http://www.democraticunderground.com/1280134530Oh my.
Fast Walker 52 (1,486 posts) Fri Mar 4, 2016, 07:57 AM
Is it racist or race-insensitive to ask a person of color why they are voting for HRC?
I've seen a couple of posts implying this, and then I heard Markos of Daily Kos say this on the radio yesterday. While I sort of understand where they are coming from, it still seems like an evasion.
Of course, no one HAS to explain anything. But what's the harm in asking someone this? Isn't this what a political forum is about? I certainly wouldn't mind if someone asked me to explain my vote.
Of course it is, or if not that extreme, at least in bad taste.
How's someone of Judaic derivation, for example, supposed to react if he's asked what he thinks of the late socialist Adolph Hitler?
Jester Messiah (3,692 posts) Fri Mar 4, 2016, 08:04 AM
1. Probably. It seems to depend on your motivation for asking.
If the question is rooted in a feeling of "I can't fathom why you would do this; because it really seems like you're violating your own best interests" then it's going to chafe because you're presuming to know better than they what their best interests are. At least, so I glean from watching and listening.
^^^good answer, as Bernie bullies are notorious for being condescending towards those they think inferior to them.
dr.strangelove (4,803 posts) Fri Mar 4, 2016, 08:08 AM
2. If you are asking them because they are a person of color, of course it is!
It means that you assume that based on their skin color, yo uknow what issues are important to them and that the candidate you support is better for them. Its incredibly short cited and racist. Assuming a person has any viewpoint based upon the color of the skin brings us back decades in terms of race relations. The color of your skin has nothing to do with your political thoughts. Within the party, there are many different views, and those views are shared among many different races.
Now if its a person you are friends with and want to have a conversation about candidates, that would be different.
Fast Walker 52 (1,486 posts) Fri Mar 4, 2016, 08:40 AM
7. thanks... to be clear, it's not that I've done this, I just didn't even know it was an issue
and obviously, online, you don't even know if the person is a POC unless they state it or you ask.
^^^that's a real dilemma on Skins's island, given all the primitives posing as people they really aren't.
nc4bo (15,857 posts) Fri Mar 4, 2016, 08:12 AM
3. As long as it's asked respectively and honestly, I don't see the problem.
But unfortunately, even if asked in the most benign way possible, there will be those who take offense and will do everything possible to twist it into something nefarious.
My thoughts are, it's impossible to correct a course if you don't ask for directions and a map. Your fellow humanbeings will either help you get there or take great pleasure watching you take wrong turn and wrong turn, hoping you stumble and lose your way.
It's the nature of humanity.
Hmmm. That's interesting. One wonders how a German socialist of the 1930s would ask a fellow German of Judaic derivation "respectfully and honestly" why he didn't seem to care much for the guy with the toothbrush mustache.
Erich Bloodaxe BSN (14,410 posts) Fri Mar 4, 2016, 08:23 AM
4. What others said. Basically yes, it is.
Look, AA posters are a minority onsite, just as in the general populace. And they've all been asked to explain their voting preferences dozens, if not hundreds of times by now. So even if it weren't 'race-insensitive', it's got to be pissing pretty much all of them off by now. How would you feel if you were asked to explain your vote over, and over, and over, and over, ad nauseum?
Fast Walker 52 (1,486 posts) Fri Mar 4, 2016, 08:47 AM
8. Ok, thanks. I didn't quite realize this dynamic before, but I can understand that.
That being said, it is a political site, and aren't we supposed to discuss politics here? But also, it seems like POC are doing this questioning as much as non-POC, so is that still race-insensitive?
Obviously no one should be questioned about this over and over, but no one is being forced to respond either.
I guess the big question is how much is this an issue, and are POC being turned away from Bernie by this behavior to a significant degree?
MNBrewer (8,439 posts) Fri Mar 4, 2016, 08:24 AM
5. POC should obviously NEVER be asked any questions about anything
^^^the Bernie bully
thinks this is going to be taken as sarcasm, as a joke, but those of us who know Bernie bullies know that really, it's not; it's exactly the way Bernie bullies feel.
