Dead C
Well-Known Member
I go out of my way not to inject political commentary into my posts, but it seems to happen on here and, when it does, it often just feels like regurgitated headlines, sensationalism, and hot takes that don't really weigh out for me. Not that I don't trust the word of someone from Toronto on this at face value, but I'm going to check in with some friends in Atlanta to see how they're feeling on this subject, since, if there's any real legitimacy to that claim, it's obviously concerning.
As of now, this shit sounds ridiculous to me, but not surprising as I use social media every day. All I'm seeing is that people are pissed because Killer Mike had Hershel Walker on his show and interviewed Brian Kemp years ago. Like I said, I have friends in Atlanta and, no doubt, Brian Kemp is a fucking trainwreck. That said, to claim it was a smart political move for him to visit black communities is true. Trump visiting East Palestine Ohio after the train derailment at a time when the government isn't doing shit for them is also a smart political move, from a tactical standpoint. That doesn't make Trump a solid or reasonable candidate, he's just doing exploitive tactical shit. Biden should be doing the same shit even if it's just for the same reasons. Mike was critical of the amount of outreach Abrams is doing for the black community because it allows people like Kemp to get away with doing the minimum. Just going by that statement, it sounds valid. The idea that you can't offer criticism toward someone when their action or inaction directly affects your community doesn't
I'm probably missing something, but the attacks levied at Mike that I'm reading are built around this insinuation that he's in support of Kemp and damaging Stacey Abrams who is, apparently, a hero to a lot of people who only recognize her as a black woman that can be utilized as a challenger to block Republican candidates. Personally, I remember her as the candidate that was supporting and defending former Republican Michael Bloomberg's candidacy for president. Bloomberg also kicked her a ton of money and she defended his candidacy and use of his billions to finance it, regardless of his racist conservative history, including his stop-and-frisk policies. Abrams was also close with former Georgia representative Doug Collins, an avid Trump supporter who currently works as Trump's legal counsel. For those unfamiliar, Collins rejects scientific consensus on climate change and, for all of the hardcore RBG fans, he tweeted this right after she died, "RIP to the more than 30 million innocent babies that have been murdered during the decades that Ruth Bader Ginsburg defended pro-abortion laws. With @realDonaldTrump nominating a replacement that values human life, generations of unborn children have a chance to live." He's anti-same-sex marriage, anti-equality act, anti-marijuana, has an A-rating from the NRA, and is anti-violence against women act. Abrams has photos of her cozying up to that dude and, apparently, even wrote him in (BY NAME) as a lovable character in one of her romance novels. Killer Mike isn't beyond criticism, but if the basis for the criticism is an implication that he's "right-wing" because of his association with a pair of right-wing politicians via conducting interviews with them, then Abrams has a worse track record with that and any perception that he doesn't support her enough shouldn't raise questions on his loyalty to the left, but actually strengthen them. If Mike is dangerous because of his associations with his reach and influence, at least he's not in the position to directly make and affect policy the way that Abrams aspires to be and her associations are more direct and much more troubling.
Abrams further played her part in undermining the Sanders campaign with everyone else and believed she was going to be honored with a Vice President position. I remember seeing her uncomfortable reaction live on TV when she learned that wasn't going to happen. She repeatedly stated that she would be vice president for whoever won and was opportunistic in that aim, even though she walked away with nothing after carrying their water.
Killer Mike has appeared on Bill Maher multiple times, as well, and that guy is as neo-liberal as it gets. He's as condescending and damaging to progressives as anyone, but Mike goes on the show and debates. Nobody bats an eye. For neo-liberal media to attack Killer Mike and claim that he is right-wing definitely benefits Democrats/"centrists"/neo-liberals, though. Framing him in that light labels him as a pariah, damages his image, and weakens his power - you reposting that narrative in here is evidence of that. This isn't the leftists abandoning him, it's the group that's been removing leftists off the ballot and silencing their voices that are "covering" and publishing these stories in the media and prompting individuals to spread them across platforms. Remember, CNN and MSNB joined FOX in airing Trump's empty podium, rather than showing Bernie Sanders speaking. Killer Mike always challenged their narratives and policies. Any outright rejection of Killer Mike at this point only works without nuance and by viewing things through the same black-and-white "good" (the respective individual's political party) vs evil (the "opposite" party) vacuum, which he's never really approached things through anyway. He attacks the establishment and they don't like him. His voice is just getting too big.
If the criticisms extend elsewhere and are deserved, that's another story, but haphazardly claiming that he's going "full right wing lunatic" without any evidence, reference, or context, seems a bit premature, if not irresponsible. If the criticism is that he's pro-guns, we're discussing a black man from Atlanta who idolizes MLK and is well-versed in his American history, especially in regards to the Black Panthers, Malcolm X, etc (what came of all of them) and currently lives in a country that's increasingly militarizing the police force, while black death rates at the hands of the police skyrocket. Perspective matters.
Last edited:
