the answer: to discourage minority voters

[cali]

from even considering Bernie Sanders. The question: Why are there so many attacks on Bernie and his supporters that paint him as out of touch and or not concerned with racial justice and immigrant rights, and paint his supporters as selfish, elitist white supremacists? Within a couple of weeks time the attacks have shifted from the candidate to his supporters. After all, it's difficult to credibly sustain attacks on Bernie in light of his whole hearted embrace of those issues. So, how to keep the narrative going that the Sanders campaign is hostile to minorities? Falsely attack his supporters. It doesn't matter that none of the stories provide any evidence. It's a smear that's almost impossible to counter.

Memes are funny things. Once they catch on, they often get swallowed as gospel. And they replicate wildly. I'm not suggesting this is a coordinated effort, but people with the common interest of hurting the Sanders campaign, pick up on and promulgate the same message.

It's ugly. It's a version of the big brazen lie, and it doesn't serve minority voters well.

[last1standing]

1. Let's call it what it is.

A brazen attempt to trick minorities into voting against their own interests so that the 1% can keep their capital gains tax cuts.

Anyone who writes "so he walked with MLK 50 years ago" is belittling the accomplishments of the only one running for president in either party who can back up his talk with a solid record of action. No one who truly cares about civil rights would do that.

[AtomicKitten]

11. Let's be clear, it's swiftboating.

The bottom-feeding effort here hit its nadir with the posting of "So you marched with MLK. What do you want, a cookie?". The mocking of Bernie's lifelong fight for civil rights and liberties reveals how low they are prepared to stoop.

[last1standing]

18. That's exactly what it is.

And it's no different than accusing Hillary of Killing Vince Foster or having some nefarious reason for Benghazi.

I take that back. The difference is that if someone posted bullshit like that about Hillary, they'd be immediately tombstoned. When they post it about Bernie, there's no problem.

[AtomicKitten]

33. The disparity in treatment is implied consent

... by the admin and it reeks.

[haikugal]

77. ^^^^THIS^^^^

[Enthusiast]

60. You are precisely correct. Exactly as you said it. Swift boating Bernie is perfectly acceptable.

Systemic institutional unfairness.

[AtomicKitten]

61. As Nadin says, it's not a bug, it's a feature.

[Enthusiast]

64. Correct.

[Enthusiast]

58. +1 You nailed it.

[arcane1]

2. I would add "preferably prior to the first televised debate, when he'll get full national attention"

The debate schedule, conveniently, allows for more time to cultivate this meme while the word is still getting out on Sanders.

[mmonk]

3. Most likely.

It's kind of hard to go from descriptions of "too liberal" to being "unconcerned about Black lives lost to police state brutality".

[virtualobserver]

4. I don't believe that any of that stuff is going to work

people are going to make up their minds for themselves

Listening too the Hillary supporters on this site can mess up your perception of reality....

The key is for Bernie to take the lead in the national polls, and I believe that he will.
Then we will find out how solid the rest of Hillary's support is.

[Mnpaul]

22. I agree

The outrage only exists in a few pro-Hillary blogs. They can't find any valid criticism of Bernie or his campaign so they have create things to be outraged about.

[MisterP]

70. whenever such ... inbred ... discourse escapes into meatspace everyone's just horrified

while the little splinter cell and its remoras applauds how well it did

[haikugal]

78. Remoras...

Oh, I needed that! Thanks.....

[azurnoir]

5. It is the classic redirection technique aim racist smears at Bernie Sanders

to keep his supporters so busy defending him that hopefully this will be forgotten about

[AtomicKitten]

49. What's astounding are those once incensed about

Hillary's racist 2008 campaign now trying to swiftboat Bernie on race in favor of Hillary. The cognitive dissonance required for that triple lutz must be causing whiplash.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. From now on I intend to call any and all of these divisive shit

I am tired of it... and I expect, due to it, to be alert stalked, Even if the only words are "divisive shit."

The scabs from 2008 never truly healed. They are doing so much damage it is not even funny.

I also have a list of folks who I now consider to be... no use in giving them a freebie.

[PeteSelman]

8. You caught an alert for this for some reason.

AUTOMATED MESSAGE: Results of your Jury Service
On Sun Aug 23, 2015, 05:30 PM an alert was sent on the following post:

From now on I intend to call any and all of these divisive shit
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=541181

REASON FOR ALERT

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

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

The poster is making a list of posters she doesn't like and implying threats of somthing.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Sun Aug 23, 2015, 05:43 PM, and the Jury voted 2-5 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 HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation:

I see no such list nor do I see any "threats". Idiotic alert.


Leave it.



Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given

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

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. I guess people confuse disliking a few people heavily

for the posts they have directed at me, with making a list. I just see those names and I expect to receive shit from them. It is like the sun rises every morning kind of a thing

Or for that matter for issuing threats by promising to call divisive shit, well divisive shit.

The alerter did illustrate the point perfectly though. It is alert stalking, started yesterday in earnest and it is the kind of divisive shit that may very well split the party. I could not care if they manage to "silence me." I really do not...



