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[virtualobserver]

This message was self-deleted by its author (virtualobserver) on Sun Sep 20, 2015, 10:17 PM. When the original post in a discussion thread is self-deleted, the entire discussion thread is automatically locked so new replies cannot be posted.

[sufrommich]

1. "the Koch brothers are known for funding twitter attacks"

Oh my God. I'm getting dizzy from shaking my head so much reading DU this morning.

[bravenak]

4. My god!!

I'm supposed to take a nap but they just keep going.

[artislife]

19. I am so sorry

I just want to say I enjoyed laughing along side you yesterday. After waking up to this site this morning, I know it has been like being sucker punched again and again.

There is no excuse. I am sorry for this.

[bravenak]

21. Don't apologize. This shit is unreal. We should just back out slowly before they see us.

[randys1]

51. I heard the WHOLE thing is a classic George Clooney practical joke.

Bernie gonna be so mad

[virtualobserver]

6. what a nutty idea, huh?

......undermining one of Bernie's great strengths, his record on civil rights issues.

by ridiculing his "blackness".


How does that not divide us?

[sufrommich]

8. There isn't a woman's rights or a minority activist alive

who doesn't understand that " how does this not divide us" is code for "shut up".

[virtualobserver]

11. You won't deal with the substance of what I am saying

I don't speak in code.

If you don't feel that ridiculing the "blackness" of someone who has spent his whole life on working on civil rights issues is divisive, I am at a loss.

[MuseRider]

39. This is true

but a lot of people don't get it because they have never had to get it.

I'm sticking with Bernie because I believe he will be perfectly comfortable talking about this and doing the right thing but this had to happen. I wish it didn't but it is long passed time that it did and I don't get to control the how or where or to whom.

Why this has not been dealt with by our government is something I will never understand.

I will try to stay out of this for now. I sure hope these issues get the hearing they deserve and need. Sometimes you just have to cause the storm to get there.

[appalachiablue]

57. I've been wondering for a year or more about where our govt. is, like DOJ,

national and state. And is BLM meeting with Hillary now? She's a candidate, not exempt from this impt. issue just because she's not actively on the campaign trail like others. I'd like to hear about her ideas when she meets with them, hopefully soon.

[MuseRider]

58. I think I saw

something about her answering their questions on FaceBook? I did not read it, it could have been a funny post. If not she at least answered them but I am not sure that move will not be seen as chicken way out. Nice, sooth move Hillary. Somehow I think she is not going to get away with that but we will see. I do not think this was orchestrated by Hillary but she sure seemed to get away with an easier way out than O'Malley and Sanders this time anyway.

[m-lekktor]

41. you are correct! nt

[bravenak]

2. You guys have got to let it go! Stop!

Just move on and regroup. No conspiracy theories. I saw it start in real time. The angrier and more bitter you get the less likely you are to get black votes. Just stop. It looks bad.

[Raine1967]

38. +1 I saw it start too.

For anyone who is trying to make this play like some conspiracy needs to read this: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/07/19/blacktwitter-turns-on-bernie-sanders.html?via=twitter_page

I have talked with Imani a few times in real life. I have serious love for that woman and this was born out of reality.

She's not owned or paid for by Soros (as I have seen claimed here on DU) or any other stupid damn theory.

This shit is real.

[m-lekktor]

42. i just came back to DU and just scanned all this stuff going on!

I am just going to keep my trap shut (hopefully) and read. I am seeing all your posts with your advice and concerns and i am going to attempt to take your lead and back the fuck off. I have always appreciated your take on things that I can never know because i am not AA. I will NOT dismiss the concerns of the BLM people and whether they turn against my candidate I will just have to take them serious and learn why. I belong to a minority as well (though i do benefit from white privilege) and i know what it is like to be dismissed because we are gonna "ruin everything and lose the election"! !11 derp

I will give the benefit of the doubt that the cause is noble and there are not political primary dirty tricks/conspiracies going on with zero proof. I will try to stick to this but who knows what could happen later on as things unfold! lol *sigh*

anyway i appreciate your input on DU this morning and always.

[bravenak]

59. Thank you.

[Smarmie Doofus]

3. Ya think? n/t

[TM99]

5. They think they are cute.

It is part narcissism and part legitimate rage.

