Black voters are fleeing Biden in droves. Here's why | TheHill
By: Joe Concha, Opinion Contributor (TheHill)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Black voters are fleeing President Biden. And it's hard to see a scenario under which they come back anytime soon.
President Biden's poll numbers have been stunningly bad lately. The most recent CNN poll has him at 58 percent disapproval, 41 percent approval. In December, Biden was at 49 percent approval in the same poll. And among those who disapprove of his performance, 56 percent say the president didn't accomplish anything in his first year of which they approve.
To be fair, President Trump's poll numbers were similarly dismal at this stage of his presidency. But there are two major differences:
1) Trump's polls could be largely explained by a special counsel's investigation into possible Russia collusion and the 2016 election (which ultimately led nowhere).
2) Trump's base, those who strongly supported him, was infinitely stronger and more reliable than Biden's current base, which at just 15 percent strongly approving ain't much of a base at all.
Meanwhile, a majority of Democrats don't even want Joe Biden to run again in 2024, with just 48 percent supporting the idea. This is unheard of after just one year.
Two more big numbers to consider: Less than 7-in-10 Black voters (69 percent) support the 46th president. This is significant, because more than 9-in-10 Black voters (92 percent) voted for him in 2020.
So, we're talking about an almost 25-point drop in a relatively short period of time. Inflation obviously is playing a huge role here, with the Wall Street Journal estimating that the higher price of goods is costing families an extra $276 per month, or an additional $3,300 or so annually. Many poor and middle-income families and single parents and individuals simply cannot afford that while living paycheck-to-paycheck.
It bears repeating: Joe Biden won the Democratic nomination for president because he wasn't Sen. Bernie Sanders(I-Vt.) and won the general election because he wasn't Donald Trump.
But his handlers thought he had a big mandate to be the next FDR, to radically change the country by expanding government in ways never seen before. Trillions in new spending have already been signed into law. Trillions more were proposed via Build Back Better, with the administration arguing that such spending would reduce inflation and the deficit, which makes zero sense.
Sensible Americans, including two key members of Biden's own party in Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema(D-Ariz.), rejected the radical proposal. Ultimately, many voters, some suffering from Trump fatigue that came from non-stop drama in the White House, just wanted a return to normalcy, and not a jump to a socialist America.
And now we're seeing an administration like a rudderless ship at sea, seemingly with no port.
"I don't think he has lived up to a lot of the campaign promises that he made, especially given the role of Black voters in helping him become the president of the United States," Nekima Levy Armstrong, a civil rights attorney and activist who is also a former president of the Minneapolis chapter of the NAACP, said recently.
"We pointed out issues related to mass incarceration, to economic inequality, of course, and to what is in the news now with the push to advance voting rights," Armstrong added. "I feel like Biden is basically doing the bare minimum in terms of being attentive to the needs and issues facing the Black community."
Biden made "voting rights" (which is really just a federal takeover of elections) his focus to start 2022, pushing the hyperbole machine to maximum levels during a widely panned speech in Georgia.
"I ask every elected official in America: How do you want to be remembered?" Biden asked. "At consequential moments in history, they present a choice: Do you want to be on the side of Dr. King or George Wallace? Do you want to be on the side of John Lewis or Bull Connor? Do you want to be on the side of Abraham Lincoln or Jefferson Davis?"
Civil Rights activist and MSNBC host Al Sharpton said the speech wasn't about gaining the support of those who oppose or are on the fence about the proposed legislation. "In this particular case, dealing with my friend and brother Joe, if he was trying to get votes, it was not the vote-getting speech," Sharpton said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."
"I'm a minister. Either you get up, and you try to persuade people of their sins and appeal to their better angels. But when they come to church, and they still have the jug of whiskey up under the pew, you say, you're going to hell. I think he gave a 'you're going to hell' speech."
The vote would fail in the Senate 48-52.
Black Americans had a rough 2021, particularly with COVID-19. They had a 2.5 times higher chance of dying of the virus than whites, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Black unemployment rate is at 6.9 percent, which is double the white unemployment rate. And crime continues to hit urban areas the hardest, with 16 cities setting homicide records in 2021.
The midterms are less than 270 days away. Democrats will almost certainly lose their razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives. Republicans need a net gain of just one seat to take back the Senate. The president's overall approval is in the 30s for the first time in the RealClearPolitics average.
