with just WHO Bernie is and how solidly he contrasts against the "Anointed One!"

Why let the facts get in the way of FASCISM anyway?

AUTOMATED MESSAGE: Results of your Jury Service
On Wed Dec 30, 2015, 02:22 PM an alert was sent on the following post:

Plenty of Time... Bernie Is Trending UPPPPP As Non-White Dems Become Legitimately Acquainted
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=959080

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

Accusing Secrrtary Clinton of "FASCISM" is way over the top. None of our candidates deserve to be disrespected like that here.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Wed Dec 30, 2015, 02:30 PM, and the Jury voted 1-6 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: This is GDP .... if we hid ridiculous over the top posts in GDP, we would have one or two posts in the entire forum. That said the post is ridiculous and does nothing to promote the posters position
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: The last line in the alerted post may or may not reference Clinton. It didn't strike me as direct enough to make that connection, so I'm voting to leave it alone. Seems like the thread is already quite heated. Best of luck to the participants in the thread and try to remain civil!
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: I see no mention of Hillary in the alerted post. I looked twice.
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: The post demonstrates that the level of discourse here on DU has really descended to the pits. But it is not as bad as some I have seen that are left to stand. This comment is exceptionally stupid and certainly adds nothing, but let it stand to discredit the poster for his/her bias.

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

FASCISM Is A type of Political "System."

Some candidates are the benefactors of this type of "system" while others are not so favored...

FASCISM was more appropriately characterized by Benito Mussolini who first coined the term Corporatism which is a synonym for FASCISM.

While it would be difficult to argue that our current political system fails to qualify on ALL fourteen defining points of reference, there are certain specific characteristics that at this juncture in this election should draw particular attention when considering the goings on in the current Democratic Primary.

http://www.rense.com/general37/char.htm

Fourteen Defining
Characteristics Of Fascism

By Dr. Lawrence Britt
Source Free Inquiry.co
5-28-3


Dr. Lawrence Britt has examined the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia) and several Latin American regimes. Britt found 14 defining characteristics common to each:

1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism - Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.

2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights - Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.

3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause - The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.

4. Supremacy of the Military - Even when there are widespread
domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.

5. Rampant Sexism - The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Divorce, abortion and homosexuality are suppressed and the state is represented as the ultimate guardian of the family institution.

6. Controlled Mass Media - Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.

7. Obsession with National Security - Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.

8. Religion and Government are Intertwined - Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.

9. Corporate Power is Protected - The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.

10. Labor Power is Suppressed - Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.

11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts - Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts and letters is openly attacked.

12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment - Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.

13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption - Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.

14. Fraudulent Elections - Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.

From Liberty Forum

http://www.libertyforum.org/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=news_constitution&Number=642
109&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1&t=-1

None of our Democratic candidates nor does our party meet the "characteristics of fascism" Mr. Britt made up. Rense.com is a right wing Libertarian snake pit and a Hillary bashing site. You should be embarrassed to be pushing that site or the "Liberty Forum" here.



As I told the other poster in this thread who posted this trash, if you want to wallow in a "discussion" about "fascist characteristics" of Dem candidates, I suggest you log onto Red State. I am not going to be your enabler.

I do empathize with the HRC supporters who feel outraged that someone would level such an accusation, but in a pragmatic sense, is there any substance to it?

From Laurence Brit's 14 characteristics of fascism, I submit the following as examples that persons opposed to Clinton can claim as a shoe to fit the foot.

***

6. Controlled Mass Media - Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.

7. Obsession with National Security - Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.

9. Corporate Power is Protected - The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.

13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption - Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.

14. Fraudulent Elections - Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.

***

These are only five out of the 14 characteristics, admittedly. With the GOP Hitler wannabes, any reasonable observer would see she is much further from that label than almost all the other candidates. So while it is probably true that she is not some sort of secret fascist at this time, the characteristics of the campaign and many of her past votes do lend support that there is at least a reasonable sense of caution when considering Clinton for POTUS.

It truly is shameful to suggest one of our Dem candidates is a facist or has the "characteristics" of a fascist...all so you can prop up your failing candidate. Disgusting. But apparently on DU, like at Red State, not hide-worthy.

I specifically point out that any "reasonable observer would see she is much further from that label than almost all the other candidates." If there are any specifics you wish to debate in the characteristics on which I focused, please feel free to engage.

So since you say censorship is a fascist characteristic, does that make Sanders supporters fascists for censoring a Hillary supporter on this thread? That would be as ridiculous as your attempt to smear Hillary with the fascist label. You and the Sanders supporter you are defending, really have jumped the shark here.

Seriously, there is no point in trying to have a rational conversation with someone who thinks it is appropriate to throw the word fascist at a Dem candidate. It trivializes the horror that people like my relatives experienced at the hands of actual fascists.

Hurling right wing smears at the Dem opponent of your failing candidate is desperate and shameful.

My relatives also suffered, but your attempt to suppress discussion only dissembles from the current topic of this subthread.

You can bet money there are supporters of Trump who have relatives that suffered horribly at the hands of the Nazis. Would you argue that we cannot point out his fascist rhetoric and activities for that reason?

Of course not.

Hillary is much-much further away from fascism than Trump, based on the 14 points. But a self-actualized person can see past his or her own bias to recognize that Hillary and her campaign do have some of those traits. If these characteristics I pointed to are incorrect, or they are not a characteristic of fascism, then let's argue that.

Simply stating, essentially, "I'm right you're wrong because I said so" is not debate or discussion.

If you want to wallow in a "discussion" about the "fascist characteristics" of Dem candidates, I suggest you log onto Red State. I am not going to be your enabler.

It's a big world.

In fact, (I am not comparing Clinton to this guy, but only using him as a counter example to disprove your statement) David Duke, a man with many fascist characteristics, was a candidate in the Democratic presidential primaries in 1988.

Because of that fact, your statement, "A dem candidate is not a fascist. Period." is demonstrably incorrect.

if you would like to explain/prove the characteristics I alluded to are not ones associated with fascism or that the Clinton campaign or she herself fails to exhibit the characteristics, then you have something to stand on. I don't see any other way to justify your opinion.

David Duke switched decades ago to where he belongs, the Republican Party. This is not 1988. He is not a candidate, he is not a Dem, and he is not a Dem candidate.

Please take your bullhsit right wing talking points elsewhere.

But I do not sympathize.

There was a time when, if I was unable to articulate an effective defense for my opinion, it would just make me frustrated. I too would lash out with anger and insults.

Intuition is a funny thing. We have to rely on it, but we also learn that it is too often misleading. I've learned to use my intellect to find evidence to support my intuition. If I hold an opinion for which I cannot provide an adequate defense, I have only two choices. I either find better information and/or arguments to make a better defense, or I change my opinion.

I'm stepping away from this thread, as you have no intention of engaging in an actual discussion and your responses are obviously meant to be hurtful.

I was a Juror on the previous post - which was left to stand. I voted to leave it alone and, had I been on the second jury, my vote would have been the same.

The only real difference that I can see between the two posts - which I consider equally churlish btw, although one is stupid as well - is that one apparently disses Bernie and the other Hillary. But it is the Bernie-dissing post that is hidden. Apparently one can say/insinuate almost anything on DU against Hillary and it stays here.

Hmmm. Clinton Derangement Syndrome very much in evidence, methinks.

the jury system doesn't work.

Lots of alerts flying!

Hillary supporters get a hide for stating facts while Bernie supporters get a pass for throwing out all caps over the top epithets normally hurled at Dems by right wingers.

against the corporate media's self-serving interest.


Thanks for the thread, LiberalElite.

.... during this campaign,"