An entire generation of angry men and women of all races whose only outlet for attempted change is the sterility and unreality of Facebook and the 140 characters of pseudo-communication on Twitter.

By the time they burn their wood, they may well find that they are worse off than before with no meaningful chance for change in any of our futures.

You want to protest? Great. Take it to the streets. Take it to all the Town Halls for all of the candidates, Republican and Democratic alike. Take it to the conventions. And most importantly sit down with candidates and hammer out plans and goals. Create alliances among the oppressed and make some progress moving forward.

Emotionality alone will not solve the problems we all face. Hearts AND minds must both be fully engaged to deal with racism. It has always been true. It continues to be so as well.

[KittyWampus]

15. On Twitter/BlackTwitter: I was bullied growing up. Part of how I dealt with that

was hanging out on the playground with the black girls. I'd turn the ropes for double dutch… which I sucked at and also played tether ball where I could hold my own. Part of that time was trading insults… yo mama type stuff. I also got pretty good at that.

Berniesoblack is essentially just like that playground fooling around, can-you-top-this sort of thing.

And Twitter is a cyber playground. You don't have to be on the same physical space to interact anymore.

And memes do jump quite quickly from Twitter or Reddit into real time daily discourse.

So as a 50 year old woman who doesn't even personally use Twitter or even text, I think you might want to reconsider your dismissal.

They say no publicity is bad publicity. That Berniesoblack is free advertising.

The protest happened so early in the Summer. Bernie and O'Malley have plenty of time to work it out and can even manage to use it to their advantage if they are smart.

Have a good week TM99. It's getting hot and steamy here in NY.

[TM99]

16. Thank you for this reply.

I don't dismiss it entirely. I know the good that can and should occur from it. I have grown up with the tech revolution and the internet. I also see how damaging social media can be psychologically. The bullying, the shaming, the narcissism, etc. are damaging to young and old alike.

You are correct that it is very early in the campaign season. I know that both of these candidates truly care about minorities and will do their part in conveying that support to those online and offline that are willing to listen.

This matters to me greatly. I am fortunate to have not lost any siblings, cousins, or nieces/nephews to police violence or racially motivated violence. I have got a few that have been or still are in jail for silly drug offenses and others who can not afford to get an education. Sanders, for me, represent some very real change with regards to these issues.

You have a great week yourself, and again, thank you.

[1StrongBlackMan]

44. This is what happens when people unfamiliar with ...

something, view that thing through your only frame of reference ... which is completely understandable, up until the point that people that ARE familiar with that thing tell you differently. Then, one's continuing to see that thing through your uncorrected frame, becomes willful disregard of others.

Example from here:

PoC: "This economic primacy message does not resonate with me because it doesn't address those matters that most closely touch my life."

Would Be Ally: "What are you talking about? ... economic justice and social justice are inter-twined and inseparable." (the cite to MLK ... out of context)

PoC: "No, they aren't! For PoC, economic injustice is a out-growth of social injustice. Addressing economic justice alone, or even first, is an insufficient reply."

Would be Allie: "But I/He (have) spent the last 50 year fighting for Civil Rights ..."

PoC: "And? That is irrelevant to my, today."

Would Be Ally: "There you go with that wedge thing again ... And, why are you implying that I am a racist!"

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

29. Some of them are damn funny.

And it's really mostly mocking Bernie supporters who can't quit talking about his marching 50 years ago, not Bernie himself.

If we want to win those voters, we need to be talking about what Bernie has done RECENTLY for PoC. Dig up the votes, dig up the sponsored and cosponsored legislation. Start twittering about THAT, not MLK. And, of course, what he's going to do going forward. But that's got to start with him. I''m PRAYING (and I'm an atheist...) that he's got somebody onstaff doing the racial equivalent of whispering in Caesar's ear 'Remember thou art mortal...', and is already figuring out how to work WITH BLM and other black community leadership to address their very real, urgent and legitimate needs.

[TM99]

30. Some are, and I would love to see him

make a Tweet himself gently mocking himself with the meme. THAT would kick ass!

[1StrongBlackMan]

43. +1 ... Because otherwise, it comes across as ...

