Two people running for the Democratic nomination in 2016, Bernie Sanders and Martin O’Malley, have criticized their own party for a lack of primary debates but were swiftly dismissed by DNC leadership.
#BlackLivesMatter on the other hand…
Black Lives Matter to host Democratic presidential town hall
Major groups associated with the Black Lives Matter movement will host Democratic presidential candidates for a town hall focusing on social and racial justice.
The Democratic National Committee approved the extra forum for 2016 hopefuls on Wednesday, but remained steadfast against adding another candidate debate to the schedule, according to letters first obtained by the Washington Post.
The letters, sent from the DNC to prominent activist groups the #BlackLivesMatter network and Campaign Zero, affirm the party’s support of the growing social movement and heed their request to hold a forum that explicitly addresses issues of race and social justice.
“We believe that your organization would be an ideal host for a presidential candidate forum — where all of the Democratic candidates can showcase their ideas and policy positions that will expand opportunity for all, strengthen the middle class and address racism in America,” Amy K. Dacey, chief executive officer of the DNC, wrote in the letters obtained by the Post. “The DNC would be happy to help promote the event.”
The Democratic Party has seen factions within its ranks in recent weeks over the number of debates scheduled for candidates – top leaders and candidates have pressured for more head-to-heads. But the inclusion of a racial justice themed forum speaks to the outsized political clout activist organizations have earned in a social movement that is little more than a year old. Grassroots groups created in the aftermath of unarmed black teen Michael Brown’s death at the hands of a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, last August have sparked a nationwide push for social justice and police reform.
This won’t come off as blatant pandering at all, will it?
The big question is: Who should moderate?