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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsEric Boehlert: Sorry CNN, Trump voters don't deserve "sympathy"
https://pressrun.media/p/sorry-cnn-trump-voters-dont-deserveSorry CNN, Trump voters don't deserve "sympathy"
Don't absolve dangerous behavior
Eric Boehlert
1 hr ago
Since Trump's lopsided re-election loss, his supporters have been loudly denouncing the results as a fraud. Tens of millions of them think the election was stolen and that a sprawling criminal conspiracy has denied Trump a second term. Some have made threats on public officials who have overseen the careful counting of votes even threatening Republican office holders who don't back Trump's fantasy of a "stolen" election.
Cheered on by his relentless propaganda campaign to denigrate free and fair elections, Trump voters are at the forefront of a radical and dangerous political movement designed to undermine democracy. And that's when they're not busy dismissing as a "hoax" the deadly Covid-19 pandemic, staging public tempter tantrums over wearing masks, parroting the rhetoric of a dangerous right-wing cult, or raising $2 million to get a teenage gunman released after he opened fire on a Black Lives Matter protest in Wisconsin, killing two people.
So why does the press so often portray these people through such a loving and understanding lens? And why are high-profile journalists offering public empathy for Trump supporters as they strain public debate to the breaking point by embracing a ceaseless stream of lies? ("Theres millions and millions of Trump votes that were just thrown out." )
snip//
Now is not the time for the media to cast a sympathetic eye. By forgiving Trump voters, the press is also pardoning Trump and the GOP. It's suggesting that in the end, nobody is responsible for the fact that one of our two mainstream political parties now lies about everything, and that conservative supporters eagerly spread those lies every chance they get, thereby attacking our democratic traditions. Soaking up the press coverage, the weird, detached idea is that all of this just happened and it's not really anybodys fault.
snip//
The conservative movement under Trump is gleefully taking a sledgehammer to facts, to science, to reason, and to common decency. It's all being done by design. The last thing Trump voters who traffic in this awfulness deserve is empathy from the press.
Just_Vote_Dem
(2,793 posts)...to Trump voters. Like a bunch of white supremacists give a shit what we think.
area51
(11,895 posts)ProfessorGAC
(64,852 posts)...when they won, we were told we need to understand those voters.
Now, they lose and we're told we need to understand those voters.
I couldn't agree more.
In 2016 the losers were supposed to adjust.
Reciprocity is not an unreasonable expectation.
treestar
(82,383 posts)and what they want, and we don't want them to have what they want. We could hardly compromise with them on views we find completely unacceptable.
ProfessorGAC
(64,852 posts)Even worse is that they want a world they only imagine used to exist.
What they want isn't even real!
DENVERPOPS
(8,789 posts)This is, by far, has become the most thoroughly corrupt political party in the history of our nation............
LiberalLovinLug
(14,164 posts)BlueJac
(7,838 posts)K&R
Cirque du So-What
(25,908 posts)I want to see full coverage of trials involving domestic terrorists, murderers, and anti-democratic miscreants of all stripes. Let them all serve as cautionary tales for all the internet bigmouths and wannabe tough guys.
Nimble_Idea
(1,803 posts)Cha
(296,821 posts)to reach out to maggotrump Virus Spreader voters.
SammyWinstonJack
(44,129 posts)lambchopp59
(2,809 posts)The closest supermarket to me always has maskless clerks, COVID deniers all.
I've peeked through the glass doors just to see if they're still keeping up this idiotic charade. Still maskless every time I pass from the supermarket I drive another 6 miles to, that requires masks. Haven't been in the door of the place in 9 months now, never will now that my job contract is up here, and I have no idea where I'll be next.
I may just stay unemployed for a while until this damn thing is under control.
bucolic_frolic
(43,044 posts)they are still militant and feeding their own delusion.
Shunning them - ignoring them - is the best strategy. Give them no oxygen.
Roy Rolling
(6,908 posts)Trump supporters havent admitted theyre wrong, they havent even faced the fact they lost the vote.
What good does it do to forgive someone who doesnt think they did anything wrong? Its Trump madness.
bringthePaine
(1,727 posts)DownriverDem
(6,226 posts)do we reach those who voted for trump and the repubs?
durablend
(7,455 posts)Yavin4
(35,421 posts)Those countries were also under the spell of cult-like Fascist leaders. We turned them around by feeding them and rebuilding their nations.
IOW, good public policies like public education and healthcare can turn them around.
cilla4progress
(24,717 posts)Been watching PBS series on The Rise of the Nazis. Good to learn how they acquired their hold, as well. Mix of factors and power-mad individuals with no conscience AT ALL! Devils.
DinahMoeHum
(21,774 posts). . .with severe punishments.
