The stories I'm about to tell are not dispositive as to how I'm going to endorse, or what any other currently-adrift Dems should do.
But both Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders have only attended @Netroots_Nation one time. Both were protested. They handled them quite differently. (1/)
But both Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders have only attended @Netroots_Nation one time. Both were protested. They handled them quite differently. (1/)
Biden, 2014, Detroit. He was told in advance there would be protestors on immigration issues from United We Dream. And when they interrupted him, he applauded them. theguardian.com/world/2014/jul… (2/) 
The next year, Bernie Sanders came to Phoenix for our presidential candidate q&a. Martin O'Malley preceded him, and he was quickly met with a large Black Lives Matter protest. Neither he nor our moderator could control things, and backstage we let Sanders's team know ... (3/)
what was happening and that it was their option whether and how to proceed. He wanted to proceed.
As you'll see, the audience quieted down for Sanders, but he didn't address the protests right away. Instead, he went into a shortened stump speech. (4/)
As you'll see, the audience quieted down for Sanders, but he didn't address the protests right away. Instead, he went into a shortened stump speech. (4/)
And it was the standard anti-oligarchy speech. No mention of race, or of the protests. Within two minutes, the heckling began. Then full protest. "Say their names!" the protesters urged. "I will answer your quesItion but I'd like to speak for a few minutes," he said. (5/)
"Black lives of course matter," he continued. "I spent 50 years of my life fighting for civil rights, and for dignity. But if you don't want me to be here, that's okay."
And then he again proceeded to talk about income inequality. (6/)
And then he again proceeded to talk about income inequality. (6/)
He had another ~3 uninterrupted minutes, then he lost the room again. It was a moment at which he needed to read the room--to understand a cultural moment which was not about class--and instead listen to the protestors, put racial justice first, and say their names. (7/)
The following ten minutes had some long uninterrupted segments (more than I remembered) and then the moderator signaled to wrap it up early. This protest was not going away.
It was just so disappointing. He didn't see beyond his primary issue to how they all intersected.(8/8)
It was just so disappointing. He didn't see beyond his primary issue to how they all intersected.(8/8)
