Why Black Voters Are Gravitating to Biden

[left-of-center2012]

On Jan. 12, 2017, a very moving and apparently unexpected tribute from President Barack Obama for Vice President Joe Biden played out live before television cameras, when he awarded his former rival-turned running mate-turned trusted adviser and friend the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom.

In his remarks, Obama laid out many of the attributes and accomplishments that have long endeared the vice president to voters (he enjoyed a 61 percent approval rating at the time) but also may have resonated with African-American voters in particular. “My family is so proud to call ourselves honorary Bidens,” Obama said. Biden, and perhaps some viewers at home, were moved to tears. After all, this was quite an arc for someone who had once dismissed the first black president as “clean and articulate.” He was now “Uncle Joe”—beloved star of memes but also, a white man from an earlier generation who nevertheless always had Obama’s back.

It helped that Biden never undermined Obama. He cheered him on (“big fucking deal”) or nudged him in the right direction (it took his same sex marriage gaffe to push the president to get on the right side of history faster than he was planning to) but he was deferential in all the right ways to the first black president. It is sometimes overlooked that Biden was chosen as Obama’s VP to provide the young senator with an imprimatur of seasoned foreign policy gravitas (a.k.a. white maleness), but few pundits anticipated how beneficial that relationship would ultimately be for Biden.

Now, with Obama’s blessing if not his formal endorsement, Biden has sought the presidency himself for the third time in 30 years, and this time, he’s enjoying a solid and in some cases growing lead over a historically huge field of Democratic contenders. The backbone of his support comes from the most reliable and one of the most coveted Democratic primary voting blocs: African-Americans.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/why-black-voters-are-gravitating-to-biden

[calimary]

1. K&R.

Perhaps they noticed how the onetime opponent stood up and partnered with the first president who actually looked like them, and not only willingly but eagerly embraced the role of Tonto to President Obama’s Lone Ranger.

Joe became a ready and honestly enthusiastic supporter and friend who won Obama’s trust. It shouldn’t be surprising that African Americans might have picked up on that. He’s likely earned THEIR trust as a result.

[ancianita]

2. Recent party numbers...

[PatSeg]

6. I'm surprised Cory Booker's numbers

are so low.

[ancianita]

7. The numbers could have something to do with Booker's support for and by Big Pharma.

Two days after his winning a senate seat, Booker and 12 other Senate Democrats had joined the bulk of the Republican caucus to kill a proposal aimed at lowering prescription drug prices. What made Booker’s vote all the more anguishing for the left is that the proposal won the backing of 13 Republican senators, and had a real chance of passing.

The recriminations came quickly. “This is classic Booker — stand out front on feel-good social issues, regardless of his past positions, and align with big money everywhere else,” wrote Walter Bragman at Paste Magazine.

Booker has long faced criticism on the left for cultivating the elite financial ties that much of the Bernie Sanders wing despises.

And while it’s true that his vote may have had more to do with the concentration of the pharmaceutical industry in his home state, it’s also only served to confirm some progressives’ suspicions that he’s too closely allied with corporate interests in the Democratic Party.

It didn’t help Booker that the amendment he voted against was co-sponsored by Bernie Sanders, the best-known progressive in the Democratic Senate caucus.

[PatSeg]

10. That would be the primary reason

that I do not support Booker. I'm just surprised that young black voters feel the same way, as I tend to underestimate young voters' awareness of some of the issues. I am pleasantly surprised.

[JustAnotherGen]

22. I'm still voting for

Him in his next Senate run. The young people (20 Something's) in my family will vote for him too.

He's Jersey Strong, reflects our interests - but we understand that poorer, less educated Americans in square states won't understand the Innovation mindset.

They have been conditioned not to.

I still gave money to his campaign - and he remains in my top five. I don't believe any of them will be the nominee.

[Baclava]

4. OMG!!! Oh Bernie....lol n/t

[Metalmom]

11. That is a disgustingly racist post

you need to self delete. seriously.

[demmiblue]

12. I can't believe that was posted here.

Wait, yes I can.

Hopefully it was a low post count troll.

[PatrickforO]

5. I think all the candidates will have to work harder for the black vote

this time around. This group has, for far too long, been told 'X' by political candidates, only to keep experiencing 'Y' once people get elected. In fact, most voters can say this, except the big donors - they tend to get their pet issues addressed.

But expectations for positive action are going to be really high this time around - from everyone.

[Indykatie]

8. This Black Woman and Others in My Family

think Biden has earned our trust and respect. Much of that belief comes from his loyal support for Obama and the genuine friendship that grew between the two men. It doesn't surprise me that Biden is doing so well with Black voters. We also think Biden is most electable and is the one candidate who can win enough delegates so we avoid a brokered convention. It may not be fair but most of my family don't think any of the women running can win in 2020.

[Laelth]

17. Yep. Biden cried during this ceremony. So did I.

-Laelth

[JustAnotherGen]

23. This right here

+1

I know my nephews (mid 20's) believe it - but they told me at my husband's birthday party two Saturdays ago - I'm proud of MY Senator for running but Joe can tamp down the Supremacists.

My sister is all up in Warren's grill.

It creates yet another argument in my family about who is more liberal than the other. I finally understand how people feel about Thanksgiving with their GOP family members.

[crazytown]

9. O B A M A S V P

any questions ?

[Laelth]

15. +1 No questions. n/t

-Laelth

[wellst0nev0ter]

13. Hope this proves that blacks don't vote according to race

Nah, repukes will still say blacks are on the Democratic "plantation" or some other stupid crap.

In any case, I fear a repeat of 2016. Hillary Clinton was able to attract support from active black voters, but was unable to maintain Obama's thresholds among black voters in key battleground states like Wisconsin.

If Biden becomes the nominee, he cannot afford to be comfortable.

[JI7]

21. that's already been proven all those other times when Obama didn't run

the problem was more things like the end of voting rights and republican voter supression tactics.

it happened just last year with Stacey Abrams out in the open.

[Laelth]

14. Hear! Hear!

This is why Joe is most likely to be our nominee and the most likely of our numerous, brilliant candidates to beat Donald Trump. Barack Obama's backing gives Joe a leg up with the Democratic Party's most loyal voting block--the African-American community.

-Laelth

[Cha]

16. Beautiful aritcle.. Thank You, left-of-center!

POC are our most loyal base, and personally I think they are the smartest voting bloc!

Why Black Voters Are Gravitating to Biden

https://www.thedailybeast.com/why-black-voters-are-gravitating-to-biden

[Scurrilous]

18. K&R

[Gothmog]

19. African American voters want to win and defeat trump

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[Cha]

20. How about Woke and

Winning! We can have both.. We'll be Woke if we get the fucking monster out of the WH.. and Team Biden can go about getting the country and the Planet out of the abyss.

This would be Biden's second time doing it after helping President Obama correct the bush-cheney fubar.