Sanders distances himself from surrogate's attack that Biden 'repeatedly betrayed black voters'

The Hill ^ | February 7, 2020 | John Bowden

[karpov]

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) during Friday's Democratic debate in New Hampshire distanced himself from criticisms one of his top surrogates leveled recently at former Vice President Joe Biden (D).

When pressed about an op-ed written by former Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner (D) in a South Carolina newspaper that declared that Biden has "repeatedly betrayed" black voters by voting with Republicans on criminal justice issues, Sanders said that he would not attack Biden, calling him a friend.

"Well I think what Sen. Turner was talking about is some of the early actions of Vice President Biden. But no, Joe Biden is a friend of mine, and I'm not here to attack him," Sanders said.

Sanders then pivoted to his ideas for reducing racial inequality in the U.S., including investing in education and health care for the African American community.

"In terms of the African American community ... we have got to start investing big time in education, in health care. There is no excuse why white families in America have 10 times more wealth than black families," he added.

Turner, who is black and frequently introduces Sanders at his rallies, wrote in The State that Biden "has repeatedly betrayed black voters to side with Republican lawmakers and undermine our progress."

[karpov]

The surrogate, Nina Turner, is considered the most likely Democratic VP candidate by Predictit.

Sanders thinks the government should equalize outcomes by race. The Racial Justice section of his campaign site says this:

Black Americans currently have ten cents for every dollar white Americans have. Latinx Americans currently have thirteen cents for every dollar white Americans have. This is unacceptable: It’s time for America to treat the lives of people of color like they’re worth more than change on the dollar.

More than 22% of black Americans and more than 21% of Hispanic Americans are living in poverty compared to 12% of white Americans.

Today redlining prevents businesses owned by people of color from getting loans, and predatory lending results in higher interest rates in low-income communities of color. More than 47% of African Americans are unbanked or underbanked and some 43% of Hispanic families are unbanked or underbanked, whereas 18% of whites are unbanked or underbanked. The massive disparities and discrimination in the availability of financial services must end.

Our campaign is fundamentally dedicated to ending the disparity of wealth, income and power in this country. It’s time to bring a systemic approach to systemic racism. Structural problems require structural solutions, and together we can meet that challenge.

[Vermont Lt]

Red lining went out with the Clinton Administration.

Now loans are determined by credit scores and the ability and likelihood that they will get paid back. Which, once banks understood the process, was better at keeping crap loans off the books.

[SunkenCiv]

There is no excuse why white families in America have 10 times more wealth than black families," he added.

There's no need for one. However, it was Demagogic Party taxes and sellouts to foreign interests -- including illegal aliens -- that made it that way.