Seth Abramson Twitter Thread About Media Treatment of Beto O'Rourke

[Indygram]

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[dsc]

1. this is a downside to nationalizing the primary

I definitely agree that the Iowa and New Hampshire stranglehold needed breaking but a national primary has its drawbacks too. Like it or not, candidates who don't break out soon are going to have to do some serious thinking. Inslee has been impressive in my mind but he is getting no traction at all. In the old days he could hang low, work Iowa and maybe hang in. Now, I don't see that happening. I think candidates who don't get out of the 1 to 2 percent range after the July debate are going to see money dry up and won't make future debates which will kill them off.

[Indygram]

2. Beto has overwhelming support on the ground

And there are already rumblings on twitter where some of his supporters are so angry with the hit pieces (30 just by the Washington Post since he got in) that they are saying if he is pushed out like this they may not vote at all. The race needs to play out fairly because when it doesn't then the supporters of candidates who are not treated fairly are sent the message that their voices are irrelevant and don't matter and that they are unwelcome. It would seem that nothing has been learned from 2016. What is being done to Beto makes NO rational sense, either. He is mid-way between progressives and moderates, the PERFECT place to unite all factions of the Democratic Party. Why the bloody hell are Democrats treating him like the enemy when he is their best chance at leading Democrats to the biggest nationwide political victory in the history of politics? The national media WANTS TRUMP TO WIN for ratings. Hopefully people will smarten up and start supporting the one the media and Republicans fear the most.

[dalton99a]

5. There is clearly an orchestrated campaign to malign and marginalize him and his contribution

It is fucking obscene and totally undemocratic.

[Indygram]

7. Completely agree

It's utterly shameful.

[TexasTowelie]

32. Yes, I agree also.

I may sit out the primaries if the media knocks him out of the race before I even get the chance to vote. I'd boycott the Washington Post, but since I don't subscribe it would be an empty threat.

[Indygram]

36. I normally don't get to vote in primaries because I'm an Independent in Florida

And the primaries are closed here. If he is still going to be an option by the deadline to switch registration I plan on switching to Democrat just so I can vote for him. If I switch I WILL vote for him for the primary, even if he has dropped out or isn't on the ballot. I would write him in. If he is the nominee I will volunteer and donate and work my ass off but I will NOT lift a finger or give a dime to anyone else. If I can't vote FOR Beto as the nominee I will vote against Trump but I already know that AFTER 2020, in which I will vote for a DOG TURD over Trump, if Beto's not the nominee after how he is being treated right now I will probably just tune out after 2020 is over.

[MustLoveBeagles]

25. Seth has really hit the nail on the head

Some are way too eager to write his political epitaph. One shakey debate performance and he's done? Really?!! It's a little early for that.

Your statement that some of his supporters are getting so angry about this that they are willing to sit out 2020 concerns me. It's making me wonder if that is the real reason behind this hit job. Maybe hoping for enough angry supporters to to stay home? I have no proof of this. I'm just speculating here. We just can't afford for that to happen. We have to kick Trump to the curb no matter what.

[Indygram]

29. My suspicions are the same of the motivation for the incessant hit jobs from multiple outlets

Let's be honest...Beto is really the only one who has the ability to amass an enormous grassroots movement that spans across the very liberal progressives all the way to moderate Republicans. He has the ability to change the political make up of the entire country as well as flipping Texas forever. He is the most dangerous to the GOP, not just Trump.

I also think they are trying to make Beto supporters so furious and angry that they don't vote. I've seen at least 3 of his supporters today say that if Beto doesn't win they either will or might write him in. The fact that some of the supporters of other candidates, especially on social media, are taking advantage and sort of joining in doesn't help. We all saw what many supporters feeling their candidate was treated unfairly led to in 2016. The difference this time is that Beto is a candidate that can actually appeal to the most voters so there are A LOT more potential disillusioned voters.

If Democrats don't stand up to the manipulation I fear how this all ends.

[Indygram]

3. This GOP planned and crafted manipulation campaign against Beto is working

Why is the national media pushing the GOP game plan to re-elect Trump and why are Democrats falling for it and repeating the right wing garbage?

