There is one space on all of DU

[BainsBane]

Last edited Sun Jul 12, 2015, 11:58 AM - Edit history (1)

where members are allowed to post positively about Hillary Clinton, a leading candidate for the Democratic nomination, without being subject to a continual barrage of attacks. Yet evidently the fact one small corner exists where people talk about exercising their democratic rights to support a Democratic candidate is unacceptable to some, who cannot resist entering this room and violating the SOP that makes this a safe space for Clinton supporters. Democratic choice--the idea that we as America citizens have a right to vote as we choose. Each American gets one vote and one vote only, and we all have the right to exercise that vote as we see fit. Our votes are not subject to approval by our employers or members of a website. They are our votes, our basic rights as citizens.

Some would seem to find the independent exercise of democratic choice threatening. It bothers them so much that someone might harbor positive views of one Democratic candidate, they insist on violating the SOP of a safe haven group. A few appear to be so angry that they do not control our votes that they have systematically alerted on and succeeded in hiding multiple posts in here.

There appears to be some sort of conflation of DU and the country at large. It would seem that a few seem to think if they can shout down the handful of Clinton supporters who dare to express their views on this forum, if they can get their posts hidden, that will help defeat Hillary Clinton. I have to wonder if one's notion of democracy depends on silencing others, on driving them from a website, or refusing to allow them to have a conversation without their surveillance and scrutiny, can they really consider themselves Democrats, democratic, or anything other than standing in opposition to the basic rights of their fellow citizens? If people are so threatened by the independent exercise of the franchise, I have to wonder what kind of reform of society they would usher in that would justify such contempt for democratic choice and political speech?

[misterhighwasted]

1. Thank You.

[TexasTowelie]

2. I have not decided which candidate that I will support

because I want to hear the ideas from all of the Democratic candidates in the debates and in other appearances. However, I was on two different juries today on posts in this Group and I voted hide on both of them since they violated the SOP of this group. It's completely disrespectful to enter a group with the purpose of disruption. I stand in support of the hosts to ban disruptive members not only in this group, but for all of the other primary candidates also. If you don't have something positive to contribute, then move along.

[William769]

23. And we appreciate what you do TexasTowelie

I have been around you for awhile now on DU and you my friend are a good example.

[Cha]

36. Mahalo TexasT.. very much appreciated.

[nxylas]

3. A lot of posts from here end up on the front page

I think people sometimes don't look, and think they are posting in GD or GD: P. Of course, they should be more careful, but I've nearly been caught out that way a couple of times, so I can at least understand how it happens.

[BainsBane]

4. Yes, that sometimes happens

but what is going on here is far more than that.

[Surya Gayatri]

10. Ya think?

A bit more, yeah...

[Mojorabbit]

21. I agree. nt

[sheshe2]

34. As Bains said,

It goes way beyond that. We are being alert stalked. That is a fact.

[Flying Squirrel]

5. It's not just here

That people are attempting (and in many cases succeeding) in silencing people here on DU. Not to take away from your excellent OP - I just want to take the opportunity to express my continuing frustration with what the jury system has become.

[oasis]

6. thanks for posting this (eom)

[Omaha Steve]

7. Don't try to be nice and offer that group a chance to raise $50 for Hillary though

That wasn't viewed as a positive. That gets locked ASAP.

Not very tolerant of somebody that has told the DU dementia (brain damage) means he doesn't think like the average DUer. That was a host and not open warfare hi-jinx in GD-P. You can't blame that on a caver in DU clothing.

I have many former friends in this group. Several knew about my FTD long before the DU did. One convinced me I shouldn't be a host as a "highly visible Bernie supporter" awhile back and I resigned.

A couple weeks ago Boston Bean and I had a nice conversation going in GD-P. Somebody ran to a host in public and got it locked. I asked the locking host why if Boston Bean and I were fine with the exchange why it was locked? That "HIGHLY VISIBLE HILLARY SUPPORTING HOST" wouldn't even reply. Live and learn.

A few weeks ago I came to this group for advice on debunking an anti-Hillary story. I guess it was rude of me. So I never posted it anywhere on the DU. So the right wing hit piece stands in the cy-ber world unchallenged is the end result. I tried.

After some things that have been shared about me by former friends, don't expect my statements in the past about unifying the party next convention to mean to me what they did even yesterday. It doesn't ring true with this Kennedy Democrat anymore.

The bottom line is I'm not an adult anymore. I don't understand some things some third graders can reason out in a 10th of a second.

I hope everyone you is proud of being so mad at a child. I would have preferred a spanking or two.

Lock this. Fine with me. I had my say. Part of it was saying goodbye to old friends from long ago. I'll miss them more than they will miss me.

OS

[BainsBane]

8. I'm not a host

I don't have anything to say about which threads get locked or not.

[Omaha Steve]

9. I didn't say you locked it

http://www.democraticunderground.com/110711817

"members are allowed to post positively about Hillary Clinton"

I said I tried to raise $50 for Hillary and that wasn't a positive according to that host. And apparently nobody challenged that as not being a positive.

OS

[Little Star]

13. Perhaps you should not have put O'Malley's......

donation button anywhere in the Hillary Group. That was the problem. It doesn't matter what point you were trying to make. O'Malley's button did not belong in the Hillary Clinton group.

[boston bean]

14. Also, Steve, you are not a supporter of Hillary for president, are you?

You have needled this group enough trying to cause trouble by complaining about a hosts decision.

Please consider that while posting in the group.

[yallerdawg]

20. "DU for Hillary" just hit 3 digits!

I appreciate the work Omaha Steve put into creating our "Democratic Underground for Hillary" contribution site at ActBlue. He has done this voluntarily for every candidate! He has asked us for guidance on editing or making it more to our liking. He put in the time and effort to give us another way to support our candidate of choice.

