We're all getting a wee bit carried away about the anti-Bernie blog today

[Jack Rabbit]

Everybody assume the lotus position, take a deep breath, hold it for a few seconds, then let it out sloooowwwwwly.

I think we can agree that if Bernie Sanders is a racist then Hillary Clinton is a retired kamikaze pilot.

Some Coyote-worshiping joker questioned Senator Sanders' commitment to civil rights on her blog because most of the crowd gathered in Burlington, Vermont, to listen to him formally announce his candidacy was white. In Burlington, Vermont. I'm shocked, shocked to learn that there are very few people in Burlington who aren't white. I think I've known this before I first heard of anybody named Bernie Sanders who was the town's new socialist mayor.

If the blogger's intent was to sow the seeds of strife at DU, she succeeded. We fell for it, big time.

This acrimony is not worth it. Save it for Jeb Bush or Ted Cruz.

Now, take another deep breath, hold it and let it out slowly. Now, concentrate on what your face looked like before your parents were born.

[leftofcool]

1. Darn you, Jack Rabbit!

You know darn well Hillary wanted the kamikaze thing kept secret! What do think she she talked about in all those super secret private emails, yoga? Now, you've gone and spilled the beans.

[FSogol]

2. In Before The: "You're telling us to shut up" posts.

[olddots]

3. we are here to not get played

to be blind fans or followers . ( atleast thats my motive for being here )

[Agschmid]

4. A blog that's been seen <6,000 times...

Not sure how it even became a thing?

[Blue_Adept]

5. Yup

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[carolinayellowdog]

6. there is a fine line between trolls and troll feeders

since both seem committed to endless conflict; a thoughtful OP can get few or no recs and replies while the most shameless hatemongering throws hundreds of DUers into an uproar

[CTyankee]

7. This is getting into Monty Python territory...

[Roy Rolling]

10. Not a professional troll...

She could be trolling in her spare time. Wink, wink, nudge nudge.

[MineralMan]

8. Anyone who posts the kind of stuff that has been posted

on DU today regarding Sanders is doing nothing more than stirring crap. We should be able to see that and just ignore such nonsense, in my opinion. There are differences between the two candidates, but their support for equality issues is almost identical. Let's refuse to fall for trollery.

[11 Bravo]

9. Where do you get off being all sensible and shit?

That will never play well at DU!

[Jack Rabbit]

11. The secret is to never run for office

That way I get to say what I think and not concern myself with winning popularity contests.

[Jackpine Radical]

13. I think Bernie made more or less the same choice

but he decided to run for office anyway.

If there was an upside to that whole brouhaha, it was in the form of posts like one of Bigtree's that raised certain legitimate concerns that any campaign needs to attend to. Bernie probably needs to take steps to scotch any divisive bullshit early. I think he needs some specific planks addressing the concerns of AAs and other minority groups.

[Jack Rabbit]

14. Bernie is remarkable in that respect

Even people who would never vote for him admire that about him, much the way I used to admire Barry Goldwater.

[matt819]

12. My oh my

Gotta agree with OP. This kind of crap is expected, and from all sides. It's politics. It's not a pillow fight. The candidates have, or should have, thick skins, though the clown posse on the right are about as thin-skinned as they come, but that's not our problem.

So ease up.

As for the Hillary v. Bernie issue, ease up there, too. They are two interesting, intelligent, and powerful candidates, as are others who have expressed interest. Good people, all. All have warts and baggage, but you can't be in politics and be wart- or baggage-free.