Reconciliation of any kind needs accountability first.
Response to Yavin4 (Reply #12)
CatLady78 This message was self-deleted by its author.
Hermit-The-Prog
(33,249 posts)wnylib
(21,335 posts)let them adjust. It might just break the psychotic holdvthst the cult has on them.
Hotler
(11,394 posts)is when Democrats enact legislation that lifts everybody up.
Guilded Lilly
(5,591 posts)Oscarthegreat
(121 posts)Would you recommend we reach out to a black mamba? Trump voters hear what they choose and want to hear. Nobody forced them to believe in the bogus "election was rigged" fantasy. Nobody forced them to listen and watch only hate radio and television. They have been willing puppets, and Trump's bullshit resonated with them because they are racist and anti democratic by nature.
If and when they repent, we can reach out to them, but we all know they never will.
usaf-vet
(6,161 posts)The Guardian US Edition might just become the proper counterbalance to MSM.
BobTheSubgenius
(11,559 posts)CBC and BBC are notably non-partisan, at least in my opinion, and in the opinion of many others. I've never read a synopsis or analysis that proclaims it, but I've seen what I've seen.
The CBC does reports that make the govt look good, and the govt look bad. It is subsidized by the govt, and the right (Conservative party) drags up the idea of defunding it every so often, yet seems to get no pressure to change their style of news coverage.
They don't really editorialize, but I once saw a CBC commentator say this about Jesse Helms after Helms and Burton chastised Canada over not getting on board with yet more exclusionary nonsense about Cuba, The Helms-Burton Act.
"He is a decrepit old dinosaur that should be strapped to a gurney."
usaf-vet
(6,161 posts).... mosts often UK British TV.
Buns_of_Fire
(17,151 posts)I have no desire to interact with either group.
"We" would take up arms. And do what, tough guy?
Ferrets are Cool
(21,102 posts)FUCK THE RIGHT WING
BigOleDummy
(2,260 posts)What was it so many of those trumpsters t-shirts said.. "Fuck your Feelings"? That's my opinion too, fuck em. "Reaching out" to proud boys and the rest of those slimy "militias" would just make them think we're weak. Fuck em. Trials. Sentences. THAT'S what they will understand and pay attention to. No free passes for the damage done. I think there should be a thorough investigation into the whole sordid nest of the traitorous republican party too actually.
Ferrets are Cool
(21,102 posts)Nimble_Idea
(1,803 posts)fuck em all
MrModerate
(9,753 posts)Ferrets are Cool
(21,102 posts)FUCK EM.
MrModerate
(9,753 posts)Roisin Ni Fiachra
(2,574 posts)No pity.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)Fuck your feelings!
Nimble_Idea
(1,803 posts)Solly Mack
(90,758 posts)Response to babylonsister (Original post)
Solly Mack This message was self-deleted by its author.
BobTheSubgenius
(11,559 posts)"Fuck your feelings!"
crimycarny
(1,351 posts)Kids were literally torn from their parents arms and put in cages! Hundreds cant be reunited. That ALONE is reason to condemn not pacify! OMG, how numb so many have come to the atrocities committed these last 4 years.
I watched the PBS special series American Experience (Season 32) the particular episode was about McCarthy. It blew my mind how similar the McCarthy era was to the Trump era. The GOP knew McCarthy was a liar and loose cannon, but went along because they were worried about losing their seat. The media reported on everything McCarthy said because his outrageous behavior made for good copy. The media was basically complicit in keeping McCarthy in the limelight thus increasing his power.
Highly recommend watching that episode if you have access to PBS.
Chalco
(1,307 posts)Hekate
(90,552 posts)Blue Owl
(50,256 posts)Skittles
(153,111 posts)I will NEVER forgive them for inflicting that fascist piece of SHIT on America. NEVER.
Nimble_Idea
(1,803 posts)Brainfodder
(6,423 posts)You know the rest, insert favorite insults and curses!
miyazaki
(2,239 posts)Surely it doesn't represent many of the fine anchors on CNN, Cooper, Keilar, Lemon etc.
Bfd.
treestar
(82,383 posts)That's close to what they are becoming.
housecat
(3,121 posts)A scorpion wanted to get across a river so it asked a duck if it can hitch a ride. The duck (undoubtedly a Democrat) said he didn't want to be stung. The scorpion, (undoubtedly a Republican) promised to behave and spun it until the duck gave in. As the duck swam across the river, the scorpion stung him. Dying the duck asked "why?" "It's my nature" said the scorpion.
Demobrat
(8,960 posts)or in working with Dems for the common good. ALL they care about is paying us back for the abuse we heaped upon Trump for four years.
Any overtures on our part will be met with that attitude. I hope Biden accepts that quickly and acts accordingly.