Bernie Sanders, a decent man, tells Berniebros to cut the crap

[Cary]

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) had a terse message for any of his supporters who engage in online harassment: “We don’t want that crap.” He told CNN on Sunday that the so-called “Berniebro” phenomenon is “disgusting” and that “anybody who is supporting me that is doing the sexist things — we don’t want them.”

The “Berniebro” phenomenon, where a mob of online Sanders supporters attack politicians and writers who express views critical of the Vermont senator or supportive of his Democratic rival Secretary Hilary Clinton, launched numerous thinkpieces from journalists unfortunate enough to encounter them online. At their worst, Berniebros have accused Clinton supporters of voting “based on who had the vagina” and have invented novel sexist terms such as “clitrash.”

Meanwhile, the Sanders campaign has engaged in an escalating series of tactics trying to convince the Berniebros to cut it out. Sanders’ rapid response director asked the senator’s supporters to chill on Twitter:

See more here: http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2016/02/07/3746988/bernie-sanders-tells-berniebros-to-knock-it-off-we-dont-want-that-crap/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+matthewyglesias+%28Matthew+Yglesias%29

[bravenak]

1. I Stand with Bernie on this.

Very decent of him to acknowlege the issue an come out against it.

[Cary]

8. Good for you.

Not being facetious. I am genuinely proud of you.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

17. Why Bernie is a great leader... tells it like it is.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2016!!!

[bravenak]

18. Meh.

I don't see what you see.

[Cary]

24. He shouldn't have to lead this way, and the opening post isn't really about him

Democrats should be better than this.

[Dawgs]

3. All of them?

[Cary]

4. No. Of course not.

[Dawgs]

6. Then why not say SOME of his supporters? n/t

[Cary]

9. I deleted it.

I posted it by accident.

[Cary]

10. Dawgs, I have never said a bad word about Bernie

Yet I have been abused here at DU by "Berniebros", and then I am told that this abuse is my own fault.

So I am not happy with Berniebros, generally. I'm sorry if I lumped you in with the hoi polloi, but it's not like there is a lot of decent Bernie Sanders supporters telling people to cut this out.

[Cary]

5. I like Bernie.

I don't like the stuff being said about Hillary Clinton. It is unjust and unreasonable and no way for Democrats to act.

[PeaceNikki]

7. Sanders is a good man and his campaign is not stupid.

[Cary]

13. I agree that Sanders is a good man

I'm not so certain about his campaign.

[Tom Rinaldo]

11. I can't uderstand why so many in the Hillary camp buy into "Berniebros"

It literally makes women invisible. I haven't seen anyone try to prove that overly zealous Sanders supporters who make negative attacks on some public Clinton supporters are overwhelmingly male. If that is the accusation, then openly say so. If it isn't then why airbrush women out of the picture? That comes pretty damn close to the standard definition of sexism. Literally.

[Cary]

12. As I understand it, the name was coined by Sanders' supporters.

I don't see where sexism has anything to do with that. I don't really care what they call themselves.

[Tom Rinaldo]

22. If it was (and I haven't seen a source)...

...it was not done by any group associated with the Sanders campaign, nor by any group that has endorsed Sanders (like a Union, or MoveOn etc.) Which means, it the term was coined by some who supported Sanders it was done so by a small number of individuals. I don't know of any Beriebro websites let alone groups.

So for me the question remains - why has a feminist oriented campaign allowed surrogates for it to embrace this kind of language in national media? I don't care what jerks call themselves either, that isn't my point though.

The truth is that passionate support for Sanders is usually associated with a young demographic. Every national pundit repeats that observation with polling data to back it up. One way the young tend to be dismissed is with descriptions of them as being over zealous, passionate without an ability to reason things through yet etc. I seldom see the so called Berniebro phenomena described as representing the behavior of just a tiny fraction of Sanders supporters. Instead the word "some" is used. Well some just as accurately describes 95% as it does 5%. It doesn't take much of a leap in logic to conclude that Berniebros are probaby young and that it is young men only who feel passionately about Bernie

Yes Bernie Sanders was right to condemn abusive postings sent to public Clinton supporters regardless of how few of his real supporters made/make them. But the Clinton camp should disavow use of the term Berniebros also. It is sexist. in two ways. On the obvious level it labels a non gender specific behavior with gender specific terminology. But more important in my mind, it indirectly but clearly in my mind none the less, minimizes the importance of a large sub set of younger women - those who support Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton by large percentages. Since Bernie's support is so clearly linked to the young, a wholesale attack on "some" Sanders supporters, as Berniebros tars young activists in general and relegates young women to the shadows once again.

