The doubt of a 'Bernie Bro': A hard-charging Sanders supporter questions whether his tactics help or

[MrsCoffee]

The doubt of a ‘Bernie Bro’: A hard-charging Sanders supporter questions whether his tactics help or hurt

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/the-doubt-of-a-bernie-bro-a-hard-charging-sanders-supporter-questions-whether-his-tactics-help-or-hurt/2020/03/07/0e89cbea-57e6-11ea-8585-993ff9ec93f9_story.html

ATHENS, Ga. — Just after waking up, Zach McDowell powered on his tablet and searched through Reddit. He picked up his cellphone and checked Twitter. Scanning through the rants of strangers praising and maligning his preferred presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), he asked himself a question: To tweet or not to tweet?

The question itself was new for McDowell, whose tweets defending Sanders used to be impulsive and unthinking. But as Sanders picked up momentum in the Democratic primaries, his critics continued to harp on the aggressive, online swarm of predominantly white male supporters that had rallied around the democratic socialist from Vermont. They called them the “Bernie Bros.”

“I prefer the term Bernard Brother,” McDowell said, because it seemed more respectable. As a white, mustachioed 23-year-old just out of college and working a $15-an-hour tutoring job, he fit the description. He acted the part too, occasionally joining in online pile-ons.

Now, McDowell was questioning his rules of online engagement. What if, for once, the pundits were right? The wrong tweet might feed into the stereotype and alienate potential supporters. Meanwhile, moderate Democrats were coalescing around former vice president Joe Biden, who was campaigning on restoring a sense of American civility.

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Using a pseudonym and a private Twitter account closed to the general public, McDowell had added to a chorus of Sanders supporters who compared former South Bend, Ind., mayor Pete Buttigieg to a rat and joked that Biden’s campaign was “elder abuse.”

The Bernie Bro is not a myth.

[captain queeg]

1. Umm. No they most certainly do not help

I used to like Bernie ok but am really turned off that he hasn’t disavowed that crap.

[dalton99a]

2. The true believers are real. The devotion is near religious

Their leader shall not be criticized

[Cha]

3. No it is Not.

Thanks for this MrsCoffee.

I just had someone tell me I was "helping Russia.". because I knew where the "dementia talk.. " was coming from.