'Bernie Bros' not helping Democratic cause

[highplainsdem]

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/opinion/bernie-bros-not-helping-democratic-cause/

LIVE FROM MANCHESTER, on Saturday night, supporters of Elizabeth Warren cheered loudly for Joe Biden as he spoke at the New Hampshire Democratic Party’s marquee fundraising event. Deval Patrick’s section roared for Pete Buttigieg.

And the Bernie Sanders supporters directed derisive chants towards Pete Buttigieg. They then interrupted Amy Klobuchar, who gave a casual look to their corner of the stadium and said, “Hi, Bernie people!”

Sanders, who was up by more than 7 points in the polling average, gave his standard stump speech, with notes of harmony but no sign of reeling in his jeering section.

A few hours later, Larry David opened “Saturday Night Live” with an homage to that crowd’s infamous online persona: “I don’t know how or why it happened, but I am king of an army of internet trolls called Bernie Bros. Could I stop them in their tracks? Of course. Should I? Yes. Will I? Eh.”

-snip-

[mysteryowl]

1. I think it is possible the so called "Bernie Bros" are GOP plants and Russian plants.

"Plants" or operatives to disrupt. Please do not fuel it!

[highplainsdem]

2. So the Sanders campaign organizers leading the chanting against Pete that night were really GOP

plants and Russian plants?

Don't think so...

[mysteryowl]

3. Were they truly Sanders campaign organizers or are you being lied to?

I need proof.

[highplainsdem]

5. You realize the seating at that dinner was providen by the campaigns to their supporters?

These weren't people who just walked in.

[mysteryowl]

6. I don't think that matters.

I am on your side. We don't want additional political disruption and my point is that we can actually fuel it with having a focus on so called "bernie bros".

I want the bernie bro thing to stop in all aspects. How can we do that? How can we help to stop this "Bernie Bro" narrative?

[gollygee]

11. I think that's the point of the OP

It isn't a narrative. It's a situation. And Bernie could end it by telling his followers to stop, but he doesn't.

[mysteryowl]

13. Well, we need to reach Bernie and he needs to stop this.

[MH1]

8. Nope, I know a few IRL.

Almost every Bernie supporter I know is fairly ideologically rigid. Some manage to still be nice, reasonable people with whom one can have a great political discussion.

But too many others wear their assholishness like a badge of honor. Like it is a competition to be the most "Bro" of the "Bros". (and yes to be honest, in my personal experience, these are the younger ones, always ready with "okay boomer" on their tongues.)

[mysteryowl]

10. I will do my part and contact my local Bernie campaign office and voice my opinion.

I want them to stop and to help stop the additional issues coming from it.

[MH1]

15. He needs to very clearly say "STOP IT." to the bullshit of some of his supporters

But I do not believe that he will.

I initially supported Bernie in 2016 but lived to regret my support.

I support progressive policies but the leader is important. Liz is a far better leader than Bernie will ever be. JMHO.

But anyway thank you for making that call. Maybe if enough people do, something positive will come from it.

[mysteryowl]

22. I found the local office email and will start with that.

I want to talk with them. We cannot have any additional disruption!

[Laelth]

54. Out of curiosity ...

I know no Sanders supporters IRL. I recently moved to deep-red East Texas, so I have had little opportunity to meet any, much less speak to them.

You say that it's the younger ones who are most likely to dismiss what I have to say with a flip "okay boomer." I am curious to know how they would respond if I said, "I'm not a boomer. I am Gen-X." Would they care? Do they make the distinction?



-Laelth

[MH1]

55. I'm not sure. I think they would be defensive and

say you were acting like a boomer anyway.

Or something like that. The point is the broad brush stereotype of anyone who doesn't think the way they do and can be clearly categorized as "other".

[Cha]

12. I think you're wrong.

[lapucelle]

51. Even SNL is joking about the toxic faction and its pervasive predatory culture.

Mahalo!!!!!!!

[Cha]

57. yeah, everybody knows..

Thank you!

[UniteFightBack]

25. Mr. Sanders suggested the same thing to muddy these waters. nt

[Hav]

49. I think that is the problem right there

It's hard to separate these two groups because of their similarities in the way they think and act. But it's just the normal behavior of the "Bros".

[redstatebluegirl]

56. I was not fond of his supporters at the 2016 convention.

It was horrible watching them boo civil rights leaders and others in our party. I do not think they were plants. They are counterproductive in my opinion.

[DanTex]

4. Hmm. I wonder why a guy from "Democrats for Education Reform" would be attacking Bernie...

Could it be that Bernie stands by the teachers unions that the "education reform" people are trying to break? Gee I dunno....

