I read, memorized and repeated more Obama "walk scripts" than I care to remember in 2008, and...

[ClassWarrior]

...nowhere do I remember reading instructions to ridicule, belittle, demean and talk down to a potential supporter who had doubts about the candidate.

Has that changed this time around?

NGU.

[villager]

1. Apparently so. You're in for Palin-style snark if you're not *100% on board, no questions asked!*

I guess that is a "change" from last time 'round...

[madamesilverspurs]

31. Actually,

it's those who support Obama who are no longer welcome at DU. We don't think he's perfect. We do think he's doing a great job in the face of incredible obstruction. We disagree with some of his actions. We admire his restraint in responding to those whose disrespect toward him is appalling. And because we are not *100% on board* with those who find constant fault and nothing else, we are accused of the damndest things, most recently an insinuation that our support is somehow dishonest. How's that for snark?

[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

35. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ClassWarrior]

55. The people for whom you speak "admire his restraint in responding to those whose disrespect..."

"...toward him is appalling?" Then why don't many of those same people model that admirable restraint?

:shrug:

By the way, it's not those people's support that somehow seems dishonest. It's the hostile, divisive tactics that reflect poorly on the President and his campaign that makes one wonder what's their goal.

NGU.

[Arkana]

47. No one said you had to be "100% on board". You're strawmanning the fuck

out of our argument.

All we asked was that your criticism be constructive and in good faith. You held to that for about two standard minutes, then it was back to bashing Obama for not using Boehner's picture as an Oval Office dartboard.

[ClassWarrior]

56. You?? YOU?? Please don't associate ME, the OP with ANY nastiness from EITHER side.

Talk about "strawmanning the fuck" out of an argument.

NGU.

[TwilightGardener]

2. Who dominates this board? Really, ask yourself that, and look around. Especially in GD.

Ask yourself if those who "have doubts" are respectful of those who are supportive. This is silliness.

[ClassWarrior]

4. So you're saying retaliation is more important than shoring up support?

NGU.

[TwilightGardener]

5. I have my lapses, I'm human and I'm a little mean. But in general, I try to

defend my position using fact and analysis, not personal attacks.

[Bluenorthwest]

6. Rather ask 'who keeps insisting it is about domination and

division' and why they would do so? Who characterizes themselves with direct words like supportive while painting others with little "air bunnies" and all?
The crap I see posted here is usually not supportive, it is exploitative of the President and of constructed divisions for the sake of simple snark and argument. The politics is often just a facade employed to cover the sniper, who snipes for the sake of sniping. For the sake of using "air quote snark". For the jollies of it. It is, as you might put it, not for Obama but "for Obama".
It is for Obama like wanking to a magazine is for the model.

[TwilightGardener]

7. I'm baffled by much of what you say. But as for the quotation marks--

I don't think many of Obama's detractors here are doubters who can be swayed by any rational argument. Doubt implies being receptive to convincing if one has a good argument. Some folks here don't like him, don't trust him, won't say anything good about him if he showed up at their door with chocolate chip cookies and a glass of milk. It's not really an apt word to use for much of what takes place here.

[ClassWarrior]

9. That's Camp Wellstone 101: Ignore the hardcores. You'll never convince 'em, you'll...

...gin up unnecessary bad mojo and you'll waste valuable time that you could be spending on a fence-sitter.

To bring back an old DU meme, when you see a post by a hardcore, "let it drop."

NGU.

[CakeGrrl]

14. Exactly. The OP's premise is misleading and skewed.

There's a pattern here. While some create their threads to try to appear fair, their bias towards wanting to target a specific group seeps out.

"Obama supporters" are definitely targeted for a lot of these concerned nuggets of 'advice'.

And the ACTUAL desired effect is achieved: Bringing out the crowd to complain, once again, about those who fit the 'profile', so to speak.

Lather, rinse, repeat, repeat, repeat.

[treestar]

21. Exactly, they are here to damage him

and the Democrats.

They never like anything he does.

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[woolldog]

26. treestar, do you honestly believe

anything written on here has the power to hurt Obama? He's the POTUS and he will rise and fall based on what he does, not what's written on some obscure corner of the web. You vastly overestimate the importance of this board.

[TwilightGardener]

27. I believe that larger news outlets do use blogs and forums when formulating

angles for political reporting, yes. DU might only be a tiny fraction of the sum, but I have no doubt they're reading the blogosphere. Edit to add: it's free and accessible content.

[ClassWarrior]

44. Yeah, they're here to damage him from both sides. Some say they'll never vote for him and...

...the others say he can do no wrong.

And that generates hostility, which sets good Dems at one another's throats.

Let's cool down the rhetoric, okay?

NGU.

[ClassWarrior]

46. .

[ClassWarrior]

50. .

[Armstead]

8. Many are respectful when they are treated with respect

Think about it

[ClassWarrior]

29. +1

NGU.

[Bluenorthwest]

3. I'm thinking that might have been what lost us so many elections

in 2010. We won out here, but then we do not do that mean routine. Perhaps the mean team botched it for us? Knock knock. 'Hello, I'm here representing the Democrats and you ain't got shit, you need to stop whining about your pet issues unless you want a Republican in the White House. Thanks for your time. Would you care to donate?'

[Armstead]

10. "Oh just shut up and stop whining. You have nowhere else to go."

That is the new mantra...Actually the same old mantra that is pulled out whenever a Democrat disappoints.

[Name removed]

17. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[treestar]

22. Well you don't

You set the bar too high for the political system we have.

[ClassWarrior]

28. You set it too low.

:shrug:

NGU.

