Bernie Sanders needs to start pushing back against his more sexist supporters.

[Cali_Democrat]

Bernie Sanders needs to start pushing back against his more sexist supporters. Recent comments show he gets this
AMANDA MARCOTTE
FRIDAY, OCT 30, 2015 10:00 AM PDT

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When trying to fend off accusations of sexism, it’s generally unwise to portray yourself as an indulgent authority figure who will “let” women have power, so long as they stay in second place. Luckily, Sanders seems to see this himself. On Thursday, he went on MSNBC and called Weaver’s comment “inappropriate” and reiterated that he has “a lot of respect for Secretary Clinton.”

It was a smart move from Sanders. His campaign has taken off in large part because his criticisms of neoliberalism and cowardice on the part of mainstream Democrats like Clinton has resonated with a lot of liberal voters. However, his campaign has also attracted a lot of “brogressives“: People, mostly men, who want to be seen as progressive and even feminist, but blanch at the idea of women having real power.

While roughly 100 percent of brogressives deny their own existence, the ugly response that women online get the second they say anything about the Sanders campaign that’s less than worshipful suggests that this is becoming a serious problem. Sanders wants to send a message about economic justice, but condescending comments like the ones from his campaign staff and materials like the cover of Doug Henwood’s new anti-Clinton book suggest that, for many of his followers, the real motivation is keeping the scary, ball-busting lady politician out of the White House.

There is nothing new about the struggle between feminists and sexist liberal men who want to be given cookies for how progressive they are without having to accept true equality, which would include more leadership roles for women. Feminism’s second wave started in part because female anti-war and anti-racism activists got sick of being relegated to coffee-fetchers and brow-wipers while men got all the leadership positions, after all. That these men are still around and are attracted to the opportunity to fight against a female President while claiming to be for feminism is not surprising in the slightest.

Read more:

http://www.salon.com/2015/10/30/let_us_praise_bernie_sanders_bernie_wises_up_smacks_down_aide_for_gross_clinton_condescension/

[JaneyVee]

1. Nailed it.

[workinclasszero]

20. It needed to be called out

eom

[HerbChestnut]

2. Stop. Just stop.

This constant degradation of Bernie supporters has gotten out of hand. It's perpetuated by a certain community of posters on this board. It doesn't reflect well on them at all, and it has got to end.

[Cali_Democrat]

4. Women like Amanda Marcotte are allowed to have their voices heard. nt

[HerbChestnut]

5. I'm not talking about her

I'm talking about a certain group of DU members who go out of their way to post negative things about Bernie supporters.

[madfloridian]

16. Amanda is going so overboard that I would think Hillary would object to it.

The name-calling and hatred toward us is out of control.

Please just stop it.

[bravenak]

22. I remember asking you to stop going after BLM.

[Skidmore]

6. Perhaps some of these supporters need to

engage in a little introspection. Womena and people of color are not bringing up these concerns just to make trouble. We are members of the greater community and have the right to be heard and understood.

[HerbChestnut]

7. Agreed 100%

But I'm not talking about women or minorities or anyone else who deserves a voice. I'm talking specifically about a small segment of DU members who go out of their way to post negative threads about Bernie supporters.

[Cali_Democrat]

8. I'm a minority.

Is it OK with you if I post the article?

[HerbChestnut]

9. No, it's not.

It's a direct attack on Bernie's supporters, which is just uncalled for. If you have a problem with the candidate's positions, fine. But leave his supporters out of it.

[bravenak]

23. No.

They engage in endless attacks.

[Skidmore]

10. Perhaps some of his supporters need to be called out for their

myopia. And it does exist.

[HerbChestnut]

11. I disagree that they need to be called out.

It distracts from the real issues, like who is the best candidate for President. The answer to that question has nothing to do with any candidate's supporters.

[madfloridian]

17. Neither of our candidates are racist or sexist in any way. It's ridiculous.

It needs to stop.

[Warren Stupidity]

3. i dunno, issues like the death penalty, raising social security age,

perpetual war, or the alleged attitudes of some people on the internets, it is all a matter of what your priorities are. Or perhaps what your motivation is.

[jfern]

12. The same bogus claims of sexism were used against Obama supporters

But it's worse this time. Bernie supporters have been under attack for months. I guess the plan for the Hillary campaign is to spend a year attacking Bernie supporters and then expect them to all vote for her if she gets the nomination. Ridiculous.

[Doctor_J]

13. Clinton supporters need to start pushing back against their candidate's constant lying

I haven't seen a single one of her fans even acknowledge one of her outrageous falsehoods. What's up with that?

[madfloridian]

14. So now Bernie and supporters are racist, sexist, what's next????

What's next on the Bad Bernie supporters agenda.

This is just ridiculous.

Amanda is on a crusade against Bernie, and it's ridiculous.

[madfloridian]

15. Gonna be watching for the next meme. Racism and Sexism have just about played out.

Eyes wide open.

[NCTraveler]

18. No, he does not.

Sanders is a strong ally of mine. Please don't trot this shit out in association with a man who stand up for my rights.

[Depaysement]

19. Some people need a life

Desperately.

[Autumn]

21. No he doesn't. He did what he felt he needed to do about that comment and that's more than enough.

[Cha]

24. "While roughly 100 percent of brogressives deny their own existence.." of course!