There is a lot of temperature taking around these parts right about now. So I thought I would get this over with and write this blog because I see where this train is heading. I wrote another blog a few days ago to state that I know who I will vote for in the March Illinois primary for Democrat and no, I’m still not telling. It’s not important, although some Kossers are hanging on every move that any high profile African American is making ahead of the South Carolina primary.
Some questions are now being asked as to why does it seem that African Americans are supporting Hillary Clinton. Whatever the reasons are, I think that Kossers should be mindful of a few things going into SC.
I understand that there is a lot of passion for Sanders and Clinton to the point where that support as I see it can be blinding. It doesn’t matter how good and logical your argument is.
At the end of the day, people are going to vote their preferences. No matter what.
I could choose to call Trump supporters every name but the child of God. But it won’t make a difference — they will hold steadfast to their preference.
However, I will throw out my 2 cents on what the temperature is:
- I don’t think that a good number of Black folk are ‘feeling the Bern’ or ‘have the heat for Hillary’. This Presidential election cycle will be very hard pressed to come close to matching the excitement and energy that Blacks displayed in 2008 and 2012;
- For some, it will come down to electability. In 2008, many Black folk didn’t think that Obama had a chance because many didn’t think that white people would vote for an African American in the margins needed to win the electoral college (including me). Iowa changed that. For me, I held out for Edwards a little longer. My late father still voted for Hillary and to that end;
- It’s probably the older blacks — you know the ones who are most likely to actually vote — who are pretty set in their ways;
- It has to be said. The Clintons are pretty politically campaign savvy when it comes to courting votes in the Black church. I’mma just sayin’…
- While Black millennials are angry (and rightfully so) about a good number of things — transferring that anger into voting? Welp….
- Oh. And this needs to be said too. Black folk don’t like being talked down to or bullied for support. Ask Cornel West and Tavis Smiley how that ‘What Obama Hasn’t Done for Black Folk Lately’ worked out for them.
Whatever the reasons may be, I hope that people on Daily Kos respect the decisions that African Americans make in terms of who they choose to vote for — be it for Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton. From my point of view, arguments pro and con for both are pretty good.
But as I stated in my other diary, the real choice for me is in November.
The very stability of the United States government wholly rest with the Democratic Party this year; the Republican Party is run by ideological nutcases and I’m just not ready for WWIII, Armageddon, and The Rapture/End of the World As We Know It just yet.
P.S. — One more thing. Lose me with trying to use the comment field to stan for Candidate A or B. That’s not the point of this diary.