If we want to win those voters, we need to be talking about what Bernie has done RECENTLY for PoC. Dig up the votes, dig up the sponsored and cosponsored legislation. Start twittering about THAT, not MLK. And, of course, what he's going to do going forward. But that's got to start with him.

Because otherwise,

I spent 50 years of my life fighting for civil rights and dignity, but if you don’t want me to be here that’s OK. I don’t want to out-scream people.

comes across as ... "After all I've done for you ... and you treat me like this?!? You ingrates!"

And that is not likely to come off well.

[DanTex]

7. But calling Hillary a corporatist sellout over and over brings us all together.

[virtualobserver]

9. calling someone a "corporatist sellout" is an attack on policy

even if the term isn't friendly.


#berniesoblack is about race. It divides us and there are Democrats cheering it on.

Republicans laugh their asses off that their candidates are for the most part openly racist, and a guy who marched with MLK and endorsed Jesse Jackson is being ridiculed on race issues.

[DanTex]

13. So that makes the divisiveness OK? Because it's about economic and not a social issues?

Republicans laugh their asses off that their candidates are totally for the 1% while Hillary wants to increase the minimum wage, strengthen union rights and financial regulation, and increase taxes on hedge fund managers, and the far left calls her "corporatist".

[virtualobserver]

23. criticizing policy is not divisive

her dance around TPP is one of the reasons why she is called that.

TPP works against almost all of the things that she says she is for.

Nothing in Bernie's history should cause him to be attacked on race issues.

[DanTex]

25. In that case, neither is the criticizing the focus on economic issues over social issues.

You really can't have this both ways. You can have both "corporatist" and "berniesoblack", or you can have neither.

What you are saying is that you think the criticism implicit behind "berniesoblack" is invalid, and therefore that makes it divisive. Well, guess what, a lot of people don't think that criticism is invalid. And, on the other hand, a lot of people think that the criticism of Hillary behind "corporatist" is invalid.

With TPP specifically. Many people are ambivalent about it, and polls show more Dems are in favor than opposed. Could it possibly be that Hillary and you simply have a difference of opinion on whether this is good for our country? But you are both strong progressives nevertheless?

[MADem]

37. That hashtag is an "attack on policy" too--unless you actually believe that

#berniesoblack he played the cowbell on Got To Give It Up....

The "play nice because we have to worry about what THEY think of us" argument is a fail. Who cares what Republicans are "laughing their ass off" about? We don't live for them. We don't limit our discussions out of fear regarding what THEY might think.

Atticus Finch changed his tune, too. Ask Harper Lee. George 'Schoolhouse Door' Wallace did,
too--and quite surprisingly.

People aren't static. Nothing wrong with checking the oil.

I think the song of the week is "What Have You Done For Me Lately?"

[Cha]

35. Oh that's okay.. mustn't let the Black Community call out bernie sanders if they want to, though.

[ibegurpard]

10. I'll bet Bernie is laughing at this too

Some funny shit there

[virtualobserver]

12. as funny as the Dean scream.

as funny as a swiftboat.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

52. #Berniesoblack he was originally cast as Mace Windu. nt

[Capt. Obvious]

14. Koch brothers may be laughing their ass of

but they most assuredly didn't start that hashtag.

If you've followed that hashtag btw you'll see what BT has to say about people citing Sanders' history.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

17. The Dozens has a long tradition in the African American community...

I doubt those twitter participants trying to outdo one another believe Bernie Sanders is a bad guy.

[virtualobserver]

22. since the Dozens is played between AA's insulting each other

that would mean Bernie IS black, and apparently should be insulting AA's back.

Doesn't seem to fit the situation to me.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

24. He could join in

eom

[Trajan]

36. That's the last thing I'm reading from you ...

Sad, isn't it? ... Your final snarky ass words in my view ..

[DemocratSinceBirth]

40. Huh, I am white and have played ...

Huh, I am white and have played The Dozens literally dozens of times with my African American friends when I was in high school... I used to also spit Ohio Players lyrics but I digress... The Dozens is a time honored form of verbal jousting in the African American community and the participants mean no harm and have no genuine animus for one another.

I do think you can learn more from listening to people than telling them what to do.

God bless you and have a wonderful day.

