Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

iwannaknow

(210 posts)
Fri Mar 18, 2016, 02:23 PM Mar 2016

7 myths about Bernie Sanders supporters

I've been cruising this site off and on for quite awhile now, and I have observed how much misinformation has been circulating about both Hillary and Bernie supporters. I don't know where this misinformation comes from, whether it's trolling, or sincerely believed, but I deem it to be very destructive to the Democratic primary process. Hillary supporters have had some pretty disheartening and insulting generalizations aimed at them, such as, they suffer from Stockholm Syndrome, they're low information voters, they don't vote in their own best interests, or they're stuck in identity politics. And of course, there are several myths circulating about Bernie supporters, that from my experience, are just not true, period. So if you'll prevail with me, I'll summarize them below:

1. Bernie supporters will not vote for Hillary should she win the nomination: From my experience, this is just untrue. I know many Bernie Sanders supporters, every one of whom would vote for Hillary rather than let Republicans win the general. If Bernie loses, we'll probably be extremely disappointed. We'll bitch for awhile, lick our wounds, and then go vote for the best candidate remaining, mostly because the alternative is so much worse!

2. Many Bernie supporters will vote for Trump or Cruz if Hillary wins: This is absolutely not true from my experience. Not one of the many, many Bernie supporters that I know, would even consider voting for these fascists.

3. Bernie supporters are virtually all white: Again, this is blatantly false. I went to the Los Angeles rally in August, and let me tell you it was quite diverse, both in age and ethnicity, contrary to what the M$M will repeatedly tell you.

4. Bernie supporters are rude, sexist, and racist: Not one Bernie supporter that I know fits this description, not at all. And where are all these so-called BernieBros? I've never met one among my numerous fellow Bernie backers. Even if there were a few of them somewhere, is it right to judge a candidate by a microscopic minority of his or her supporters? I don't think so!

5. Bernie supporters are either young and overly rebellious, or are suffering from delayed adolescence: Again, this is just not born out by my experience. The Bernie supporters that I know are highly educated, informed, intelligent, and stable. Yes, they are angry -- angry at economic and racial injustice.

6. Bernie supporters are anti-Obama: This notion is so far from the truth! Every Bernie supporter that I know voted for Obama more than once, and still thinks that he is a good president. Does that mean that we agree with everything he has done? No, we don't. Many of us are disappointed with some of his decisions, but we basically support his legacy.

7. Bernie supporters are 'pie-in-the-sky' dreamers: Oh my goodness, no! There are so many distinguished, educated and pragmatic people backing Bernie, among them, Ben Jealous, Killer Mike, Nina Turner, Robert Reich, Cornell West, and many other solid citizens, influential activists and intellectuals. This is not a choice between our heads and our hearts. Most Bernie backers I know think that we as human beings are capable of acting from both our heads and hearts. Yes we want it all.

Thanks for taking the time to read this post. And let's all continue to work together toward defeating the Republicans this coming fall!

10 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

uponit7771

(90,225 posts)
1. Shouldn't number 3 be "mostly white males"?! I'm not seeing how a progressive movement can be
Fri Mar 18, 2016, 02:24 PM
Mar 2016

... gender and racially homogeneous for the most part in a country like the US.

nichomachus

(12,754 posts)
2. Sorry, but your explanation doesn't fit the Clinton narrative
Fri Mar 18, 2016, 02:25 PM
Mar 2016

It will be disparaged in 5, 4, 3 ......

Expect snide comments, demeaning pictures, eye-rolling icons,,etc.

 

Dawgs

(14,755 posts)
3. Sure but one percent of Bernie supporters on DU may have been critical of BLM at some point, so...
Fri Mar 18, 2016, 02:27 PM
Mar 2016

it's pretty clear that most are racist and Bernie needs to tell them to stop right now.

hamsterjill

(15,214 posts)
5. To me, your post reminds us all that
Fri Mar 18, 2016, 02:33 PM
Mar 2016

No person can be put into a category completely. As a Clinton supporter, I can attest that there is diversity in the supporters of both candidates.

The media might want to simplify it and put voters into categories, but it's just not that simple.

Each voter needs to vigorously support his/her candidate of choice. At the end of the primary season, that same voter must ask himself/herself what they will do when there are only two names on the ballot, one being a Democratic candidate and one being a Republican candidate.

I know which candidate I'll be voting for. The last line of your post is imperative!!!!

griffi94

(3,731 posts)
7. Very well stated.
Fri Mar 18, 2016, 02:41 PM
Mar 2016

I agree with all of that.
I think it gets heated here because Democrats cover a broad spectrum.
In a contested primary one side is going to be disappointed.

In 2008 it was Hillary supporters. That gave rise to the PUMAS which as near as can tell
either never materialized or were so small in number as to be negligible.
I won't be surprised if something similar happens this election.

Right at the moment Bernie's odds are looking a bit long. Of course his supporters are going
to be disappointed and I expect a certain amount of lashing out.
When the dust settles I expect we'll all vote for our nominee in the GE.

My state has already had our primary and I voted for Hillary.
If turns out that she isn't the nominee I will happily vote for Bernie.

NurseJackie

(42,862 posts)
8. I know several Bernie supporters in real life ... and I can happily tell you that NONE of them are
Fri Mar 18, 2016, 03:03 PM
Mar 2016

anything at all like the ones I've observed here.

rock

(13,218 posts)
10. Too many of your statements do not quantify (as in Logic) Bernie supporters
Fri Mar 18, 2016, 04:44 PM
Mar 2016

Leaving it to the reader to determine whether you mean some, none, all, or something else (such as most). In general, depending on the interpretation, I can make most of these statements true or false. On the other hand I admit with a liberal interpretation as to what you meant I find your list is mythic. Thanks and welcome to DU.

Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»2016 Postmortem»7 myths about Bernie Sand...