored Bernie Sanders to Joe Biden. The jockeying of the black political class to line up behind the former mayor of New York and billionaire, Michael Bloomberg, is also evidence of a more significant political divide within African-American communities. | These are just some of the reasons that, for months, a majority of black voters under 35 have favored Bernie Sanders to Joe Biden. The jockeying of the black political class to line up behind the former mayor of New York and billionaire, Michael Bloomberg, is also evidence of a more significant political divide within African-American communities. |
| The South Carolina primary was a turning point for Joe Biden, where the endorsement from Representative James Clyburn proved decisive for 79 percent of African-Americans who cast their vote for Biden. | The South Carolina primary was a turning point for Joe Biden, where the endorsement from Representative James Clyburn proved decisive for 79 percent of African-Americans who cast their vote for Biden. |
| The overwhelming victory for Mr. Biden almost instantly changed the media narrative from Mr. Sanders’ nomination to lose, to Mr. Biden’s nomination to seize. The centrists consolidated around Joe Biden, including Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar, who quickly exited the race. Mr. Biden also benefited from the sudden collapse of the Bloomberg campaign. | The overwhelming victory for Mr. Biden almost instantly changed the media narrative from Mr. Sanders’ nomination to lose, to Mr. Biden’s nomination to seize. The centrists consolidated around Joe Biden, including Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar, who quickly exited the race. Mr. Biden also benefited from the sudden collapse of the Bloomberg campaign. |
| These factors all set the stage for Bernie Sanders’s devastating setbacks on Super Tuesday and the primaries a week later. He did poorly among black voters, and the surge of new voters were white suburbanites for Biden, not the young and disaffected voters Mr. Sanders has always believed he could bring into the process. | These factors all set the stage for Bernie Sanders’s devastating setbacks on Super Tuesday and the primaries a week later. He did poorly among black voters, and the surge of new voters were white suburbanites for Biden, not the young and disaffected voters Mr. Sanders has always believed he could bring into the process. |
| Of course, it remains to be seen how Biden performs now that he has resumed his role as the front-runner. He has no discernible political message or program other than the presumption that he is “electable.” Yet the same issues that imperiled his campaign earlier this year, including his lack of clarity and doddering disposition in several public appearances, have not disappeared. | Of course, it remains to be seen how Biden performs now that he has resumed his role as the front-runner. He has no discernible political message or program other than the presumption that he is “electable.” Yet the same issues that imperiled his campaign earlier this year, including his lack of clarity and doddering disposition in several public appearances, have not disappeared. |
| Most of all, Joe Biden continues to exploit his relationship with Barack Obama, one of the most popular people in the world, to rewrite his history — opposing busing to achieve racial balance while supporting “welfare reform” and law and order policies that helped produce the era of mass incarceration. | Most of all, Joe Biden continues to exploit his relationship with Barack Obama, one of the most popular people in the world, to rewrite his history — opposing busing to achieve racial balance while supporting “welfare reform” and law and order policies that helped produce the era of mass incarceration. |
| Mr. Biden promises to take the country back to the civility and decorum of the Obama years. For millions of people, it is an aspiration that appears to be more manageable than overhauling the nation’s health care system, promising free college education or discharging the hundreds of billions of dollars of student loan debt. | Mr. Biden promises to take the country back to the civility and decorum of the Obama years. For millions of people, it is an aspiration that appears to be more manageable than overhauling the nation’s health care system, promising free college education or discharging the hundreds of billions of dollars of student loan debt. |
| It’s not that these issues are unpopular — particularly among younger African-American voters — but in the current moment they can seem hopeless. This sad reality has been used to paint Mr. Sanders as a utopian instead of indicting the partisan paralysis that maintains the political status quo. That is Mr. Sanders’s burden. | It’s not that these issues are unpopular — particularly among younger African-American voters — but in the current moment they can seem hopeless. This sad reality has been used to paint Mr. Sanders as a utopian instead of indicting the partisan paralysis that maintains the political status quo. That is Mr. Sanders’s burden. |
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