But the damage they are doing is deep. The scabs from 2008 never really healed.

[AtomicKitten]

45. Stand strong, Nadin. Your reporting on this has been invaluable.

[Bobbie Jo]

7. Disagree

There is a reason for the sentiment.

Meme? Hardly, this was earned fair and square.

Read the comments, they're ugly.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1280&pid=27165

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=504091


http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=503212

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=7060303

In our own back yard, no less.

Please hear this:

http://rhrealitycheck.org/ablc/2015/08/11/blacklivesmatter-hurt-feelings-white-progressives/

[cali]

14. casually looking through the first thread you linked to

I don't see any racism. I see people who are upset that their candidate was treated in a manner that they felt was disrespectful and unjustified. Were many of those comments knee jerk reactions? Sure, but I didn't see anything that comes close to racist.

Earned, my ass.

[Bobbie Jo]

23. No , the comments were straight up hateful.

Earned.

[cali]

28. absolute partisan sleazy smearing. disgusting.

[Bobbie Jo]

31. Yes it certainly was.

Disgusting.

[randys1]

80. Yes, BLM matters WAY more than the hurt feelings of ALLEGED white progressives

[zappaman]

9. Yes all the people who express their concern over unarmed POC getting harassed and shot

Are just trying to discourage other AAs and minorities.

By far, this is one of the dumbest fucking posts I've ever read on DU.

So congrats I guess.

[Fred Sanders]

54. I also have no idea where the logical connection of the opinion(?) is to "attackers" somehow "discouraging minority voters"...it is like logic is not needed! Just vitriol.

Got a few Rec's. though, one can always rely on that if you express "concern" about "minority voters".

[Metric System]

12. Sanders supporters earned their reputation with their behavior on Twitter.

[cali]

16. I don't do Twitter, but I've yet to see the racist

Tweets you claim exist.

[beam me up scottie]

20. Don't listen to them.

We don't deserve this kind of treatment on DU because of what some mythical racist supporters elsewhere might or might not have done.

[iandhr]

27. They were more of a lecturing tone then a racist tone.

[SonderWoman]

29. Well, there's your answer right there.

Just because you are not paying attention doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I mean, numerous articles written on this topic, videos discussing this topic, etc. and you still want to believe it doesn't exist?

Here's a video from a Bernie supporter discussing it, you think he's just making it up? (Fyi - he's also a well known DJ on progressive radio)

[Number23]

32. They won't watch. And they sure as hell won't listen

It's so much easier to pretend that this is all some plot instead of a response to their own behavior. Even other Sanders supporters have called out this behavior over and over again. It hasn't done a damn thing.

[SonderWoman]

41. Yup, its all a giant conspiracy.

[cali]

34. that is evidence of nothing

It's simply false.

[SonderWoman]

40. Its evidence that you don't want to discuss the evidence.

Fine by me. Carry on.

[uponit7771]

68. What's false is the narrative that blacks as a whole have rejected Sanders VS choose to support

... Clinton.

One doesn't mean the other

[Gothmog]

44. That is a great video

[uponit7771]

67. He's right on too

[Metric System]

30. I didn't say the tweets were racist. But some were hostile and condescending.

[frylock]

69. Any demands for people to bow down?

[SamKnause]

37. I don't tweet and I am not on Facebook.

This is the only site I post on.

[NuclearDem]

13. "So, how to keep the narrative going that the Sanders campaign is hostile to minorities?"

Maybe post a thread whining about "apologizing for being white."

Damn smear job!

[Number23]

36. Thread winner.

Nailed it.

[leftofcool]

15. You have got to be kidding me?

[cali]

17. no. post your evidence.

[hay rick]

21. Two points.

1. I expect crickets and...
2. Anybody can pose as a Sanders supporter and put out an offensive tweet (or post on DU). False flag operations are ridiculously easy on the internet- which is why the attacks on "Sanders supporters" are particularly lame.

[GoneFishin]

25. They have none. When I follow any of their supposed links I just find more of this same

fake meme, interspersed with posts pushing back against it.

But nowhere to be seen are the mysterious illusive "white supremacist, racist, Volvo driving, granola smoking liberal" comments that supposedly justifies this bullshit Karl Rovian campaign strategy.

[GoneFishin]

19. Campaign sleaze. Poison voters with a negative message before they even hear Bernie speak.

The fact that it is a bullcrap lie won't stop some from becoming embittered and staying home.

[iandhr]

24. Are you white Cali?

[cali]

26. why do you ask?

[iandhr]

35. Because it appears that many Berine supporters take to lecturing African Americans online.

Sanders supporters aren't doing their candidate any favors.

[Number23]

39. And upthread it's alluded to that we're being "tricked" by the illuminati, the Cognoscenti, Walmart

or whoever to vote against our interests.

And yet again, no one calls THAT crap out for being the racially clueless, paternalistic garbage that it is. But if someone were to respond to those individuals and tell them what they're saying is offensive, oh you better believe folks would come flying out of the woodwork to call THAT racist.

