Detractors of 2020 Presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders often point to his online supporters and their apparent harassment of people on Twitter. You often hear the phrase "I like Bernie, I support his policies, but his supporters really put me off." This has been a running theme since the 2016 election with constant focus on supposed 'Bernie Bros' apparently harassing anyone who dare say a bad word about him.
For the majority of the time it follows a very similar pattern. Sanders is constantly criticised, sometimes fairly of course, but the majority of time you'll find it to be a prominent liberal saying something outlandish about Sanders, claiming him to be a russian plant, a sexist, racist, having policies that 'only benefit straight white people', a communist and is repeatedly compared to Trump. This is when Sanders supporters push back, this is the supposed 'harassment' - responding to bad faith criticism such as Sanders being compared to Donald Trump because he promises to do rallies and bring people into the political process should he become president. Then comes the "Bernie Bros are harassing me in my mentions!"
Sanders recently gained two high-profile endorsements, progressive Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal and popular online creator Hannah Hart. We should have a look at the responses to their announcements and see how a Sanders endorsement is seen in centrist liberal circles.
Firstly Jayapal, the Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, endorsed Sanders the other day, what were the reactions? Of course there were several conservatives screaming "BUT VENEZUELA!!!" which is expected. Then you get to the supporters of other Democratic candidates, and after a cursory scroll through the replies blasting Sanders as misogynist because he once said "old bitch" and another claiming that Sanders supporters are just comprised of bots with the hashtag #BotsForBernie, another claiming "I'm voting for someone a bit younger and healthier" and a ton of "no thanks, I'm still with Joe!"
As for Hannah Hart's endorsement announcement, it's a lot more positive thankfully, until you come to the 'more replies' section and out comes the "fu*k Bernie and his bros, I'm disappointed in you Hannah".
Another of Sanders' recent high profile announcements was supermodel Emily Ratajkowski. Among the comments were supposed liberals telling her to "stick to magazine covers", another comment claiming "he helped elect Trump!" Then out of the woodwork pops an Elizabeth Warren supporter claiming "he's too big of a forever victim, claiming everyone, especially dems are mean to him, enough of that sh*t in Trump. #PresidentElizabethWarren".
Maybe, just maybe it's the case that every candidate running has obnoxious supporters? Are Bernie supporters perfect? Of course not. But to pretend that all other campaigns have been extremely civil and respectful of their Democratic rivals is truly laughable.
Let's check in with the totally civil and respectful Democrats shall we?
What wonderful, civil and respectful people who clearly just disagree with Sanders on the issues, right?
Tell me more about Bernie Bros, please.
For the majority of the time it follows a very similar pattern. Sanders is constantly criticised, sometimes fairly of course, but the majority of time you'll find it to be a prominent liberal saying something outlandish about Sanders, claiming him to be a russian plant, a sexist, racist, having policies that 'only benefit straight white people', a communist and is repeatedly compared to Trump. This is when Sanders supporters push back, this is the supposed 'harassment' - responding to bad faith criticism such as Sanders being compared to Donald Trump because he promises to do rallies and bring people into the political process should he become president. Then comes the "Bernie Bros are harassing me in my mentions!"
Sanders recently gained two high-profile endorsements, progressive Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal and popular online creator Hannah Hart. We should have a look at the responses to their announcements and see how a Sanders endorsement is seen in centrist liberal circles.
Firstly Jayapal, the Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, endorsed Sanders the other day, what were the reactions? Of course there were several conservatives screaming "BUT VENEZUELA!!!" which is expected. Then you get to the supporters of other Democratic candidates, and after a cursory scroll through the replies blasting Sanders as misogynist because he once said "old bitch" and another claiming that Sanders supporters are just comprised of bots with the hashtag #BotsForBernie, another claiming "I'm voting for someone a bit younger and healthier" and a ton of "no thanks, I'm still with Joe!"
As for Hannah Hart's endorsement announcement, it's a lot more positive thankfully, until you come to the 'more replies' section and out comes the "fu*k Bernie and his bros, I'm disappointed in you Hannah".
Another of Sanders' recent high profile announcements was supermodel Emily Ratajkowski. Among the comments were supposed liberals telling her to "stick to magazine covers", another comment claiming "he helped elect Trump!" Then out of the woodwork pops an Elizabeth Warren supporter claiming "he's too big of a forever victim, claiming everyone, especially dems are mean to him, enough of that sh*t in Trump. #PresidentElizabethWarren".
Maybe, just maybe it's the case that every candidate running has obnoxious supporters? Are Bernie supporters perfect? Of course not. But to pretend that all other campaigns have been extremely civil and respectful of their Democratic rivals is truly laughable.
Let's check in with the totally civil and respectful Democrats shall we?
What wonderful, civil and respectful people who clearly just disagree with Sanders on the issues, right?
Tell me more about Bernie Bros, please.
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