Blue Maga: We need to talk about the cult-like turn of the Democratic party | Mehdi Hasan
www.theguardian.com
The calls for Joe Biden to step aside have been met with furious accusations of treason, disloyalty, and betrayal. This is bad for the entire country

The calls for Joe Biden to step aside have been met with furious accusations of treason, disloyalty, and betrayal. This is bad for the entire country

Is the Democratic party, the self-proclaimed party of liberal values and scientific data, morphing into a Maga-like cult in front of our eyes?

Over the past few weeks, the calls for Joe Biden to step aside have been met not with thoughtful critiques or reasoned counter-arguments but with furious accusations of treason, disloyalty, and betrayal.

Whatever happened to the importance of voicing dissent? Of speaking truth to power? Weren’t liberals supposed to be the folks who value open debate and discussion?

especially online; of elected Democrats on Capitol Hill; and of the Democratic president himself, since the CNN debate on 28 June, will have spotted some of those “tell-tale signs”.

Let’s start with the Democratic base – those “hyper-partisans” who “act like members of a cult because they treat their political party like a religious identity”, to quote the political strategist Chris Sosa. I have spent the past few weeks watching the Very Online members of the base embracing an endless stream of “Blue Anon” conspiracy theories, pushed on behalf of the Dear Leader.

  • OccamsTeapot@lemmy.world
    107·
    5 months ago

    Certainly hyperbole. But there are examples linked and I think anyone paying attention has seen this behaviour, especially since the debate but also previously in response to criticism of his Gaza policy, e.g. “oh so you think Trump would be better?!”

    • CaliforniaSoberEnglish
      35·
      5 months ago

      No I haven’t seen this behavior. I certainly wouldn’t believe it exists just because of an astro turf opinion piece by a dishonest actor.

      Any criticism I’ve seen of his Gaza policy has not EVER been met with anything like “ furious accusations of treason, disloyalty and betrayal.”

      In fact every single time the response has been an appeal to the realities of the current political system/calculus. Which is typically then met with hyperbole from these types of accounts.

      What I have seen is non stop hyperbole and nonsense from OPs account and others in here that can’t go 2 seconds without repeating the same false talking points.

      • OccamsTeapot@lemmy.world
        52·
        5 months ago

        No I haven’t seen this behavior.

        Can’t help you there. You should maybe pay more attention.

        Any criticism I’ve seen of his Gaza policy has not EVER been met with anything like “ furious accusations of treason, disloyalty and betrayal.”

        In fact every single time the response has been an appeal to the realities of the current political system/calculus.

        This is just saying, “but Trump would be worse!!!” in more intelligent language. It is literally what I said happens. Criticising Biden’s Gaza policy is NOT a statement about the election, the only reason to make it one is if you want to squash any criticism of him quickly and easily without engaging in a substantive discussion of the issue.

        So people ignore the specific criticism of policy, turn it into electoral calculus and then insinuate that because of the criticism of policy, the person must be considering voting for Trump, which would make them disloyal or betrayers. The thing you said has “NEVER” happened was literally your example of what does happen.

        Unless you’re going to say the thing you disagree with is that the post claims it’s a “furious accusation”? But, just like you saying “every single time” (obviously not) this is hyperbole and it’s not fair to solely focus on that. I’m sure you didn’t mean literally every time and I’m sure the writer was just trying to add a bit of spice

        Edit: came across a great example https://lemm.ee/comment/13326190

    • Dkarma@lemmy.world
      611·
      5 months ago

      Probably because everything since the beginning of politics says stick with the INCUMBENT. Now apparently cuz 3 fucking yokels think hes old we’re throwing all rational political thinking out the window to pull a last minute change and you fucking idiots think that can actually win?!??

      Get a fucking clue. Biden is still your best choice. Stop expecting perfection.

      • FuglyDuck@lemmy.worldEnglish
        52·
        5 months ago

        “Yokels”

        “Get a fucking clue”

        “[always has been]”

        A very convincing argument. Well thought out and totally civilized. Totally not proving the article’s point!

      • OccamsTeapot@lemmy.world
        74·
        5 months ago

        Not funding genocide =/= perfection

        Being able to beat the worst president in history in a debate =/= perfection

        Biden is still your best choice.

        Unless he drops out, yeah no shit.

        Now apparently cuz 3 fucking yokels think hes old we’re throwing all rational political thinking out the window to pull a last minute change and you fucking idiots think that can actually win?!??

        I will remind you of this in November. If Biden wins, I will happily admit that I was wrong and you were right.

        • knightly the Sneptaur@pawb.social
          2·
          5 months ago

          I would love to be proven wrong, but I predicted the Democrat incumbent would lose the 2024 election all the way back in 2015. The party could switch and give themselves a chance, but won’t.