Now that Harris is out, the trolls will next start ramping up attacks on Biden re: Anita Hill

[StarfishSaver]

Wait for it.

[janterry]

1. I am not a troll because I have doubts about

Joe Biden.

[StarfishSaver]

2. I'm not talking about people who have doubts about Biden

I'm talking about trolls.

[Autumn]

5. To some there's not a bit of difference. nt

[myohmy2]

8. +1

...

[at140]

52. +10

[FloridaBlues]

3. Biden has more attacks than any candidate from trump, left, right and in between

I'm sure it won't stop anytime soon.

[LongtimeAZDem]

4. Nothing new; Biden can handle it.

Last edited Wed Dec 4, 2019, 10:44 AM - Edit history (1)

But I appreciate your concern.

[JoeOtterbein]

6. Good answer.

Our candidate will need to have a very tough skin.

That's one reason I'm all in for Bernie!

[brooklynite]

10. The candidate who endlessly complains about media coverage?

[JoeOtterbein]

14. Should be fine in a op that complains about DU coverage!

[OnDoutside]

7. To be fair, Kamala wasn't dominating anything, let alone trolls....

[brooklynite]

9. Are you saying that criticism of Harris's campaign was unwarranted?

If so, perhaps you should point out which of the people here who were raised criticisms are "trolls"?

[StarfishSaver]

12. How did you get THAT out of my OP

I said nothing of the kind.

[Demsrule86]

24. I thought it was more than fair...and Sanders, Biden and Buttigeig have received worse treatment.

[at140]

53. Sanders is not my favorite, but he has arguably received the worst treatment

on this forum by posters.

[Demsrule86]

55. Sanders is controversial because of 16...no doubt. And he has received terrible treatment. I saw

recently on PBS I think where he wasn't even mentioned. He is one of the top four. I supported Sanders early in the primary in 16 and voted for him in Ohio...but it became clear he could not win so I switched to Hillary. I liked both our candidates in 16 and all of our candidates now ...Gabbard is not on of my favorites but I think she has been treated unfairly also. She did bring some of it on herself of course.

[Skya Rhen]

11. Agree and those trolls foolishly believe that AAs live in a bubble and aren't already aware of Hill.

[Autumn]

13. Just because we disagree with you on Anita Hill and Biden's history there doesn't make us trolls,

and we don't live in a bubble.

[Skya Rhen]

17. As I said, we African Americans don't live in a bubble and don't appreciate trolls repeating

their race-baiting talking points over and over again, in hopes that one day we will finally "come to our senses". Quite frankly, it's insulting.

[Autumn]

22. I don't believe any of we POC live in a bubble. And to be fair my white friends don't live in one

either. As to race baiting talking points about Biden? I have seen none of that. None.

[Demsrule86]

23. Joe Biden is not a rascist and has fought for civil rights his entire career...none of the other

candidates can match this...and Thomas is writing a book attacking Biden for his 'public lynching'.

[Autumn]

25. So we agree Thomas is a troll. But just because some of us don't like Biden for the Hill debacle

among other things that makes us trolls? That's bullshit.

[StarfishSaver]

26. I don't think everyone who has a problem with Biden on this is a troll

But I do think that trolls will ramp up their attacks on him about this issue. The purpose being to try to drive away black women who either supported Kamala or who are unhappy about her getting out of the race.

As I said. Wait for it.

[Autumn]

28. I love Kamala, but I'm blaming her leaving the race on her. No one drove her away, it was her

failure to get the support of the voters, whites and AA's in the primary. I'm sorry but when Anita Hill comes up I don't consider it an attack. He has a history there and it's going to come up and to expect people who have an opinion on that to not discuss it on a political message board is just silly.

Either Biden weathers the discussion of his political history, his votes and his beliefs or he doesn't.

[Demsrule86]

30. when did I ever say your were a troll? I certainly never thought so...I don't care about the Anita

Hill thing...she never once went after the GOP types...from what I can tell, Biden was between a rock and a hard place. There was support for Thomas within the AA community...It was kind of a civil rights thing. As Black men had been attacked in this manner before as a tool of Jim Crow and racism. She got a hearing thanks to Biden and has made a career out of attacking Democrats as far as I can see while giving the GOP a pass. Thomas hates Biden as much or more than Anita Hill does...new book coming out.

You have a right to your opinion...and it always fun to write posts attempting to rip apart your arguments (not always possible as you are pretty good at it). I love a good discussion...you are not a troll for heaven's sake and I never thought you were...I do feel that we should all take care not to feed the trolls on social media mostly...as it is likely that Biden will be the nominee. I do not post (mostly-alas no one is perfect) shit a about candidates generally in case I am wrong and someone else is the nominee. We don't want to give them (trolls and Republicans) ammunition...and I am not saying you ever have...it is a general comment.

[Autumn]

34. I disagree with her getting a hearing from Biden. Facts prove that he didn't give her a

fair hearing. He never even allowed witnesses that were there to back up her claims. As a POC watching an intelligent black woman going through what they put her through was disgusting. I will vote him if I have to in the GE but the OP made it clear that if Anita Hill is brought up, and she will be a subject for discussion as part of Biden's history, you are a troll. I never said you called us trolls. Maybe we ought to realize we all have a candidate we like and since we post on a political message board we ought to not call people trolls that talk about other candidates and their history.

[Demsrule86]

39. I agree with you... every person has the right to his or her opinion. My Mom watched the hearings.

I was too young...and she hated Arlen Spector until her dying day, but did not ever mention Biden in a negative way. She died just as I was taking an interest in politics...oh I voted straight 'D' but that was about it. She worked the campaigns and although she hailed from the segregated South fought for civil rights as a young woman and continued her entire life. She is and was my hero. I wish she would have known about President Obama. I know of the hearing as in reading history...not first hand as it sounds like you do.

[Demsrule86]

40. The only thing I would add is a fair hearing as you describe it would have led to complaints of

racism and 'public lynching of Thomas charges' against Biden and Democrats...I think it was a no win situation. It was unlikely we would stop Thomas's confirmation so what was the point? I would also point out that Biden did not vote for Thomas. It was a different world back then. I think Biden did the best he could...just my two cents. And the fact you disagree with this does not make you a troll...but just mistaken....hehe. just kidding.

[Autumn]

43. The charges of a "high tech lynching" came from Thomas.

That was his only defense to attempt to stop his actions from derailing his seating on the SC. He got away with it because witnesses to her account were not allowed to speak. I remember it well, so no, I'm not mistaken. I watched every minute if that. I remember Biden telling Thomas... "Judge tough day and a tough night for you, I know." The difference as to how Thomas was treated compared to her was stunning. Biden told them that it was "permissible to ask her anything they wanted to to plumb the depths of her credibility" And the Republican went after he BIG. She was called a scorned woman, a militant , accused of just wanting to write a book. So much more. Mean while he was treated with kid gloves and called Judge. My whole problem with the whole thing is that there were witnesses to back her up. Witnesses that were not called. That was a travesty. It's all done and over, but it's history.
Kavanaugh and the republicans followed the Clarence model in his confirmation. And that worked well for him too.

[Demsrule86]

50. Not just Thomas...more people believed Thomas than Hill...which is unfair in my opinion. One thing

I did read is that Hill thought if Thomas knew about the allegation he would withdraw. I don't think she ever expected to testify...her name was leaked without permission...where have we heard this before.

" (CNN)In July 1991, more than half of Americans -- 52% -- said they would like to see the Senate vote in favor of Clarence Thomas serving on the Supreme Court, with 17% who said they would not want them to vote in favor, according to a Gallup/CNN poll.


"Months later, after Anita Hill accused the judge of sexual harassment and testified about it on Capitol Hill, the number who said the Senate should vote to confirm had grown, with 58% who said yes, according to a Gallup poll. After his confirmation, in an ABC News / Washington Post poll, 62% of Americans said Thomas should have been confirmed compared to 34% who said he should not. More Americans told Gallup they believed Thomas -- 48% -- than Hill -- 29% -- after her testimony."

[redqueen]

49. Would think concerns about the way he treated Anita Hill

would be more aimed at women.

[Merlot]

15. No one was talking about Anita Hill until this thread

So, troll?

[LongtimeAZDem]

16. Exactly

[Scurrilous]

32. Her name's come up now and then...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/128791007

https://www.democraticunderground.com/128791978

https://www.democraticunderground.com/128739929

https://www.democraticunderground.com/128790086

[MineralMan]

18. They're ramping up attacks on Biden regarding almost anything they can find.

That's because they have nothing positive to say about whatever candidate they support, if there is such a candidate. Others of them are simply on the other side of everything, and are only pretending to be Democrats.

Thus has it always been.

[Autumn]

38. Some people who post positive things about their candidates have found *Edited to add another link*

Last edited Fri Dec 6, 2019, 10:17 AM - Edit history (2)

there are those who complain about that or drop in to take a dump on it.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287363184

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287367591

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287364137

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287365419

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287371545#post8

[JonLP24]

41. This is why I only post positive OPs about other candidates in this forum

I show a lot more respect to candidates other than my own.

[brooklynite]

46. Which of the responses are you troubled by? And why?

If you don't want responses from people who don't support your candidate, you have a safe space forum available.

[Autumn]

47. There's a safe place available for every candidate. There also this forum where people can discuss

the history of other candidates. I responded to the comment that people who are talking about Biden, "because they have nothing positive to say about whatever candidate they support" I pointed out, with links, that positive threads also will be attacked by some.

[at140]

54. I have admired senator Biden for a very long time, since early 1970's

and that may be my only problem with Biden...he has been around so long.
Age has caught up with him just like it does with every human being.
Other than that Biden is great.

[ismnotwasm]

19. I have come to believe

People engaged in group think, or tribalism if you will, refuse to believe or care they are trolling when they represent almost perfects examples of it.

From Wiki

In Internet slang, a troll is a person who starts quarrels or upsets people on the Internet to distract and sow discord by posting inflammatory and digressive,[1] extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community (such as a newsgroup, forum, chat room, or blog) with the intent of provoking readers into displaying emotional responses[2] and normalizing tangential discussion,[3] whether for the troll's amusement or a specific gain.