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/10/beto-orourke-2020-attack-1214805

[dalton99a]

4. I'd also include Lis Smith's media campaign behind the scenes

to promote the "Beto fatigue/Beto overload" meme among political journalists

[Indygram]

8. I'm glad that Beto has recently hired a lot of press people

And I would like to see them start aggressively going after this crap Beto bashing.

[dalton99a]

6. Unrolled thread

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1150199279115558913.html

1/ Whether you support Beto or not—and I personally have no preferred candidate for 2020 yet—this ham-fisted campaign to "thinkpiece" him out of the primary on the grounds that he doesn't have enough policy proposals out... in mid-July 2019... is bullshit. And the media knows it.

2/ Media didn't hound JIM WEBB out of the 2016 primary. They didn't hound LINCOLN CHAFFEE out of the 2016 primary. They didn't hound MARTIN O'MALLEY out of the 2016 primary. Yet somehow Beto—a superior candidate to those pols in *every possible way*—has to go and has to go *now*.

3/ I *don't have a 2020 candidate*. But the idea that Beto isn't an important addition to the historically talented Democratic primary field is *bullshit* and someone needs to start pushing back against it. He is smart, earnest, articulate, principled, inspiring, and (yes) young.

4/ We've had *one debate*—yet the media acts like Beto's campaign ended when Julian Castro disagreed with him on the legal treatment of border crossings—with Beto having a moderate-left position and Castro a progressive-left position and *neither* having a disqualifying position.

5/ How about we just *let things play out a bit* before a bored media targets specific candidates for political extermination. *Every* Democratic primary voter should be *angry* that the media is trying to artificially winnow the Democratic field this early. It's obscene, really.

6/ I really like Harris. And Warren. And Bernie. And Booker. And Buttigieg. And Biden. And Castro. And yes, I *also* really like Beto and still like a few of the others out there. None of them are perfect, and I'm willing to stan for *none of them* at this point. But it's *July*.

7/ I don't like to see folks bullied. I *hate* bullies. And I don't like to see underdogs ground into the dirt because I love underdogs. Right now the media is bullying the f*ck out of Beto, who for various reasons is⁠—and various reasons isn't⁠—an underdog, and I'm sick of it.

8/ Beto didn't just *lose all his qualities* the moment the Senate race ended. He's the same person now he was a few months ago⁠—indeed, I'd say there are signs of *real growth*, too⁠—so when I see a *pile-on* based on false narratives about O'Rourke it *really* makes me angry.

9/ This is the best crop of Democratic candidates we've ever had. Besides those I mentioned we have candidates like Klobuchar or Gillibrand who aren't getting their due and others like Yang who've been cruelly marginalized. How about we just *slow our roll* and let this play out?

10/ To those who say Beto's been a "bad" candidate⁠: Jesus, did you just come online politically? Did you *see* some of the 2016 primary candidates? Have you watched *any* GOP primaries? Beto on his *worst* night would be one of the *best* candidates the GOP has ever had, and...

11/ ...and when I look back at the Democratic primaries of 2016, 2012, 2008, 2004 and 2000 I see so many candidates who were never hounded from the race or routinely called "bad" who don't have 10% of Beto's political skills. So yeah, I think we've become pretty darn ahistorical.

12/ Anyway, to repeat: I have no candidate in this race. But besides Tom Steyer⁠—who's a special case I discussed a few days ago⁠—I oppose any effort to shame anyone from the Democratic primary on the basis of one purportedly bad debate and (I guess?) a few flat days somewhere.

The only question I have left about Beto is this: once American media completes its three-month run of orgasmic schadenfreude specifically targeted at hounding Beto out of the 2020 Democratic presidential primary for no particular reason, which candidate will they eliminate next?

[JI7]

9. really is a difference to how they enabled embraced and normalize

the bigoted sexuality assaulting scum everyday.

[Indygram]

10. I know...they ignore and normalize Trump being disgusting

and attack/bash Beto for simply having a pulse.

[dalton99a]

12. No truer words.

To this day they're still trying very hard to not call Trump a liar - their thesaurus is worn down to a nub

But Beto? Beto is no good. Must Warn Everyone. NOW.

WTF. What did Beto do to them? Did he steal their lunch money or fuck their girlfriend in high school or what?

