Former Vice President Joe Biden has struggled to attract Sen. Bernie Sanders' supporters. After all, Sanders supporters want someone who is progressive, who will fundamentally change what America looks like. The truth is Joe Biden is an establishment Democrat who has been in politics for decades. He's not going to drastically change our political structure. Even though Sanders endorsed the veep, Biden dug himself deeper into a hole on Friday when he said African Americans that vote for President Donald Trump "ain't black."
Nina Tina, the Sanders campaign's National Co-Chair, told the progressive outlet Status Coup that Biden's comments reaffirm that Democrats must earn the black vote.
NEWS: In response to @JoeBiden's #YouAintBlack if you don't vote for him over Trump, @ninaturner tells us:
— Status Coup (@StatusCoup) May 22, 2020
"Pure unadulterated hubris, the taking for granted of the black vote, the insult to us as he tried to quote on quote answer that question in a black vernacular..." 1/1
"What other racial or ethnic group in this country has to deal with that kind of foolishness? Not one...where all of a sudden you change your speech pattern to answer the question too? Too many white politicians have a habit of thinking if they change their speech pattern..." 2/2
— Status Coup (@StatusCoup) May 22, 2020
"they're really relating to the black community. So as I said all along, the black vote must be earned; it is not owned, it is earned. For any white person to think that they are the authority on what is and what is not black is the highest insult."
— Status Coup (@StatusCoup) May 22, 2020
The Sanders campaign's National Press Secretary, Briahna Joy Grace, wasn't shocked by the former veep's comments.
I see Biden has picked up on establishment media talking points.
— Briahna Joy Gray (@briebriejoy) May 22, 2020
This is the natural consequence of the reductive view of race & politics being pushed by the “identity is destiny” crowd.
Charming. https://t.co/hZw0tUkoly
It seems as though Biden just pushed Sanders supporters even further left. Now the question is this: will Sanders supporters still throw their support behind Biden or abstain from voting? We know they continually run with Orange Man Bad talking points, but will they be able to hold their nose and vote for the former vice president, not because they support Biden's policies but because they want Trump out of office?