[1StrongBlackMan]

45. Wow ...

since the Dozens is played between AA's insulting each other that would mean Bernie IS black, and apparently should be insulting AA's back.

Correct me if I'm wrong; but, you haven't spent much time in the Black community, huh?

I'll say it again ... This is what happens when people unfamiliar with something, view that thing through your only frame of reference ... which is completely understandable, up until the point that people that ARE familiar with that thing tell you differently. Then, one's continuing to see that thing through your uncorrected frame, becomes willful disregard of others.

[virtualobserver]

46. wow indeed....

You know that this isn't a game.

Playing the Dozens cross-racially in the context of a political campaign using a hashtag that utilizes race.

So that isn't divisive?

[1StrongBlackMan]

47. Yes ... BernieSoBlack IS, in fact, a game, as in poking fun at something ...

But I'll say it again ... This is what happens when people unfamiliar with something, view that thing through your only frame of reference ... which is completely understandable, up until the point that people that ARE familiar with that thing tell you differently. Then, one's continuing to see that thing through your uncorrected frame, becomes willful disregard of others.

[virtualobserver]

48. if poking fun uilizing race is acceptable within your "correct" frame

then I leave you to it. Enjoy.

[1StrongBlackMan]

49. But I'll say it again, for a third time ...

This is what happens when people unfamiliar with something, view that thing through your only frame of reference ... which is completely understandable, up until the point that people that ARE familiar with that thing tell you differently. Then, one's continuing to see that thing through your uncorrected frame, becomes willful disregard of others.

And will add, your being offended/aghast at something you are neither a part of, nor understand, is troublesome.

Well, not really ... so long as your stay in your lane and don't try and involve yourself.

[virtualobserver]

54. I am not offended.....

I get it, you think that cross-racial joking is fine,
and that I willfully disregard your "correct" frame of reference
that I require some sort of insider knowledge to understand
this time honored tradition.

Cross-racial joking is unfortunately a time honored tradition generally in our society, i'll grant you that

[JaneyVee]

18. It was started by a black lives matter activist.

Im 100% sure Koch bros. not involved.

[Capt. Obvious]

28. Do you know who started it?

[MohRokTah]

33. #blacktwitter collectively started it.

Bernie supporters kept whitesplaining how #blacklivesmatter people are supposed to protest. #berniesoblack was the response by #blacktwitter over that whitesplaining.

[bravenak]

60. I posted an article in AA about who started it.

[Renew Deal]

20. What examples are there of Bernie spending "his life concerned about civil rights issues"?

There must be evidence.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

26. Meh. I've firmly behind Bernie, and some of them are really funny.

And it gets his name out there and gets a lot of people to ask 'Bernie who?' And a lot of them will read more about him, and some of them will end up supporters.

Unless, of course, his other supporters keep whining and sniping so that they won't want to associate with us.

One of my favourites was #Berniesoblack that Hillary takes his vote for a given.

[virtualobserver]

31. I hope that you are right

[artislife]

61. You know, Sunday was so funny

Then the week end stopped.

[HassleCat]

27. And you need to ask yourself

If it's Sanders today, who is next?

[MohRokTah]

32. It was a response by #blacktwitter over the whitesplaining Bernie supporters gave #blacklivesmatter

So really, your post is clueless about where the hashtag came from. Bernie Sanders supporters were the ones that insured it would start.

[Trajan]

34. I am dumping anybody who promotes this nonsense into my ignore list

Also, those who would use lies to promote their candidate ...

No room in my life for that shiat .. You lie? .. You are gone ...

[DCBob]

50. Attributing this to the Koch brothers is nonsense.

I am sure they would prefer Bernie to be the nominee over Hillary... much easier to beat.

[virtualobserver]

55. Win or lose the nomination, Bernie is attacking the Billionaires and calling out the Koch's

They would prefer to crush him before the anti-Billionaire meme catches.

I'm not attributing it to them, just saying that they will exploit it.

[Zorra]

53. Banksters swiftboating Bernie was as inevitable as the sunrise. nt

[SusanCalvin]

62. It's not against Bernie.

It's against some of his "supporters."

This is my favorite:

Well, Amazon Silk seems to have broken or hidden searching within a page, but the gist of it was Hillary taking his vote for granted.