[JI7]

30. i do think part of it is chris cilizza type of men

who are jealous.

[Hortensis]

11. Speaking of twitterland, here's a fun game developed

by scientists to teach people how to achieve fame and fortune for just the cost of internet access, or free at the nearest library.

https://getbadnews.com

[mtnsnake]

13. Maybe Beto is getting blackballed by the MSM for some silly reason

like they don't think it would be exciting enough for him to run against Trump, or maybe they're pissed because he did that show with HBO a while back that documented his run for the Senate in TX.

[Indygram]

15. Well, even people that haven't decided who to support are noticing now

It needs to be called out very loudly at every turn. The Washington Post is probably the worst...THIRTY hit pieces in about 4 months or less. That's extreme.

[dalton99a]

19. +1. Don't be fooled by the "Democracy Dies in Darkness" banner

Bezos and his Washington Post are no friends of the Democratic Party or American democracy

He will do whatever it takes to increase and preserve his wealth and power.

[JI7]

23. i think a lot of it was his decision to do his own thing early on

they want their ass kissed. but he wanted to go out on his own and listen to people directly.

so they now go out of their way to hurt him.

[MustLoveBeagles]

26. That's probably it too

How DARE he not kiss their pampered behinds?

[oasis]

14. Hang in there Beto.

[RLG]

16. Seth Abramson is correct.

This double standard used on him is unfair.

But unfortunately, it's up to the MSM to look at themselves in the mirror regarding favorites.

[Indygram]

17. He is correct

and what is especially troubling is how the same garbage is being pushed here on this site.

[essadaw]

18. K&r

K&r

[Rstrstx]

20. It's not just the MSM, the so-called new "progressive" YouTube media turned on him too

TYT, David Pakman and above all that abrasive guy on Secular Talk who thinks he's funny (Kyle Kulinski?) are brutal in their treatment of Beto and I don't get it. Maybe it stems from the hit job David Sirota did on him last winter, I'm not sure.

[Indygram]

21. They are doing Putin's job for him

Russian bots tossed out the bait and American media and a lot of Democrats took a big bite and are still running with the line in their mouths.

[JI7]

22. that bunch hates all Democrats so that is nothing new

[Rstrstx]

24. Only the ones to the right of Sanders/AOC

So just like 99% of Democrats (though at least they're useful at skewering Republicans and provide a counterweight to the right wing YouTube channels).

[TexasTowelie]

33. That's why those sites never get a click from me.

I'm taking notes and I also have a long memory.

[Rstrstx]

35. Just curious, what's your opinion of Castro?

I used to be tepidly enthusiastic about him until the debate.

[TexasTowelie]

37. I was willing to consider Castro initially,

but I cannot support an open borders policy where entering the border is only a civil violation instead of a criminal violation. The fact that entering the country illegally is a criminal violation provides an avenue to prosecute drug smuggling and human trafficking. I don't believe that Castro's attack on Beto did much to advance his campaign, but the media certainly latched onto it to harm Beto's campaign.

I don't have an issue with undocumented immigrants coming to this country to seek safety and a better opportunity. Treat the immigrants humanely. Place the immigrants in education classes to develop rudimentary English skills to hold conversations and count so that they can find jobs. I don't expect for the immigrants to produce literary works worthy of notoriety but I do expect them to develop skills so that they can become productive which is something I expect from everyone regardless of whether they are an immigrant or not.

[mahina]

27. I'm so glad Seth shone light on this. I was just having this conversation

The other day. Beto is an awesome candidate and human.

[Indygram]

28. It's important for all Democrats to push back on what they are doing

It's NOT right and if they succeed with him they will start going after someone else. It is up to the VOTERS to decide who to nominate, NOT the media. They helped elect Trump so why the hell anyone trusts them about candidates is beyond me. People need to learn and listen for themselves.

[bluewater]

31. K&R

[Jane Austin]

34. BRAVO!

I have been appalled at what the media has done to Beto.

On his worst day he's a better candidate than most others.

I am supporting Warren in this primary, but by God, I am happy to still have my Beto yard sign up.

I hope he sticks around for a long, long time.

I swear, the pundits really hate anyone who is cooler than they are.