Sorry to go on so long about this, but this stuff bugs me. The whole problem would not be an issue if condemnations of legitimately deplorable behavior didn't so prominently, inappropriately, highlight gender.

[Cary]

23. I can only go by what I read and my use of the term was a direct quote

Allegedly from Bernie Sanders.

I'm not going to worry about it. I have seen enough atrociousness, and I have been attacked enough times by low information losers.

[JRLeft]

57. Remember the term Obamabros? Hillary supporters came up with both names.

[navarth]

70. BOOM.

[Fawke Em]

41. No, it was not.

It was coined by an Atlantic author, but is in the same vein as Obama Boys.

http://www.salon.com/2008/04/14/obama_supporters/

[Cary]

44. I could not care less

Really. I do find it interesting though that Bernie Sanders is being ignored and I am getting all manner of evasion here. Obviously his followers are fair weather friends.

[Fawke Em]

58. How am I ignoring him?

First, I'm a woman. I've never trolled other women and called them sexist names on social media, so he's not talking to me.
Second, he did come out and condemn anyone who is doing that and asked them to stop.
Third, they don't have to stop because they're not officially part of his campaign and he can't force them to do so (even though they should).
Fourth, Hillary's DIRECT surrogates have made sexist claims.
Fifth, and Hillary didn't tell them to stop - and, in fact, doubled down on those remarks - instead of telling her official surrogates who should be listening to her to stop.

That you can't understand that is telling.

[aidbo]

89. The name was coined by a writer from the Atlantic..

..and it most definitely wasn't a self-identification. It is meant as a pejorative, but some have taken to calling themselves by the name.

Or at least that's the earliest occurrence of the term that I know of.
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/10/here-comes-the-berniebro-bernie-sanders/411070/

This article was linked to by madfloridian at the time of its publishing back in October of 2015.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251695816

[stevenleser]

14. They let this go on for far too long.

This is a good step, but it's about six months late.

[Cary]

15. No argument here

But the moving finger writes and having writ moves on. It is a good step. Both sides need to embrace this.

[stevenleser]

16. Sure, as soon as I get an apology from folks who did this here

I'm not holding my breath.

[Cary]

20. You and I have respectfully disagreed on this, to some extent

I'm not being facetious. I mean respectfully. You feel the way you feel, and I respect that.

But as I said I'm not going to allow any goons to move me one way or another. Mark my words, the people you don't appreciate are and always will be irrelevant. So I will not allow them to affect me one way or the other, because they're not worth it.

We know who they are.

[morningfog]

28. Who owes you an apology? That's silly.

[Cary]

55. Look at them...

Perhaps I need to rethink things along your lines? Sheesh.

I did put two of them on ignore.

[stevenleser]

59. I can't. I see less than half of the 58 or so posts under your OP because I have

A lot of the Berniebros on ignore here.

I can only imagine what they are saying to you. Many of them are heavily invested in the idea that the nasty Berniebro is a myth that doesn't exist and is made up by Clinton supporters to hurt Bernie.

If they are attacking you for this OP point them back to the words of their chosen Presidential candidate.

[Cary]

64. It's useless.

They simply ignore that fact and continue to insist that it is okay for them to be atrocious because Hillary Clinton supporters are atrocious, they say.

Over and over and over.

[betsuni]

63. You are a very patient person!

Look at them, indeed. So many threads become master baiter contests that have nothing to do with politics or anything.

[Cary]

66. I find it hard to believe that Democrats are like this.

I always thought we were better.

[NurseJackie]

19. Wait! So the "Berniebro" thing is REAL? I recall seeing others who suggested ...

... that such a thing didn't really exist, and that people were just exaggerating and creating a "boogieman" from their own imaginations.

Now, such claims are obviously false and absurd on the face of it ... we've ALWAYS known they existed and we can plainly see them for what they are and what they do. But now that Bernie has acknowledged that such a phenomenon does indeed exist, I wonder how that will square with all of the hardcore Bernie fans who would have others believe we were just exaggerating.

[Cary]

21. Ideologues aren't fazed by mere facts. nt

[Andy823]

75. Yep, you would never see such a thing here on DU

Or would you?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251772854

Bernie is right to condemn them, but all the BS around here saying they don't exist, or that they are Hillary supporters pretending to be for Bernie bull.

[99th_Monkey]

25. Great! So now Hillary is going to tell all her ATTACK DOGS to "Cut it out!' TOO, Right?

You knew I was just kidding.