[ismnotwasm]

53. +1000

[SonderWoman]

55. I love you.

[lovemydog]

72. +1

It cracks me up.

People complain (rightfully so) that someone's being tone deaf. So they respond by being defensive and tone deaf AND patronizing.

I've come to these conclusions on my own, just reading here. Yet they have these constructs in their mind that somehow I'm being 'played.'

Seriously, sometimes I'm just like WTF? Again, I've gotta laugh to keep from crying.

I feel like I need to put a disclaimer on every post: These views are as much my own as yours are your own.

[hrmjustin]

38. Well i remember reading conspiracy theories here saying Hillary was directing BLM

at netroots and Seattle and I thought that was stupid and insulting.

I also thought after Netroots and Seattle some Sanders supporters were rather condescending and tone deaf.

I think much of it comes from Sanders supporters on this site were really not ready for Sanders to be challenged.

I think most got used to the pattern of Hillary hate on this site and all of a sudden it changed and some were not able to handle that.

[Cali_Democrat]

42. From a Sanders supporter on DU:

If the AA community doesn't need or want the help of the Progressive community, so be it. Good luck with your RWers! I hope Bernie stops trying to jump through hoops for them because nothing he does will ever satisfy them.

Yep...a Sanders supporter wrote that and was applauded...by other white Sanders supporters.

The masks have slipped.

[hrmjustin]

43. Who the hell posted that garbage?

[Cali_Democrat]

48. ....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=525415

[zappaman]

51. !!!

[hrmjustin]

52. Good God!

You can't make this shit up.

What the hell is the point of posting on this site if shit like this is allowed here?

[SonderWoman]

56. WOWZA.

[uponit7771]

66. This has to be FUD

[Starry Messenger]

73. Forgot to screencap that one.

I'm collecting these.

[leftofcool]

81. I think minority voters can think for themselves.

[Chakab]

57. Wow, they asked for proof, then avoided it like the plague.

Nice work.

[blackspade]

63. That was a bone headed statement.

Sentence 1: absolutely incorrect. My impression is that the AA community just wants progressives to pay attention to what they have to say rather than make assumptions about what is 'best' for them.
Sentence 2: WTF? AAs are a huge part of the Democratic Party. Alienating them with crap like this makes it a self fulfilling prophesy. Well played...
Sentence 3: So addressing AA concerns is 'jumping through hoops?' THIS is the crux of the problem. BLM concerns are not a political 'hoop.' It is everyday reality for POC.

Sanders needs the support of the AA community and I think he will have a good shot at earning it, but it will be in spite of posts like the one quoted above, not because of them.

[ismnotwasm]

46. Say what?

Are you implying AA voters can't reason there own way into supporting Sanders? They need what, someone to "help" them? Where do you think the questions and concerns about race originated? (Hint: not white people--we don't have race issues because we don't have to, once we are made aware, then we may help or hinder, each according to our ability and inclination. Inaction is hindering)

[Vattel]

62. Wow, the perfect post to illustrate the sort of crap Cali is talking about.

You misread her post in order to unfairly suggest that Cali is lecturing to, or being condescending to, AAs.

[SoapBox]

47. Any ploy is good...

Because the votes of POC, are assumed to be locked up by other candidates.

The non-Bernie supporters do NOT want his message to be be heard by people, ALL people, as they will jump onboard with Bernie in an instant.

It's a desperate attempt to hold on to votes...it will not work.

[jkbRN]

50. Very well stated!

[blackspade]

59. Unfortunately, continuing to post about it gives it legs.

Sanders has done a great job responding to BLM.
Some of our fellow supporters have not.

[uponit7771]

65. wow... jus.... wow man

[hill2016]

71. why can't

minority voters decide for themselves?

Since you have crystal clear clarity on these attacks, why don't you think minority voters are able to figure it out themselves?

[lovemydog]

74. What's ugly is implying that you have mental agency

and other members here don't.

[McCamy Taylor]

75. Sorry, but this post offends me. "Swallowed as gospel" seems to imply that minority voters

can not make a rational decision for themselves.

[Duppers]

76. K & R

A TT = Truth Thread.

[MineralMan]

79. Minority voters will make up their own minds.

DU discussions won't influence them in that, frankly. If Senator Sanders articulates his support for minority rights successfully, he will convince people to support him. If he does not, he won't convince them.

There's no question about it: Sanders has been a leader in such support of rights for decades. But, that support is an unknown to most people, since Sanders has not been a recognizable national public figure during that time. Articulating his positions in a way that gets them known by the electorate is the solution.

For many groups, Hillary Clinton is known for her social justice support. Women, the AA community, Hispanic voters, and some other groups demonstrate that with high poll numbers in support of her. Convincing people who already support her to switch support to Senator Sanders is a tough job. That won't happen because of DU or any other website. It must come from Sanders himself. He must effectively articulate that message in a way that is heard nationwide by all Democratic voters. It won't be easy.