by Dr. Marsha Coleman-Adebayo, BAR editor and columnist
Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are expressing deep love for Black folks, who will dominate the South Carolina primary. Clinton hopes Black voters have “short or non-existent memories” of the horrors of her husband’s actual criminal justice and economic policies, while Sanders preaches that the Democratic Party can provide remedies for the crimes it has committed against Black people. It is a contest based on lies and illusions.
The Clinton-Sanders Debate: What Was Left Unsaid?
by BAR editor and columnist Dr. Marsha Coleman-Adebayo
“As Malcolm X would say, Black folks are being ‘bamboozled and hoodwinked.’”
Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders met this week for another debate, in a series of presidential dialogues, in Wisconsin. While the agenda included a number of important topics, such as the economy, foreign policy and education, the primary focus was the fight for the hearts and minds of Black South Carolinian voters. South Carolina has become Clinton’s “fire wall,” her last defense against political irrelevance after experiencing an embarrassing defeat in New Hampshire.
Political pundits have reminded Black voters that Hillary has deep political roots in South Carolina – although most political commentators fail to mention the contents of the “political roots.” After all, her husband was anointed the “first Black president” by noted author, Toni Morrison. Clinton’s appeal to Black voters depends on their short or non-existent memories of Clinton-era policies that devastated the political, economic, and cultural life of the African-American community.
Bernie Sanders, on the other hand, has less experience and street cred in the Black community despite his little-known history of civil rights activism in Chicago and his recent decision to oppose reparations for the African holocaust in the US. Sanders, like Clinton, is counting on Black voters holding a misconception that the Democratic Party can provide remedies for the devastating economic and incarceration policies that they created and maintain. And, that his candidacy is somehow outside the straightjacket structure of the Democratic Party and its primary beneficiaries of millionaires and billionaires. His “outsider” campaign is in the tradition of Jesse Jackson, Walter Mondale, Al Sharpton and perhaps, Jimmy Carter. In any event, these were all Democratic campaigns, whose ultimate goal was to coral the “so-called” liberal or left elements in society into mainstream Democratic politics “like sheep dogs,” as noted by Bruce Dixon.
As Malcolm X would say, Sanders is hoping that Black folks will not recognize that they are being “bamboozled and hoodwinked.”
Had Sanders wanted to expose the Clinton record of what The New Jim Crow author, Michele Alexander, called Hillary “playing black folks,” it may have gone something like this:
Hillary Clinton (HC): My husband and I have a long history of protecting and serving the Black community. We have always loved Black people.
Bernie Sanders (BS): I find it interesting how you and your husband express your love for Black people. So, one expression of your “love” was the federal “three strikes you’re out” law that exploded the prison industrial complex. This law, according to international human rights organizations devastated the Black community, tore families apart and stole the lives of millions of young men. Isn’t it true that you supported your husband’s signing a $30 billion crime bill that “mandated life sentences for some three-time offenders?”
HC: Just one moment, BS, don’t you play high and mighty with me. You also voted for my husband’s crime bill and therefore you must also take some of the responsibility.
BS: You’re right – I suppose my record is also stained but at least I’ve seen the light. Do you deny that the Clinton presidency bragged about a two-for-one presidency? In other words, you were a major political influence in your husband’s presidency?
HC: I’m proud of my husband’s accomplishments and his presidency.
“You also voted for my husband’s crime bill and therefore you must also take some of the responsibility.”
BS: In that regard, are you proud that when your husband left office, the US had the highest rate of incarceration in the world? The US incarcerated more people under your husband’s administration than China or Russia.
Human Rights Watch reports that in seven or eight states Black inmates constitute 80 to 90% of all drug offenders – even though it was widely known that the CIA was running drugs in the Black community.
HC: This was clearly an unfortunate situation. My husband and I have apologized for this unfortunate lapse of judgment. I am SO SORRY. I would never consider saying publicly that I intend to repeat these kinds of policies.
BS: In that case, are you prepared to provide compensation for the victims of your policies?
HC: Let’s be realistic, as you know I’m a pragmatist. Where is the money to compensate millions of Black folk? That money is much better spent fighting our foreign enemies.
BS: In addition your husband, who I understand is on the campaign trail with you also supported the 100-to-1 sentencing disparity for crack versus powder cocaine, which produced staggering racial injustice in sentencing and boosted funding for drug-law enforcement.
HC: Enough about my husband, I want the citizens of South Carolina to vote for me because of my record.
BS: Fair enough. You have cast yourself as an advocate for children, particularly low-income children. In that case, how do you explain that you described Black children, in particular black boys—as animals. You said “They are not just gangs of kids anymore… They are often the kinds of kids that are called ‘super-predators.’ No conscience, no empathy. We can talk about why they ended up that way, but first we have to bring them to heel.' ”
Moderators: I think its time to bring this discussion to an end. We’ve learned a lot about both candidates that should inform our opinion of these candidates.
Dr. Marsha Coleman-Adebayo is the author of the Pulitzer Prize nominated: No FEAR: A Whistleblowers Triumph over Corruption and Retaliation at the EPA. She worked at the EPA for 18 years and blew the whistle on a US multinational corporation that endangered South African vanadium mine workers. Marsha's successful lawsuit led to the introduction and passage of the first civil rights and whistleblower law of the 21st century: the Notification of Federal Employees Anti-discrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 (No FEAR Act). She is Director of Transparency and Accountability for the Green Shadow Cabinet, serves on the Advisory Board of ExposeFacts.com and coordinates the Hands Up Coalition, DC.
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