Democratic Primaries
In reply to the discussion: Sorry, but "Bernie Bros" is the relatively BENIGN term for the vile scum-buckets to whom [View all]Rilgin
(787 posts)My candidate this year is actually Elizabeth but I like Bernie and would happily vote for him and did in the last set of primarys. So now I have defined myself.
In answer to your question, I do not see many Bernie defenders attacking other candidates on DU but defending Bernie against mass attacks every day. Why the attacks? Mostly cause the make up of DU is a little more establishment/Centrist than the outside world as can be seen by candidate support on DU vs polling outside.
I have no doubts that there are bad feelings and reactive supporters of Bernie. Bernie supporters tend to think the American economic, social, and political system needs immediate and systematic change and that can lead to emotional responses. However, it is not unique to people in this country supporting Bernie although its possible that it is more prevalent in people who think the system is screwing them. However, Bernie supporters are labeled derogatory every day and for years as unicorn hunters, living in unreality, sexists and the list goes on and on.
Now for hypocrisy, the same people asking for Bernie to somehow "control" attacks against their candidates or supporters do not somehow "control" or ask their own candidates supporters to control the vitriol against Bernie on DU. Think about it, look though the threads. There is a very vocal crew on DU posting thousands of posts a day attacking Bernie and his supporters, labeling them Bernie Bros and other names. These specific posters rarely and I mean very rarely if ever post detailed positive things about their own candidates although they will claim that their candidate is being attacked unfairly (kind of like Bernie Supporters) and claiming that their candidate is the most electable claiming polls when it favors their candidate and dismissing them if the poll doesnt (although they will also allow other candidates other than Bernie to be electable).
One of the prominent attacks is a negative one: Bernie is not doing enough to control his surrogates and supporters. If you think Bernie can control people, you should believe that other candidates should and more importantly can control or prevent these daily relentless attacks on Bernie and Bernie Supporters on DU. Some of the attacks are highly specious including misrepresenting statements or ignoring statements that Bernie has made or claiming that Bernie never campaigned for Hillary in 2016. However, rarely do I see DU posters asking their own candidates to control their own bad actors other than Bernies. Attacking daily and relentlessly Bernie and Bernie Supporters while claiming that Bernie and Bernie Supporters are not doing anything to control people attacking others is a big hypocritical circle.
Personally, I am glad that I hope to live in a world where Candidates can not control their followers. I wish I or any candidate could waive a magic wand and have attacks stop between candidates and groups of supporters without controlling what they think. However, I am realistic and know that is not possible. Every single supporter of every single candidate has reasons right now why their choice is the right one and everyone else is making the wrong choice. I have heard Bernie make unifying Statements. I watched Bernie campaign for our candidate in the last election. I saw him say "We must elect Hillary Clinton" at the Convention. Although ignored, these are exactly what is asked of him. What he does not do is claim to control others. I am glad of that.
I support who I support and have made a vow not to attack any other candidate this year even though I certainly have my own opinions both affirmatively and by default in my choice of which candidates appeal to me. And I resent some of the attacks being thrown in my direction directly and by association. However, I don't blame the candidates or other people for attacks made by a specific person. And I find it hypocritical that people who claim Bernie and every individual Bernie supporter has the responsibility to and could waive that magic wand or should do some other unspecified action to control other individuals. If you think I have a responsibility as one who does support Bernie to control others (even though I would not have a clue how to accomplish it), please give yourself the same responsibility with respect to the DU attackers of Bernie and his supporters.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided