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DanTex

(20,709 posts)

12. It's an accurate term, in the way the Vanity Fair article used it.

Wed Aug 16, 2017, 11:27 AM

Aug 2017

The division was there before the term, created by people claiming to be progressive who decided to support Trump because of "neoliberalism" or whatever else. That's actually divisiveness, way beyond word usage. Alt-left is fitting because they often use the same conspiracy theories, and the same anti-Hillary and anti-Democratic Party memes as the alt-right.

I guess we could use another term, and now that Trump has co-opted the term "alt-left", I'm guessing that progressive commentators are going to come up with another way to describe far-leftists that help elect Republicans in order to "burn it all down". But the people formerly known as "alt-left" are a real thing, and I'd bet right now you can find them trying to blame Charlottesville on Hillary Clinton.

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The term alt-left started on racist websites in Nov 2016 for false equivalency [View all] AnotherMother4Peace Aug 2017 OP

Too bad people were using it on here... nt HopeAgain Aug 2017 #1

In a totally different context. DanTex Aug 2017 #6

Still a divisive term- I've seen it thrown around HopeAgain Aug 2017 #9

It's an accurate term, in the way the Vanity Fair article used it. DanTex Aug 2017 #12

Sorry, I have to call bullshit on the Progressives supporting Trump. They might have voted Green. jalan48 Aug 2017 #22

I wouldn't describe them as "progressives" myself, of course. DanTex Aug 2017 #25

Proof for the assertion that " plenty of self-described "progressives" voted for Trump"? jalan48 Aug 2017 #27

Did you check JPR? DanTex Aug 2017 #30

or they could be lying about being Progressive DBoon Aug 2017 #33

JPR? Seriously? Some anonymous poster says something and you turn it into "many Progressives"? jalan48 Aug 2017 #34

They could be Russian trolls spreading misinformation, I guess. DanTex Aug 2017 #37

Personally, I have not seen one self-proclaimed Progressive say they were voting for Trump. jalan48 Aug 2017 #41

Well then you didn't check JPR like I told you. DanTex Aug 2017 #45

You want me to check a site where anonymous posters say stuff and accept that as proof? jalan48 Aug 2017 #46

Not sure what kind of "proof" you're looking for. DanTex Aug 2017 #49

We don't have an alt left in this country. Alt Left would be Communism. jalan48 Aug 2017 #84

You do realize that JPR came out of DUers- self proclaimed "progressives" bettyellen Aug 2017 #56

Bernie Sanders isn't viable? Haven't pollsters found him to be the most popular American politician? YoungDemCA Aug 2017 #99

I'm talking about the future, and he is going to be way too old. bettyellen Aug 2017 #102

It orginated on hard right websites for the purpose of creating false equivalency & framing. AnotherMother4Peace Aug 2017 #16

What a giant load of shit kcr Aug 2017 #21

I don't read hard-right websites so I wouldn't know. Seems like a case of independent invention. DanTex Aug 2017 #23

Maybe people don't get that there is an alt-left and a left. I'm clear that those who have used it seaglass Aug 2017 #101

1) Trump is a liar, so keep that in mind. 2) you are left, not "alt-left" emulatorloo Aug 2017 #48

It's weird to see people taking Trumps bait on this. And denying that people who called bettyellen Aug 2017 #58

I've been recently told that no one @ DU ever uncritically posted RW sources during primary 2016 emulatorloo Aug 2017 #65

It sucks that the term has been co-opted by Trump- but he also used their complaints about HRC all bettyellen Aug 2017 #70

People seriously have short memories kcr Aug 2017 #79

It's also been a very popular term of abuse right here. QC Aug 2017 #2

Yup. You could almost say it was 'deplorable'... WoonTars Aug 2017 #3

False Equivalency zipplewrath Aug 2017 #4

Like "establishment," "Third Way," BainsBane Aug 2017 #85

No zipplewrath Aug 2017 #87

Those terms aren't used to describe people who self-identify BainsBane Aug 2017 #88

+1 The term needs to be RETIRED from DU leftstreet Aug 2017 #10

in fact G_j Aug 2017 #11

When I heard Trump use it my first thought was "does he read DU?" N/t. white_wolf Aug 2017 #63

Oh yes it was. It's also still used frequently on Twitter by bitter folks wanting division riderinthestorm Aug 2017 #17

But comparing Hillary supporters to Neo-nazis is perfectly fine n/t kcr Aug 2017 #24

No. No it's not. riderinthestorm Aug 2017 #54

I'm describing the equating of Trump's use of alt-left kcr Aug 2017 #72

Some people here are making that connection, and it's nonsense. Trump co-opts bettyellen Aug 2017 #75

Actually, it's used to describe bitter folks wanting division. DanTex Aug 2017 #28

Yes, "bitter folks wanting division" was such an ironic R B Garr Aug 2017 #42

I have but they aren't truly left or progressive then are they? riderinthestorm Aug 2017 #57

