Racism is a serious problem that deserves every bit of the attention it receives and then some. That's why I wrote Why Black Lives Matter most. The focus of that diary was the horrific violence against African Americans that is raging throughout this country, how that trumps political considerations and the absolute imperative of stopping it NOW.
Since then I've seen a flurry of racially-based attacks on Bernie and I reject them all. Maybe he didn't handle the BLM protest at the moment it happened in the best possible way, but he's made up for it since. Any honest person has to acknowledge Bernie's impeccable record on civil rights and racial politics. It's unfair to attack him on race. Period.
Here's Bernie the day before the BLM protest at Netroots Nation (h/t davej):
Racism in America is too important of a problem to be used as a game piece. And it takes a particularly slimy person to knowingly stoop so low. False claims of racism cheapen the discourse and hurts the cause of anti-racists. It seems especially objectionable when used against a long-standing ally such as Bernie. His record speaks for itself.
I'll be voting for the one candidate who I believe takes the problem of racism in America seriously. The 1% has their candidate and we have ours.
Bernie is the candidate for the 99%.