Sen. Bernie Sanders seemed to be having a hard time convincing an audience of his commitment to minority and underprivileged communities.
The millionaire 2020 presidential contender struggled with a contentious audience at the She The People Forum on Wednesday, dealing with hecklers as he attempted to reach voters who once turned out for former President Barack Obama.
After getting called out for dodging specific questions about minorities, Bernie reminds the audience he “marched with MLK”.
Audible groans/boos.
He wags his finger at them.
This is embarrassing.#SheThePeople2020 pic.twitter.com/iOG1FthwLI
— chris evans (@notcapnamerica) April 24, 2019
The Vermont senator faced jeers, boos and more than a little hostility as he spoke at the Houston event devoted to women of color, even nearly wagging a finger at critics who shouted out when he launched into a familiar anecdote.
Sanders’ response to a question from host Aimee Allison about what he would do to fight white-supremacist violence made for an awkward and tense moment at the Texas Southern University event which described itself as “the first-ever presidential candidate forum focused on women of color.”
“I know I date myself a little bit here, but I actually was at the March on Washington with Dr. [Martin Luther] King back in 1963,” the 77-year-old candidate began.
But he was met with audible groaning from the audience with one person apparently shouting, “We know!” Sanders held up his hand to quiet the crowd which seemed tired of hearing his predictable responses.
Wow. Bernie just said at #SheThePeople2020 to audience of women of color that he was “at the March on Washington with Dr. King” and the audience audibly groaned. i think someone said “we know.”
— marisa kabas (@MarisaKabas) April 24, 2019
“And, as somebody who actively supported Jesse Jackson’s campaign, as one of the few white elected officials to do so in ’88, I have dedicated my life to the fight against racism, and sexism, and discrimination of all forms,” he added.
Joy Reid to Bernie: Why should women of color choose you?
Audience member: You don’t know.#SheThePeople2020— marisa kabas (@MarisaKabas) April 24, 2019
Another audience question about white supremacy was met with the senator’s explanation of immigration and the federal minimum wage. He went on to discuss his “Medicare for All” proposal but was reminded by Allison about the “core of the question,” prompting applause from the audience.
Bernie Sanders was asked by a woman of color in the audience what he would do about the rise of white supremacist violence as President.
Instead he started talking about minimum wage and Medicare For All.
The audience claps when the moderator clocks him.
Yikes. pic.twitter.com/alhnwyfoPP
— chris evans (@notcapnamerica) April 24, 2019
Sanders slammed President Donald Trump as “the most dangerous president” in modern history, and went on to rally Democrats to be united as he touted “social justice, racial justice, and environmental justice.” But rather than get the approval he was after, he was criticized again for deflecting on the original question from co-host Joy Reid about how he would win over Hillary Clinton voters, particularly black women.
“Yeah, and for black women specifically?” Reid pressed after his rant.
“I’m sorry?” Sanders replied as the audience expressed their disapproval.
Dead
Joy: Yeah, And for black women specifically?
Bernie: I’m sorry?
Joy: For black women specifically.
Bernie: Black women will be an integral part of what our campaign, and what are administration is about. Okay? And that means…
Amy Allison: Were you finished with your..? pic.twitter.com/UUSS5udfYr
— Tormund XtopHodor, First of His Name (@tommyxtopher) April 24, 2019
“For black women specifically,” Reid repeated.
“Black women will be an integral part of what our campaign, and what our administration is about. Okay? And that means –” Sanders responded but eventually threw up his arms with an “okay” after the crowd heckled him again.
“Were you finished with your –,” Allison interjected after the noise died down.
“Yeah,” Sanders answered.
The former 2016 presidential candidate wasn’t the only one to face some heat during the event which featured other 2020 Democratic contenders, including Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Beto O’Rourke, Julian Castro, Tulsi Gabbard and Amy Klobuchar.
Tulsi Gabbard: “there are a lot of bad people in the world…” audience member: “You’re one of them!” #ShethePeople2020
— Keir Murray (@houtopia) April 24, 2019
But the standard answers from Sanders, as well as his avoidance of answers, was called out on social media as well.
I wish that he would stop name dropping MLK and The Civil Rights Movement. As a black woman, that is not going to win us over. It’s getting old and tired.
— Kellz (@Kelli_Shaquan84) April 24, 2019
it’s super revealing that he feels the need to constantly plug that in lieu of giving a substantive response.
— marisa kabas (@MarisaKabas) April 24, 2019
Oh yeah. It does.
His entire appearance was painful.
I don’t like him and it was still painful for me to watch.
— Leah McElrath (@leahmcelrath) April 24, 2019
I really can’t understand why he isn’t doing a much better job at connecting with women of color. He is not a stupid man.
— Kimberly Shiff (@KShiffPR) April 24, 2019
He’s been in office for 30 YEARS. When asked about race he goes back to showing up at a March with hundreds of thousands of other people in the 60s.
IT’S NOT AN ACCOMPLISHMENT AND IT WAS A LIFETIME AGO. They want to know “what have you done for me lately?” And THIS is his anwer.
— (((David Avallone))) (@DAvallone) April 24, 2019
Showing up at #SheThePeople2020 without any intention of addressing any of the #SheThePeople2020 core issues is very Bernie. Got his 2 or 3 canned lines and that’s it.
— Hiver (@HiverAmbroise) April 24, 2019
The inability for Bernie Sanders to coherently answer completely-predictable questions is remarkable. It happens all the time; he can’t even hide that he has no idea how to answer the question.
Who’s prepping this guy?
— Pé Resists (@4everNeverTrump) April 25, 2019
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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