Democratic Primaries

TomCADem

(17,831 posts)

9. The 'swarm': How a subset of Sanders supporters use hostile tactics to drown out critics

Fri Mar 6, 2020, 12:20 AM

Mar 2020

Bernie Sanders spent months pretending that his supporters were not engaging in hostile tactics even though their behavior is no different from how they acted in 2016.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/07/politics/bernie-sanders-social-media-attacks-invs/index.html

(CNN)When the progressive Working Families Party announced its endorsement of Sen. Elizabeth Warren for president in September, anger reverberated across the SandersForPresident Reddit page for days.

One of the Reddit group's then-300,000 members encouraged fellow supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders to "spy" on the Working Families Party's activities and "organize counter events."

On Twitter, Sanders supporters lobbed hundreds of critical messages at the Working Families Party or its leadership, which included personal attacks that called them "corrupt," "shameless" and "bloodless scumbag hacks." One pro-Sanders account tweeted that "slave masters" had coerced the support of the party's national director, who is African American.

Three days after the endorsement, a WFP spokeswoman tweeted a screenshot of one message that wished she and her colleagues would "all get cancer you are f**king trash." She also said they received private messages saying "eat sh*t and die" and "drop dead dumb c*nts."

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

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Liz on what it's like to be tortured by Bernie's minions. [View all] nolabear Mar 2020 OP

Seems to be getting a lot of attention. TwilightZone Mar 2020 #1

Ah. Good. nolabear Mar 2020 #3

Yeah, she is not endorsing Sanders.... LaurenOlimina Mar 2020 #2

I wished she had said this during the debates. squirecam Mar 2020 #4

When she endorses Biden, RIGHT before Michigan, it will LaurenOlimina Mar 2020 #5

I don't think she will endorse. squirecam Mar 2020 #6

Agreed. She should remain neutral until the nominee has been chosen. LonePirate Mar 2020 #11

She inherits the progressive part of the party. squirecam Mar 2020 #13

Well, it would sway my vote. LaurenOlimina Mar 2020 #19

Race will be over mathematically if Sanders loses Michigan. squirecam Mar 2020 #20

Don't worry, Biden's my fifth choice. LaurenOlimina Mar 2020 #21

He was my fourth. squirecam Mar 2020 #22

I like all of those choices. LaurenOlimina Mar 2020 #25

I love Harris as AG. squirecam Mar 2020 #26

This! 👍 Tarheel_Dem Mar 2020 #44

She just dropped a William769 Mar 2020 #7

She actually anti-endorsed Bernie NYMinute Mar 2020 #15

That was the bomb she dropped. William769 Mar 2020 #16

Yep ... she is incredibly smart NYMinute Mar 2020 #18

Clever and smart move on her part... BigmanPigman Mar 2020 #31

In a perfect world, she'd be my candidate, but this world is damaged, needs repairing. lark Mar 2020 #42

In a perfect world BigmanPigman Mar 2020 #43

Who's he going to bring in? Republicans? Doremus Mar 2020 #45

K&R betsuni Mar 2020 #8

The 'swarm': How a subset of Sanders supporters use hostile tactics to drown out critics TomCADem Mar 2020 #9

I never see any fight with Democrats as a real fight. rusty quoin Mar 2020 #10

So you're ok with the behavior of Sanders' supporters on line as Sen Warren mentioned? NYMinute Mar 2020 #17

Yes. You need to ignore some family members at thanksgiving. rusty quoin Mar 2020 #23

These are not family people in a small gathering NYMinute Mar 2020 #24

This message was self-deleted by its author LongtimeAZDem Mar 2020 #32

They aren't members of any family I belong to Clash City Rocker Mar 2020 #37

Oaky dokey rusty quoin Mar 2020 #46

OK, I feel somewhat vindicated frazzled Mar 2020 #12

Yes squirecam Mar 2020 #14

Yes It Is Sad So Many Angry Supporters Of Bernie Know The Pillaging Of Their Families Will Continue DanieRains Mar 2020 #27

You make a decent case. Your candidate could learn some things. nolabear Mar 2020 #29

A leader should make the case for the people without stoking anger. showblue22 Mar 2020 #35

"Few non Sanders Supporters understand why anyone would be angry ehrnst Mar 2020 #40

I dig how you rationalize poor behavior as some new strain of courage. LanternWaste Mar 2020 #41

Thank you for not holding back, Elizabeth! Cha Mar 2020 #28

It is impossible to disagree with her. ramen Mar 2020 #30

This was so very upsetting... Upthevibe Mar 2020 #33

How or why does Bernie attract these types of voters? Lanius Mar 2020 #34

Stoking anger is a strategy. showblue22 Mar 2020 #36

Appealing to emotion rather than reason Clash City Rocker Mar 2020 #38

K&R brer cat Mar 2020 #39

Nah no. Maybe Liz will say something second. I'm okay with her saying nothing. rusty quoin Mar 2020 #47