We made it disappear.

I understand the Clinton/O'Malley 'challenge' as both a reminder and a competitive nudge to donate the cash to our Democratic candidate and get our "Go Team!" rah-rahs out!

"I gave at the office" is a pat answer (well, my pat answer). I think Omaha Steve is just saying "Put your money where your mouth is." He is an old activist union DUer and has his 'old school' ways.

I can't influence who OS supports. I know he is one who will be with us in the end. I can respect him and what he has done in this life - regardless of anything else.

What he did for our tiny little corner of the world: Democratic Underground for Hillary

Thank you, Steve. You are a friend.

And that's all I have to say about that.

[sheshe2]

35. Steve

You know I have been there for you. And yes, you have been there for me about my dad and his Alzheimer.

I just don't know how to explain this, I do not want to hurt you. We have groups. Please try to respect that, I know that is hard right now. I know you try. I know a lot about dementia,my dad and now you. Just posting this response makes me cry.

I wish you and Marta the best.

She.

[raouldukelives]

11. Amen to that. Silencing of democracy is a very serious thing.

As is refusing to have conversations about that silencing and surveillance. Glad to hear we agree.
I have never understood how those who stand and invest against democracy for fellow citizens can call themselves Democrats.

Of course, my scale runs a little larger than a website. But the song remains the same.

[Little Star]

12. What you said!!!!!!! k&r

[Gothmog]

15. Good post

[Starry Messenger]

16. Highly ironic considering

I don't usually get into the deep state discussions because it isn't high on my list of priorities, but one wonders about the overlap between people who vocally object to the NSA, but alert constantly in here to hide posts.

[BainsBane]

24. Yes, that thought had occurred to me

Interesting question.

[rock]

17. Thank You

Those who would shout us down don't realize, it's not their decision about who we vote for.

[sufrommich]

18. If the internet has taught us anything it's that there are a

lot of adults with child like impulse control. I will never understand DUers who insist on entering protected groups to stir shit,it seems like they should be embarrassed about it instead of bragging about it.

[Little Star]

19. Amen

[William769]

22. It's a good thing I am Gay BainsBane

Because I think I'm falling in love.

[BainsBane]

28. Aw, shucks

That's sweet of you. But yeah, it is a good thing you're gay because my heart belongs to another, Justin.

[Evergreen Emerald]

25. Excellent post

Thank you for this. I have been avoiding DU and trying not to jump in the fray. Sometimes I succeed better than other times.

I have been avoiding DU.

[hrmjustin]

26. Thank you for putting this into words.

[Iliyah]

27. K & R

Thank you for keeping it real.

Pro-HRC threads on GD and GDP are always attacked, as well as the HRC room. I guess they want a dictatorship type site, nahhhhh, ain't gonna happen.

[awoke_in_2003]

29. Bernie guy here

It sucks, but there are just some people who enjoy being jerks. It is sad, really. One of these people are going to win the nomination, and we are all going to have to get behind that person come Nov 2016. Why poison the well?

[BainsBane]

30. I agree completely. nt

[McCamy Taylor]

31. I am thinking about only coming to this room from now on. The rest of DU is getting toxic.

Bookmarking this page. And this page only.

[LuvLoogie]

32. It is just one person on a different thread that will remain nameless,

But this haven just got refered to as the Hill Hole and Hillary's supporters here as rabid fanboys and fan girls. It was a response to someone complaining about being "axed" from here. I don't mention it to out the person, but to acknowledge how spot on this OP is.

[hrmjustin]

33. Please send me the link in a pm. Thanks.

[BainsBane]

40. fan boys and fan girls

And what do they call themselves? I can tell you criticism of Clinton is not treated as heresy on this site, unlike with another candidate.

[Hekate]

37. As a member of the BOG, all I can say is get used to it.

"Some" here are pretty nasty and want to shout down and shut out all those with whom they disagree. "Some" taunt, bait, and stalk -- and "some" are trying to shut down a couple of the Groups. BOG has had to be tightly monitored for years just in self defense.

It's late at night and I'm probably speaking intemperately, but here's the thing: I'd like to have an intelligent discussion, a real informative back and forth about the POTUS and about HRC, without being told they are TehEvil and I am a blind and bleating worshipper. Gods forbid I should have something positive to say about either of those Democrats -- after all he's only the POTUS and she's only the SoS! But it's not worth the aggravation out there in GD or GD-P.

Beats me what "some" are getting out of these tactics, but I can make a few guesses.

[Cha]

39. I had to bring up the BOG, too, Hekate.. how could we not after

dealing with all stripes of intruders for so long.

My part has been about 3 years since I left DU in 2010 and came back quite by accident for the President's 2nd term election in 2012.

I was quite pleasantly surprised that Skinner had set up private groups that were for those members only. When there were those who use to complain about that.. I'd tell them to "Talk to Skinner in ATA.. he's the one who set it up".

I sure do appreciate members like you in the BOG, Hekate, for all these years we've had together for our Prez.

[Cha]

38. Brilliantly stated, BB. Thank you.. as I've said before.. those of us who support President

Obama on a Democratic board also have one space where we are free from the daily cheap pot shots(Thanks Skinner for DU3!).. but do you think everyone respected that?

Hell to the NO.. they come in and can't understand why there is a protected group where they couldn't unload their venom on the President. Or some would just post OPs in our BOG that were negative and act like they dared us to do anything about them.. one actually stated they had no idea where they were posting. uh huh.

Now.. they're doing the same to Hillary's Room. Oh, but I've read that don't let anyone even ask questions in a certain Group without getting bounced.

As least we can Block them and that will not happen again with that particular intruder.

P.S. I love the Bernie supporters who come in here and are respectful and agree that RESPECT in all groups should be honored.