Something we need to remember during the primaries: Don't let outside sources divide us.

[Arkansas Granny]

Sustained and ongoing’ disinformation assault targets Dem presidential candidates

A wide-ranging disinformation campaign aimed at Democratic 2020 candidates is already underway on social media, with signs that foreign state actors are driving at least some of the activity.

The main targets appear to be Sens. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas), four of the most prominent announced or prospective candidates for president.


A POLITICO review of recent data extracted from Twitter and from other platforms, as well as interviews with data scientists and digital campaign strategists, suggests that the goal of the coordinated barrage appears to be undermining the nascent candidacies through the dissemination of memes, hashtags, misinformation and distortions of their positions. But the divisive nature of many of the posts also hints at a broader effort to sow discord and chaos within the Democratic presidential primary.

The cyber propaganda — which frequently picks at the rawest, most sensitive issues in public discourse — is being pushed across a variety of platforms and with a more insidious approach than in the 2016 presidential election, when online attacks designed to polarize and mislead voters first surfaced on a massive scale.

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/02/20/2020-candidates-social-media-attack-1176018

If they can get us fighting among ourselves, we'll wind up with another 4 years of Trump. Don't let them do it.

[samnsara]

1. its easy on twitter to see the bots and dividers... they have close to 0 followers and

..1 or 2 posts-always nasty and angry. I identify them and pass their post along and urge others to block... One post this am was particularly nasty. It was the thread about Michelle O being more popular than Biden or something (was posted on DU)..tweet stated if Michelle was prez we would 'still be waiting for the first woman POTUS.'


RUSSIAN BOT...BLOCK!

[IluvPitties]

2. They will try hard, but the fact that all of our candidates are better than Trump

will mitigate any efforts.

[peggysue2]

3. One of the advantages for the 2020 cycle is . . .

that we know they're out there and we know the real damage that can be inflicted.

Forewarned is forearmed, as the saying goes. We've had a heads-up this time. We'd be idiots (and losers) not to take that knowledge and forge forward together.

We did it in 2018 despite the doubters. We can do it again. Because we must.

[Arkansas Granny]

4. It's very important to do fact checking. There are a few good sites for that, but sometimes you

have to do the research find the truth.

[peggysue2]

6. Exactly!

The very instrument that spreads the propaganda can be used to fight the disinformation. We have it at our fingertips if we're willing to spend the time to research, read and analyze. We need to be as active and dedicated in ferreting out the facts as those who would spread the slimy muck and idiotic conspiracy theories. It's not rocket science but it does take time and effort.

[defacto7]

15. +100

[Uncle Joe]

5. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread Arkansas Granny.

[Arkansas Granny]

8. I have felt for a long time that some of the infighting and animosity we saw here on DU during 2016

primary season was started and/or egged on by trolls. A lot of good DUers were goaded into making statements that got them suspended or banned. I would hate to see a repeat of that in 2020. We may disagree on who we want to see nominated, but once that is determined, we all need to stand behind the Democratic candidate. Otherwise, we stand a very good chance of having another 4 years of Trump.

[Uncle Joe]

10. I agree. n/t

[QC]

7. I think it's too late to worry about that.

So far this forum is simply a rehash of 2016, with a good many members, some old and some new, busy driving wedges 24/7.

[Arkansas Granny]

9. I've seen the signs, as well.

[R B Garr]

11. What irony, since you post about 2016 so frequently. nt

[Peacetrain]

12. Good Advice!!!

It got so ugly last time, I backed out .. but when it gets close to election time.. I sort of stop going on social media.. because of all the craziness..

[NurseJackie]

13. You know what else is divisive?

Sustained and ongoing’ disinformation assault targets Dem presidential candidates

You're right, of course... but do you know what else is divisive? Attacks on the Democratic party.

Whenever someone says that the Democratic party is "ideologically bankrupt" and that Democrats are "feeble". It's also divisive whenever someone accuses the Democratic party of being "an absolute failure", or that the Democratic party is the "party of the one-percent" and "the party of the elite".

What good purpose does it serve for anyone to say things like that? It's divisive and it it only leads to suspicion and resentment. A divided Democratic party is a weakened party... and that only benefits the GOP, and Trump, and Russia. Why would anyone say things that are so divisive and harmful?

Any suggestion that "there's no difference between the Democrats and the GOP" is false, but when it's repeated often enough, the low-information voters begin to believe it and become dis-motivated to vote or to support Democratic candidates.

Don't let outside sources divide us.

Yes, that's good advice. But all I'm trying to say here is that sources of division don't always come from "outside" and that we should be aware and fight back against harmful and divisive rhetoric no matter where it comes from.

[brooklynite]

14. Something else we need to remember: not every negative story is from an outside source

If our candidates have flaws or weaknesses, the media -- and political activists -- are going to find out about them and discuss them. As they should.