It isn't just GOP voters who oppose him; it's also most independents. But what should be most alarming to Democrats is the erosion of support among Black voters, who are increasingly feeling buyer's remorse on Biden.
Joe Concha is a media and politics columnist.
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Every even year we see the same thing. 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020 now 2022. same old same old.
From Real Clear Politics, the sgteport, the noqreport, The Hill, CBN, investmentwatchblog, Breitbart, Alex Jones etc.
"Dems leaving their party in droves", "Dems not Christian enough", "not hetero enough", "blacks leaving in droves", "Latinos leaving by the droves", Blexit, leave "the plantation" /s.
I have been hearing about the demise of the two party system and the Dems for 60 years
but the WH, House and Senate keep changing hands regularly. Imagine that? how could that be?
In a perfect world each minority group would be evenly divided between two parties.
Just as in every other industrialized country, things would be no different
under a five party system or a single party system. Crime doesn't care about politics, it seeks to correct
the poverty, hunger and repression under whatever current form of government keeps them down.
but, but Hillary's emails !!!
It is like trying to persuade a bulldozer its true responsibility is to make holes. Some conservatives want to impress, to brand, to 'stipulate' they are well-meaning people of a stable world, and yet what they manage to convey to the nation is narrow-minded bigotry on grand scales--and somehow bigotry breaks through as a positive stream of consciousness to keep the republican party alive and dare I say: Healthy. We desperately need a new party system. Why? Because in the right quantity our political parties can refresh, renew, and start thinking about behaving 'in concert' again. Or, at the worse, two parties can take the 'third' in the group out for good!
And there it is (again)! The 'ready' lie that tries and never tires of giving. "Socialism!" Our capitalist systems enhanced is not socialism. What is at stake here is conservative and some conservative dominated fear people of color will finally get equity or equality or both at the same time. So the name-calling, the coded hatred continues unabated by reason and yes, common ancestry as people all connected to this land.
That is like calling CRT by another name so they can say CRT is not being taught in schools yet still teaching 8 year olds they are racist. It makes me question just how dumb the far left wing nuts think American's are.
It is your contention the "far left" is not American? Please clarify, as I am taking time out to ask.
It's not for you, so miss me with all that. Right Down the Center?
Some conservatives are so needy. /s
Never said that but it doesn't surprise me you try to twist it that way when you can not say anything of actual substance.
I think he said it just fine. But if you would like to see it from me:
my God, WHERE do you READ this CRAP at??????????????????????????????????
WHERE did I say ONE FREAKING thing you insinuated?????????????????????
Can you no longer just debate what is CLEARLY before you, or are you compelled to INVENT things to argue because it is "easier" to debate words you put on others' mouths?
That is simply LAZY and INTELLECTUALLY DISHONEST!
Open minds allow insights to enter. Narrow minds are 'closed.'
You would. I am not surprised. Right down the 'right.'
You make that clear with many of your posts. Carry on.
Yes I would. I see what you did there.....how clever, and not exactly true.
Except for one problem with this view...
How open is the mind judging "openness" and receptiveness to the biased insights?
Nowhere Man, if I was still of a mind to date, white men would be my FIRST choice. Is that open enough for you? Or should I remind you of my past (background) in inter-relationships with white males? I can hardly hate what I have slept with and fallen in love with and who knows what the future may hold?
I love diversity. I say the more diversity the better. Be the "multifaceted diamond" sparkling instead of the monochrome version that the world can not fully support! That said, I love my black skin - and once upon a time, white males, plural, literally loved it (back) too!
I would ask you how many inter-relationships you have been involved in, but NO I DON'T WANT YOU TO GET PERSONAL! (You get my drift, now ?)
TMI !!!
NFS!!!
I can hardly hate what I have slept with and fallen in love with and who knows what the future may hold?
I can hardly hate what I have slept with and fallen in love with and who knows what the future may hold? I am proud of the men from my past (every last racially diversified of them). God and I have 'met' on the subject. So though I am a celibate person now, I will not deny the men who brought me joy in my younger years.
TMI (Too much information). . . I think not. Time for us to be 'real' and let all that other political shit go the way of the dodo bird. Deuces to being human and calling it live!