That being said, Biden actions regarding Anita Hill are part of the reason he wasn’t my first choice. And THAT being said, he’s still going to win the nomination barring something dramatic, and I’m not going to be sad about it.

[Act_of_Reparation]

58. That doesn't make any sense.

It says in the definition of trolling that the intent is to provoke an emotional response. Trolls will say anything—oftentimes shit they don't actually believe—just for the entertainment value associated with infuriating someone to the point of incoherence.

Tribalism and groupthink are on the polar opposite end of the motivational spectrum. Trolls attack because they're sadists, because they derive joy from causing suffering in others. Tribalists attack because they need to believe something to feel better about themselves.

[TidalWave46]

20. The Hill attacks have shown up in force twice so far.

They had a similar impact as the Flores attacks. They seem to draw people closer to Biden.

Recognize those who use Hill to attack Biden for who they are, trolls. The name Thomas rarely crosses their lips as they trash a great Democrat.

[Demsrule86]

21. They have attacked on Anita Hill forever....one or two threads each week here....sometimes more.

A big who cares...and Thomas is writing a book about how much he hates Biden...My Dad once said that if no one is happy in a situation like this then it was probably a fair process...I wouldn't know ...before my time in a different world.

[Lancero]

27. Speaking of trolls, your concern is noted.

[LanternWaste]

31. Forty bucks says you fail to see any irony in your allegation.

[ismnotwasm]

35. Heh!

[LakeArenal]

29. Yep it took no time at all for someone to bring up Hill

[Autumn]

36. How shocking! Anita Hill is brought up in a thread about Anita Hill.

[LakeArenal]

37. And we can count on the side kicks!!

[Autumn]

45. Yes we certainly can count on those. nt

[beachbumbob]

33. Little effect.

[tritsofme]

42. Harris hasn't been a major player in months, not sure how this could possibly be related.

[StarfishSaver]

48. It's related because the trolls now see an opening

and are going to try to keep black women who either supported Harris or didn't necessarily support her but are unhappy about her getting out of the race from going to Biden.

It's going to happen. I'm just warning people to watch out for it.

[AncientGeezer]

59. Why would AA women fall for what "trolls" do?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

65. Its not related at all it's to get people here to remember something against biden

[BannonsLiver]

44. The bankruptcy thing was yesterday's coordinated meme

I jokingly thought I wonder if they’ll pivot to the tired old Anita Hill story for the 500th time next? I guess the law of diminishing returns is lost on some folks.

[LaurenOlimina]

51. 3 things...

You've got to run a good campaign. This is where Harris failed.
You've got to present a good argument. (I think Harris has done better than Biden at this.)
You have to survive vetting. Biden's still in it, expect top see EVERYTHING as we get closer.

Pointing out his record is not an attack.

[MicaelS]

56. You bet your ass they will!!!

Hell they have been doing that for a long time. Some people hold a grudge until it dies. Then they have it stuffed and mounted.

To compare Biden and Kavanaugh the two is utter nonsense. Kavanaugh actually committed sexual abuse. In no way did Biden actually commit sexual abuse.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

57. So now it's ok to literally put a right wing talking point in a post title!?

Bad on that

[AncientGeezer]

60. You said above..

"It's related because the trolls now see an opening and are going to try to keep black women who either supported Harris or didn't necessarily support her but are unhappy about her getting out of the race from going to Biden."

What makes you believe AA women can be so easily swayed by "trolls"?
That seems to discount the ability of AA women to weed out "trolls" and what they may try....hmm?

[StarfishSaver]

61. Why do you assume that I believe all black women will fall for it?

I said trolls are going to try to do it. And they will. I don't see why that's so difficult to believe or understand.

Especially given how quickly some people here accuse anyone who does bring up Anita Hill of being a troll.

[AncientGeezer]

62. Because you posted it.....even as a possibility, seems presumptuous at best.

Demeaning at worst....
My SIL is an AA woman...a Sen. Harris supporter until the Senator suspended her campaign yesterday....Immediately went to VPOTUS Biden....she and I disagree on that but she won't be open to "trolls"

[StarfishSaver]

63. That's nice for your SIL

Not sure how her choice in any way undercuts my point. But ok...

[AncientGeezer]

64. AA women aren't going to be trolled....that's My point

There may be attempts....but I have faith those will fail...miserably

[Iggo]

66. Okay, that's enough.

[loyalsister]

67. I'm not sure how this follows

My perception of the current conditions is that Black women are least likely to fall for trolls and as a practical strategy are willing to give in and support the candidate who is least offensive to white supremacists. Not because they think it's a good idea, but because they don't trust white people and I don't think there is any good reason to disagree with the worst assumptions about what multitudes of white people are willing to go along with in order to protect their privilege.
I make no predictions on strategy, but I think the way it stands right now, many Democratic voters are surrendering to white supremacy even though it is not their own personal preference. Some grudgingly, some comfortably. I don't know what the solution is when so few people seem to be willing to discuss white supremacy without being defensive. But the tragic result is political talent is being pushed aside as fear and defensiveness win out.