There's no double standard at work here at all. Nope. None.

[Cary]

26. I'm so tired of this logical fallacy

It's a red herring known as two wrongs don't make a right. Be accountable for yourself.

[99th_Monkey]

27. Double standard, period. nt

[Cary]

33. Just more crap.

Be accountable.

[frylock]

29. Yes. Stay in your own lane.

http://hillaryclintonsupporters.com/
http://jackassradicals.com/main

[Cary]

34. So I can't post at a site because you don't approve?

I see one of those sites is satire. Pretty funny stuff. Do you think satire is immoral, illegal, or unethical?

What is your point here? I don't get it.

[frylock]

38. The satire is openly mocking Sanders supporters on this site.

The admonition to stay in your own lane was a suggestion to clean your own house. You know, glass houses? Beholding the mote that is in your brother's eye and whatnot?

[Cary]

42. That makes sense

Oh, wait. It doesn't. It doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

That's the problem, right there.

[frylock]

46. Can't see what you don't want to.

Hillary tried this shit in 2008 with accusations of mean nasty Obama Boys. Same failed candidate, same failed campaign.

[Cary]

48. Go tell it to Bernie Sanders.

Apparently he said it.

[frylock]

49. This lack of self awareness is what is going to torpedo Hillary's campaign..

again.

[Cary]

50. Right. It's all my fault.

I am to blame.

[frylock]

51. The ironing is delicious.

[Cary]

53. Whatever that's supposed to mean

Pathetic. Truly pathetic.

[frylock]

54. It's not your fault.

[KittyWampus]

73. false equivalency.

[99th_Monkey]

74. That's right, I forgot. It's never wrong if the Clintons do it. Got it! nt

[frylock]

30. Since Hillary HASN'T asked the same of her supporters, I have to assume she gives tacit approval..

of their poor behavior.

[Tarc]

31. The same thing does not happen on the Clinton side

What you're doing here is engaging in victim-blaming.

[frylock]

32. Yeah.. no... yeah....

http://hillaryclintonsupporters.com/
http://jackassradicals.com/main

[Cary]

35. Again? That trick never works.

http://www.logicallyfallacious.com/index.php/logical-fallacies/178-two-wrongs-make-a-right

Two Wrongs Make a Right

Description: When a person attempts to justify an action against another person because the other person did take or would take the same action against him or her.

Logical Form:

Person 1 did X to person 2.

Therefore, Person 2 is justified to do X to person 1.



Person 1 believes that person 2 would do X to person 1.

Therefore, Person 1 is justified to do X to person 2.

[frylock]

40. The trick is pointing out the hypocrisy that you engage in by admonishing Sanders supporters..

for their poor behavior while ignoring, if not outright DENYING, the existence of poor behavior coming from your side.

[Tarc]

82. Not the slightest interest in websites frequented by banned DU'ers

but thanks anyways...

[frylock]

83. These are current DUers.

Keep trying. We know the time.

[Tarc]

88. Well, we know Sanders won't win a state between NH and VT next month so...

[frylock]

90. Sure, I mean you guys have been right about everything thus far.

[Tarc]

91. Winning Iowa, conceding NH, i.e. Bernie's next-door neighbor

2 for 2 so far.

[frylock]

92. Better start prepping for that NV concession.

[Cary]

37. Yes, that too.

It's called gaslighting and it's lame.

[Fawke Em]

61. Yes it does and directly from her official supporters!

Madeline Albright told me I was going to hell because I'm a woman not supporting Clinton.

If that's not sexist, i don't know what is.

[Tarc]

86. Well there's such as thing as "Log Cabin Republicans", so...

[Fawke Em]

36. Has Hillary condemned Albright for casting me to Hell, yet?

Because, I think, if one believes such things, that an official campaign spokesperson casting me to eternal damnation because I don't support Hillary is far worse than some anonymous person on the Internet not directly connected to Bernie's campaign trolling a Hillary supporter and calling her names (especially since one can both block and report that kind of trolling).

[Cary]

39. So according to you this makes it all okay.

http://www.logicallyfallacious.com/index.php/logical-fallacies/178-two-wrongs-make-a-right

[Fawke Em]

43. No - according to any thinking person

it's easier for Clinton to be condemned for refusing to control her direct surrogates' hateful speech than it is for Bernie to control anonymous people he doesn't even know.

How hard was that to understand?