[betsuni]

7. I predict that half this thread will be attempts to kill the messenger.

And gaslighting.

[mysteryowl]

9. We need to all get together and stop the "Bernie Bro" thing.

Those that are part of Sanders campaign need to be talking about stopping this from within the campaign.
I would suspect some of this is being fueled by GOP & Russian bots etc.

Remember, we are under political attack. Let's not fuel it, let's help to stop it.

[Cha]

16. they need to "stop".

[mysteryowl]

18. Yes.

[BlueIdaho]

17. So are you calling out the term

Or the behavior?

[mysteryowl]

19. I don't understand your question.

I do know I just want the Bernie bro thing to stop. I think part of it may be coming from their camp, yet the online trolls could be from multiple sources.

[BlueIdaho]

21. Got ya...

The term Bernie Bro could be seen as a pejorative term aimed at the group. The behavior can be seen as un-Democratic behavior by the group aimed at others. Maybe that helps?

As far as the behavior (doxing etc,) goes, it could be both supporters and trolls. That’s my guess anyway. The problem is - Bernie seems unwilling to admonish his shock troops. If he did - it would be easier to calm things down. Being a populist (like Trump) he sees value in having them around. Populists usually do.

[showblue22]

20. You mean stop talking about it?

Throw it under the rug, maybe? The only way to stop it is for Bernie to change his strategy.

[betsuni]

24. This is Sanders' responsibility. He could speak to them directly. He won't.

His campaign won't. Fighting numerous enemies (the "Democratic Establishment," any organization or person not endorsing him (in which case they become "establishment" and obviously corrupt)) who will stop at nothing to stop him is the foundation of his "movement." He can't tell his anti-establishment supporters not to fight against these evil enemies too.

GOP/Russians use what is already out there. They picked up the rigging nonsense and spread it. The stuff they make up doesn't work as well, like #DemExit. There has to be a rabbit in the hat before the magician can pull one out of a hat.

[Codeine]

29. The only person who can stop it

refuses to do so. He obviously assumes he will benefit from the chaos and win, or failing that, can burn down the village in order to save it.

[Cha]

14. + denial

[betsuni]

23. That too.

The cat's in the bag and the bag's in the river.

[Cha]

41. Yep.. it's

in that river.

[Augiedog]

26. Bernie is not a Democrat, so I don't expect his bro's are either. Why would they "help"?

[krissey]

27. Right on. Buck stops with Sanders

[whttevrr]

28. Bernie Sanders is an Independent running in the Democratic Primary.

Bernie Sanders is not a member of the Democratic Party.

He is slated to run as an Independent in his next Senatorial Election.
https://docquery.fec.gov/pdf/416/201903049145600416/201903049145600416.pdf

[AverageJoe]

30. I know I'm beating my head against the wall here....

I’m a Sanders supporter. I was a Sanders supporter in 2016. I voted for HRC in the general election.

I’m truly a nice person, I promise. The Sanders supporters I know are nice people. I think most people who support any of our candidates are probably nice people. I would love it if we could all just agree on that and move on.

There are supporters of one particular candidate — really, in the main, just one — who tend to bite my head off when they learn who I support. I don’t want to say which candidate I’m referring to because I don’t think it’s fair to do so. It would be engaging in an unfortunate bit of stereotyping. It would also be counterproductive. I am certain most supporters of that candidate are fine people who only want us to beat trump.

There are unfortunate antagonisms coming from many corners. I wish we could all just stop.

[highplainsdem]

32. AverageJoe, I know some nice Sanders supporters, too, and I'm sure most of them are nice.

The problem is that the fraction who aren't nice are particularly noisy...and, even worse, the behavior spills offline.

There was trouble last fall after the Working Families Party endorsed Warren instead of Sanders:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287287478

That's the backdrop for this week's attacks on, and doxxing of, Culinary Union leaders.

And although the behavior at last week's Democraic dinner, as described in the OP, wasn't as bad -- wasn't threateining -- it was still a disruption of a public event, cutting into other candidates' time.

[AverageJoe]

36. I don't doubt that there are bad apples

But is it really helpful to tar people who could be — really, must be — allies in the future with this same broad brush?

We all want to beat trump. I guarantee you that the vast majority of registered Democrats who support Sanders will vote for the nominee AND would love to be on good terms with you and all the folks on this thread.