[Armstead]

30. If people hadn't tried to raise the bar throughout history....

We'd still be living under feudalism, or absolute monarchies or fascist dictators, etc.

The only way there is ever improvement is when people demand more.

[Armstead]

11. Duplicate Deleted

[ClassWarrior]

41. .

[ClassWarrior]

42. .

[ClassWarrior]

43. .

[sufrommich]

12. What do walk scripts have to do with posting on DU? nt

[Ikonoklast]

16. They get them at other sites.

Then come here and poop on Democrats.

[Vincardog]

13. Net recommendation: +1 votes (Your vote: +1)

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[jefferson_dem]

18. Please. There's been plenty of ridiculing, belittling, demeaning to go around.

Bottom line is this: politically informed partisans such as those on this board should, at this point, have zero doubts about what the right thing to do is next November 6. Should we entertain every outrageous, unsubstantiated smear with reasonable rebuttals...when those slinging the smears are not open to reason to begin with? Of course not. Some should be dismissed for what they are.

[ClassWarrior]

19. See post #9.

Ignore the hardcores. Use your energy productively for the President.

:shrug:

NGU.

[treestar]

20. Message boards are different

[ClassWarrior]

23. People's feelings aren't.

:shrug:

NGU.

[ClassWarrior]

59. .

[yardwork]

25. Actually, I remember being treated that way in 2008. I'm gay.

[QC]

33. Yes, gay people had plenty of experience with mockery and scorn in 2008. n/t

[dionysus]

34. don't worry, you've had enough practise campaigning against obama here, you're allset for next fall.

[ClassWarrior]

36. Really? I thought I was campaigning against hostility and division.

And here all along I thought that supported Obama. Boy, was I wrong.

:rofl:

NGU.

[RetroLounge]

37. See what happens when you don't follow the Obama Script?

Under the bus, you go!

:hi:

NGU

RL

[ClassWarrior]

38. At least I'm in good company down here.

:hi: RL...

NNNGU.

[yardwork]

45. You are! Almost the entire Democratic base is down here.

[ClassWarrior]

48. Yeah, and we know how to parrr-tayyy!!

:bounce:

NGU.

[ClassWarrior]

49. .

[MessiahRp]

60. This bus is an extended cab 36 wheeler with monster truck tires.

I've been under it a long time. It could be worse. At least down here our eyes are open and we're not acting like sheep too blind to see that they are being fucked over. If we all died today, one group of us will at least have died with integrity and truth on our side. The others, well they liked some speeches and talking point lists. The off a cliff at 5mph versus 100mph analogy is perfect IMO.

[ClarkUSA]

39. You're not a supporter of Obama, though. You have already said you won't be "campaigning" for him.

You said it here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=762403&mesg_id=762413

[ClassWarrior]

40. I support him. But you convinced me there's a higher priority for my energies this time around...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=762403&mesg_id=762409

:shrug:

Thanks for sharing that link with others. More people should heed your sage advice.

NGU.

[scheming daemons]

51. In other words, "please stop attacking the concern trolls and sock puppets!"

They aren't potential supporters of Obama. They are here to spread discontent and FUD.

[ClassWarrior]

52. In other words, "Please stop ACTING LIKE concern trolls and sock puppets!"

OF COURSE they're here to spread discontent and FUD!! And many supposed Obama supporters are swallowing the bait WHOLE.

PLEASE represent the President with the respect and decorum he deserves.

There are A THOUSAND TIMES AS MANY potential supporters of Obama here as there are trolls. And a thousand times more than that who are looking in and not posting. What kind of image do you want to project on the President and his campaign?

NGU.

[Phx_Dem]

53. Do the "instructions" say it's okay to ridicule, belittle and demean the Democractic

President and candidate? If it's okay to demean and ridicule him, why would it be "against the rules" to do the same to those who are doing the demeaning?

Another example of double standards and sour grapes from the group that has had nothing decent to say about President Obama since he was elected.

[ClassWarrior]

54. Who says it's "against the rules?" I just said it's a piss-poor way to re-elect a President.

And a President who deserves a hell of a lot more respect than that, to boot.

:shrug:

NGU.

[Ignis]

57. Jesus Fucking Christ, how many times does this need to be spelled out?

Attacking the policies of an elected public official is in no way morally equivalent to personally attacking another DUer.

:argh:

[ClassWarrior]

58. Who said one is worse than the other?

All I said was acting an ass to people is not helpful to the President's re-election.

Thank you, by the way, for providing an excellent example of that kind of behavior.

NGU.

[Ignis]

61. You're responding to the wrong post.

Or you're confused about which post I was responding to. :shrug:

[Name removed]

62. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[BlueIris]

63. You didn't?

I was repeatedly derided by Obama supporters throughout 2008 for not loving the candidate. The ones I met had no shame about such behavior, either. It happened so often I wondered if it was in a script somewhere.

It was actually quite difficult for me to vote for him, remembering the rude way I was treated--and no, I was not a closet Hillary supporter, "secret Republican" or otherwise disrespectful to him with these supporters (also, I did vote for him, something I now deeply regret doing.)

Supporters' behaviors are always a reflection of the campaign, and by extension, the candidate it represents. Just something to think about, Obama fans.

[mtnsnake]

64. You nailed it, Class Warrior

and you can tell you nailed it by the reactions. Sometimes the truth is just a little too hard to handle.

:thumbsup:

[yurbud]

65. this the DLC way--top down, corporate led governing. We have to be insulted so we

forget that in a democracy, we should be listened to.