[Cary]

45. Then start your own thread.

Here, where I posted direct quotes from Bernie Sanders, himself, this is a logical fallacy. It doesn't make sense, which is why it is a logical fallacy. It is nothing but cheap, low level evasion.

The desire to evade and not face up to the truth isn't difficult to understand. Anyone with the emotional maturity of a ten year old will do it.

[Fawke Em]

62. And anyone with the intellicutal maturity of a 6 year old

would know that Clinton can control her own direct surrogates and hasn't while Bernie has asked for civility of people he can't control.

[Cheese Sandwich]

47. Bernie Bros is the dumbest meme ever. Fuck the media for repeating that garbage.

[Cary]

52. Do you have anything to say regarding the actual opening post?

Do you like it when you raise a point and a group of people insists on changing the subject? Is this how you have constructive dialogue?

I guess I stumbled into an alternate universe or something? In my universe it works a little differently.

[Cheese Sandwich]

65. Bernie bros is a fake meme and the title from the OP seems so misleading to me.

Bernie says racism and sexism are not welcome. And I completely agree.

But it's so dumb when people act like there's an actual problem with tons of racist sexist bernie bros being too bro.

There's not an actual problem. Hillary Clinton ran a racist campaign on Obama in 2008 and she would do it again if it was good politics.

In conclusion Bernie is better than Hillary and Bernie Bros is a fake meme.

[Cary]

67. IT'S A DIRECT QUOTE FROM YOUR MAN

Which part of that don't you understand?

Good grief.

[Cheese Sandwich]

72. NO IT ISN'T. WHY DON'T YOU GO HERE AND WATCH THE VIDEO WITH THE QUOTE

GO HERE:

https://twitter.com/cnn/status/696341267110883328

he says we don't want racism and sexism around.

which i completely agree with.

note he didn't say anything about whether or not the bernie bro meme is totally fake or not, which by the way it is fake.


Bernie Bros are like bigfoot. I'll believe in them when I see a herd of them together with my own eyes.

One or two jerks on the internet does not a meme make!

[Cary]

76. I just looked at the interview and he was asked directly about Bernie Bros.

So much for you. Buh bye.

[Cheese Sandwich]

77. But he gave a very general response: No bad shit allowed on my team.

That's a perfect response.

That's the only appropriate response when asked about possible inappropriate behavior from your team.

Again, I'll believe "Bernie Bros" are a problem when I see it with my own eyes and judge it to be a problem, not simply based on a third hand rumor.

I've never seen evidence of Bernie Bros being a problem in real life (or on the internet).

[Vinca]

56. I've never encountered the "Berniebros," but they sound vile.

I did read a post on another site that wondered whether they might be part of a dirty tricks operation to get women to vote for Hillary. I'm glad Bernie spoke out against them, whatever they are.

[Fumesucker]

60. Hell holds a special place for Berniebros and the young women infatuated with them

We have it on good authority from someone with their own extra special place reserved.

[VulgarPoet]

68. I've said it before, I'll say it again

The issues are the salient issue here, not her gender or her race. The issues-- I may find her voting record reprehensible, but were I to disrespect Secretary Clinton, I'd be doing no better than slapping my own mother in the face. We all came from woman; I fail to see-- even among other Sanders supporters-- I fail to see where someone being a woman is worthy of scorn.

[firebrand80]

69. Good for him

I don't blame Bernie for how some of his supporters are acting, but it was the right thing to do for him to address it.

I also don't think they're going to stop.

[Cary]

71. Look at them right here. They aren't stopping.

You're right. It isn't political, you know. Some people can't help themselves. It's about character.

I am happy that Bernie Sanders has character. I am not happy that many of my fellow Democrats, if they are Democrats, do not.

[Fumesucker]

80. Bill Clinton just approvingly quoted Henry Kissinger in a campaign speech in front of Democrats

From my point of view that's far, far worse than anything anyone has said here on DU.

[Cary]

81. I understand that you hate the Clintons

And I understand that you feel justified in expressing that hate in any way.

[Fumesucker]

84. I don't hate anyone, I want the Clintons to go away, they had their fifteen minutes

Most of the time I find this stuff more funny than anything else.

[Cary]

85. There is nothing you can say to convince me that you don't hate.

You have proven that to me beyond a shadow of a doubt

[Fumesucker]

87. Don't you know you could make more money as a butcher

[closeupready]

78. What else would he say? That said, Hillary's online supporters are worse.

So I'm not going to take this seriously at all.

[wendylaroux]

79. all mean people stop it!! whether a berniebro or a hillasista. just stop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!