[Still In Wisconsin]

31. The Bernie Bros define Sanders as a candidate and as a person

His entire political life has been about grievance and animosity. It’s no wonder nobody in the Senate can stand him. He’s nothing more than an angry curmudgeon and I don’t buy any of the bullshit about pulling the party to the left. There are plenty of people on the left who don’t actively damage the Democratic Party. The Bernie Bros are an extension of Bernie the political vandal. They’re going to do their thing, cling to their purity tests, and they’re not going to give a damn who they hurt.

[Aussie105]

33. Any evidence?

Any evidence these so called 'Bernie bros' are in fact:

1. Registered voters?

2. Actually support Bernie?

3. People Bernie communicates with and has control over?

4. Not Trolls or a rent-a-crowd?

Don't assume these are legitimate Bernie voters, they may just be fishing for a negative reaction from others - like 'Bernie is doing WHAT? Couldn't possibly vote for him now!'

Who else do we know that tries to manipulate voters by finding fake dirt on them?

Mmmmm. . . . Hillary runs a child sex slave ring from a pizza restaurant basement? Hunter got a job in the Ukraine because his daddy is . . . etc.

Don't get sucked in again, is all I'm saying.

[the_sly_pig]

34. good gravy, just make it stop ....

I will be voting for the democratic nominee. I don't care who it is.

[defacto7]

35. It's up to Bernie to stop it.

If he can't control it he's got a problem. If he doesnt try, he's got a problem. If he doesn't want to try... he's got a problem.

[Aussie105]

37. Actually . . .

Republican security are pretty heavy handed with dissident voices in a Trump speech.

They are often manhandled out of the venue.

Why not the same here?

Assuming the jeering ones are Democrats and they should be tolerated, not removed, because we don't want to hurt their feelings, may be the wrong thing to do.

[AverageJoe]

38. As a Sanders supporter

I think this is a fine idea. No one should get a pass on bad behavior.

By the same token, it would be useful if everyone from every camp would stop sniping.

[Still In Wisconsin]

45. Nice both-sides do it argument there.

Next...

[AverageJoe]

46. You're right

I didn’t really consider the situation as it was presented. I truly didn’t mean that anyone should be roughed up. I was just responding to the idea that Sanders supporters need to be held up to the standards of civility as much as anyone else.

It was thoughtless and I thank you for calling me on it.

[defacto7]

40. No. n/t

[Cha]

43. Exactly.

[pink]

39. I dont feel confident

that if Sanders is not the nominee, his supporters will not come out and vote in November.

Can anyone please explain to me exactly what Sanders has achieved in his political life, also, what his health care policy will cost. Also, before he got involved in politics, what did he do for a living.

[Aussie105]

42. Sounds like you want information and some assurance Sanders will do a good job

as POTUS.

Go check his website for details. Google, lots of info.

As to an assurance that he will do a good job as POTUS, no candidate can supply a foolproof guarantee of performance in the job up front.

People assumed Trump was 'The Man' for the job, and you can see where that went.

[pink]

44. I am not comfortable knowing that most Americans aren't socialist minded

The last 3 years has been full of turmoil to say the least. I cant imagine them wanting to see everything turned upside down with a socialist agenda for the next 4/8 years. The health system and endearment policies need fixing and I'm confident any of the other candidates are very capable of achieving that but I do think that the average American just needs a break from controversy.

[SidDithers]

47. 'cause they're not Democrats...nt

Sid

[Cha]

48. k

[Gothmog]

50. Here are sanders supporters acting out

Link to tweet

?s=20

[beachbumbob]

52. always about electing trump and nothing else, in 2016 and 2020

[oasis]

53. Hillary had a word for those who engage in "deplorable" behavior. nt

[Gothmog]

58. Biden calls on Sanders to take accountability for supporters' threats

Link to tweet

Joe Biden called on Bernie Sanders to accept greater accountability for tactics and rhetoric of his staunchest supporters and do more to discourage it, after what he called the “outrageous” threats on a prominent union that criticized his healthcare plan.

Representatives of the powerful Culinary Workers Union, which represents 60,000 workers supporting Nevada’s gaming and hospitality industries, said this week that supporters of the Vermont senator had “viciously attacked” its members after its leadership warned about the risk to their negotiated health plans under a Medicare for All system.

In an exclusive interview airing Sunday on NBC’s “Meet The Press,” Biden said the Vermont senator “may not be responsible for it, but he has some accountability.”

“You know me well enough to know if any of my supporters did that, I’d disown them. Flat disown them,” Biden said. “The stuff that was said online. The way they threatened these two women who are leaders in that Culinary union. It is outrageous. Just — just go online.”

[Gothmog]

59. I have to watch Meet the Press Tomorrow

Link to tweet