I cry foul! You did not criticize Just Jim NCTttH @3.2.20 for whom I am replying? Why not?
AMEN!!! Can't de-rail it one way de-rail it another... I wouldn't know anyone who gives a damn on who he's slept with and what the hell does that have to do with black voters leaving Biden?
"Jim" is a friend . . . ENTITLED TO PRIVILEGES . . . in the 'clubhouse' Jim has EARNED a charmingly amount of leeway.' CB, let's 'manage' you. Got it!
So says some conservatives on the colorblind pretender 'squad.' Oh yeah:
As I say: PRIVILEGE.
The seeded article is about as cynical and dishonest as it gets. The writer is a conservative pundit who implies that blacks are "rejecting" Biden because he is not conservative enough. But when you look at the actual reasons for this alleged discontent from blacks toward Biden its based on him not being progressive enough In pushing police reform , voter suppression reform, economic benefits for the black community at cetera . The objection to Biden that does exist among blacks is not one that is in agreement with conservatives.
While this may be true for some please supply the data that shows it is the reason for most of the blacks moving away from Biden. Then you may want to see how many are moving away because they feel less safe after "defund the police" took away cops protecting their neighborhoods.
'Fatal error.' This is the incredible 'talking point' style some conservatives like to project. They see a smidgen, a minuscule, a 'scent' on the breeze, a 'drop of discontent' in a sea of contentment and its off to sketching and MAGNIFYING 'dots' to see where it be blow out of all proportions.
Take this back to Trump, Mitch, Kevin, and the lot of y'all. It is an insult to think you can persuade black Americans and people of color (Americans) to sell out justice, fairness, rights, and freedoms and liberties to be CHAINED to Donald Trump's team of aspirational losers.
I would rather eat a bowl of shit, than be in a party that chases Trump's standard-less and unprincipled mind 'farts' and MOST BLACKS AGREE WITH ME.
Now that's funny. ("Most." "More and More.") What next? "Many say. . . ?"
And republicans are chained to Donald Trump's next breath. And "most" would call that a bloc.
Bye Texan. It's been. . .rich spending time here.
Nice rant. So give me the data that says most blacks agree they would eat a bowl of shit rather than be a republican.
Just take it or leave it Right Down the Center. Most blacks still vote with democrats, despite their confusion and stressing over the party's tug of war. It's because we know where our 'best hopes' for equity, equality, and yes progress lies. (Of course, it is hyperbole. How would I know what most of any people will eat?! But you get the concept, I hope!)
Most still do but more and more seem to be moving on from the party that keeps letting them down. Maybe you should not claim something you can't possibly know or deliver, although that is most definitely a dem trait..
Please stop. Donald Trump is earth's gift to lies and you promote him and it. Just stop. It's embarrassing for some conservatives. Projection is wrong and will not work.
Of course we do. There you just blew Right down the 'right''s thesis out of the water! Oh it's true. It's true.
How is that Southern 'border' wall doing with it shiny door? Talk. About. A. Let. Down. For Trumpist. Even (everything bigger in Texas!) Abbott can't get 'er done. Lies. Liars. Schemers.
You keep shot gunning and are having trouble focusing on the actual post. The actual post you are responding to talks about why blacks are moving away from the dem party, your response was about the southern border. That makes actual dialog almost impossible and just a waste of time. Have a nice day
That was not my thesis and it was a pretty poor attempt on your part to twist it that way. I would expect no less than that though, you are just a liberal and the only way you can communicate is by twisting things to fit your narrative
His standard MO...much like several of the typical liberals around here..
You mean this didn't work?
I suspect that people who think this way don’t bother to study how FDR actually governed. First of all, he had specific ideas ready to go, which he proposed to Congress. And then he signed about 90 new laws in the first 100 days. Not just executive orders, but actual bills passed by Congress. Most of them were relatively small, focused bits of legislation (although there were at least a dozen or so that would be considered “major”), so they didn’t get derailed under the weight of their own complexities.
These days, a president comes in with one or two vague ideas. A bunch of politicians and lobbyists attach all sorts of junk that they want, and they spend a solid year debating the intricacies of their “landmark, comprehensive, reform” legislation. If all the arguing doesn’t kill the bill before the president can sign it, the whole unconstitutional thing will die once the Supreme Court gets through with it.