Now that the 2020 primaries have kicked off, we are being told once again that Sanders is the brocialist choice, and that he doesn’t connect with women, particularly non-white women. This isn’t entirely inaccurate – just look at Sanders’ recent performance at She the People, a presidential forum for women of colour. When asked what he would do to combat white supremacist violence as president, Sanders reminded everyone he was at the March on Washington with Dr Martin Luther King in 1963. This non-answer justifiably drew loud boos and groans. Sanders didn’t help his cause when, visibly annoyed, he then wagged his finger at the audience in a condescending manner.
Sanders is far from a perfect candidate. He could do with being less arrogant. He could do with listening to communities of colour more. He could do with realizing that you need to talk about race as well as class. Nevertheless, it is ridiculous to claim that he doesn’t connect with women of colour, and that he is beloved purely by arrogant white bros. A recent poll from Morning Consult found that Sanders leads all the other candidates, save Joe Biden, when it comes to support from black voters and female voters. The only demographic that Sanders really doesn’t connect with, according to the Morning Consult poll, is Democrats who make more than $100,000 per year. Which, one imagines, overlaps with the demographic who are constantly smearing Sanders by advancing the narrative that his base consists of sexist morons.
Here’s the thing: universal healthcare is a feminist issue.
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