They claim to be (see JPR, for example). DanTex Aug 2017 #61

Ah. Ok. I don't write off anyone - I've even persuaded Trump voters to see their mistake riderinthestorm Aug 2017 #64

so you are using a meme created by the racist right G_j Aug 2017 #76

I don't know its origin, I've only seen it used by progressives like Joy Reid and Kos and here on DU DanTex Aug 2017 #77

In terms of Trump's use of it, G_j Aug 2017 #80

Yes, that's Trump's use. Not mine, or Joy Reid or Josh Marshall. DanTex Aug 2017 #81

A few progressives maybe.. G_j Aug 2017 #82

Agreed 100% Arazi Aug 2017 #83

I cannot believe you of all people have chimed in on this topic. Alt-left, those who espouse seaglass Aug 2017 #103

Centrist Democrats have been slapping this label on those to their left for almost a year now. stranger81 Aug 2017 #74

Wow! There's a lot of defensive posts on this thread. I wonder why? TheBlackAdder Aug 2017 #92

Of course, that's where dickheadnazi BootinUp Aug 2017 #5

I'd never heard the term until Trump said it. procon Aug 2017 #7

A nice little comment found on Facebook LovesPNW Aug 2017 #8

Huh? What is "BLM"? peaceful/rational Trump supporters? AnotherMother4Peace Aug 2017 #14

BLM Black Lives Matter Voltaire2 Aug 2017 #90

Good post DBoon Aug 2017 #36

The version I saw over and over said "Centrist" instread of "Republican Trump Supporter" m-lekktor Aug 2017 #60

I think of the alt-left as Jill Stein, or as far as DU all of those shitheads at JPR ismnotwasm Aug 2017 #13

Alt left is meant to put liberals on the same level as the alt-right LostOne4Ever Aug 2017 #15

+1 nt riderinthestorm Aug 2017 #18

Agreed. temporary311 Aug 2017 #19

What about the thread on the front page of GD with 70 recs entitled, R B Garr Aug 2017 #20

That was a deconstruction of the president's comments LostOne4Ever Aug 2017 #73

So not hideable, thanks. nt R B Garr Aug 2017 #78

+1000 LovesPNW Aug 2017 #69

regardless of its origins, it now needs to be discontinued as the orange animal is now geek tragedy Aug 2017 #26

+1000000000 n/t TubbersUK Aug 2017 #29

Ah, so "centrists" is an okay thing now. R B Garr Aug 2017 #31

how did you get that from my post? geek tragedy Aug 2017 #35

I've seen "centrists" used as a slur quite a bit more than you claim. nt R B Garr Aug 2017 #38

that's more garden variety lefty purism than anything geek tragedy Aug 2017 #40

Actually, it looked like carefully crafted divisiveness used to separate R B Garr Aug 2017 #52

Sanctimonious leftwingers have always been a thing. geek tragedy Aug 2017 #55

"corporatist" and "neoliberal" slurs look more prominent since 2015. R B Garr Aug 2017 #66

their terminology changes geek tragedy Aug 2017 #68

what term would you prefer for the political position that is to the right of the left and to the Voltaire2 Aug 2017 #91

ffs, centrist is used as a divisive and sanctimonious R B Garr Aug 2017 #93

What term would you prefer for people in the center? Voltaire2 Aug 2017 #94

Again?? By your new literal and simplistic standards, alt is just short for alternative, R B Garr Aug 2017 #95

So the answer is "no" you will continue to propagate Voltaire2 Aug 2017 #96

Yeah, Im not buying the obtuseness. R B Garr Aug 2017 #97

Agreed emulatorloo Aug 2017 #59

It's been used to imply that some people on the left are white supremacists. David__77 Aug 2017 #32

What about extreme left? Should that be banned, too? grossproffit Aug 2017 #47

I didn't call for banning anything. David__77 Aug 2017 #50

No, it is recognizing that some on the regressive left, like Susan Sarandon, Jill Stein, et al Expecting Rain Aug 2017 #67

clearly that is not how Trump used it BainsBane Aug 2017 #86

Exactly! He clearly meant to malign the left --Democrats--period. R B Garr Aug 2017 #100

and make themselves the center of discussion BainsBane Aug 2017 #104

Yes, making it all about them. I was told I was "normalizing facism" R B Garr Aug 2017 #105

Propping up hierarchy takes a lot of double talk BainsBane Aug 2017 #106

Unfortunately melman Aug 2017 #98

Well, I really prefer radical damn leftist hippie chick. raven mad Aug 2017 #39

The term alt-Left is bogus Gothmog Aug 2017 #43

Cynthia McKinney? What's the proper category for her? grossproffit Aug 2017 #44

"former congresswoman from Georgia and Green Party supporter?" David__77 Aug 2017 #51

Hate spewing antisemitic pig? grossproffit Aug 2017 #62

That's something someone can say. David__77 Aug 2017 #71

bannon would be big on that term. The_Casual_Observer Aug 2017 #53

Trumps use of alt-left is to empower the alt-right Bladewire Aug 2017 #89