Thread.
I think there’s a real and meaningful difference between pretending the ugliness on Bernie’s side isn’t there, and working like hell to drown it out.
I think there’s a real and meaningful difference between pretending the ugliness on Bernie’s side isn’t there, and working like hell to drown it out.
I want to be the kind of Bernie supporter I wish was the only kind of Bernie supporter. I want to give people a reason to believe that he can fight for them and he can win, and that the hope and kindness in his camp is real and stronger than the bitterness and abuse.
I want to be the kind of Bernie supporter who looks at the person next to me and asks myself whether I’ll fight for them as hard as I’ll fight for myself, and answers “yes”.
I want to make *that* kind of Bernie supporter the loudest kind.
I want to make *that* kind of Bernie supporter the loudest kind.
I want to be the kind of Bernie supporter I’m sure Elizabeth Warren wants me to be.
Like... Gross Bernie People, why the hell do you think campaigns emphasize making calls and knocking doors so much? What the fuck do you think they think that’s *for?* Why the fuck do you think they think that matters?
Do you think we do it to scream at people?
Do you think we do it to scream at people?
Do you think we do it so we can call them names and demean them when they say they’re thinking of voting for someone else, or when they express some doubts about Bernie? Do you think that’s part of the outreach training?
Have you ever, once in your fucking life, heard a Bernie organizer say “let’s get out there and make calls and write postcards and knock doors... and abuse people online”? Ever? Have you ever once heard that?
If you say you’re for Bernie Sanders but you’re more excited to abuse and harass people online than actually volunteer with the campaign to make those positive personal connections, then you’re a liar and a fraud and you don’t belong here.
Because when you do something like knock on a door or make a call and talk to someone about Bernie and the conversation ends with “I’m not sure” or “I still think I’m voting for Biden” or even “I’m still leaning toward Trump”, you know what the single best thing you can do is?
The single most powerful thing you can say if you really want Bernie Sanders to win?
“Okay, thanks for your time anyway, I really appreciate it. I hope you’ll keep Bernie in mind and maybe reconsider once you’ve thought more about it because we’d love to have you join us.”
“Okay, thanks for your time anyway, I really appreciate it. I hope you’ll keep Bernie in mind and maybe reconsider once you’ve thought more about it because we’d love to have you join us.”
Talk to organizers on the ground. They will tell you that THAT. SHIT. WORKS.
Doesn’t always work, but it works. You might not change someone’s mind that minute, or that day, but some of them change their minds.
Because you were welcoming and kind.
Doesn’t always work, but it works. You might not change someone’s mind that minute, or that day, but some of them change their minds.
Because you were welcoming and kind.
Because maybe they’re leaning toward Trump, but they’re still not wild about him. They’re just not comfortable with that Bernie guy, he seems scary.
But here’s this nice person talking about why Bernie wants to fight for them. And even when you turned them down, they were kind.
But here’s this nice person talking about why Bernie wants to fight for them. And even when you turned them down, they were kind.
And you turn on the TV, and ugh, man you just don’t like that Trump guy as a person. He’s the president already and you’re doing okay so it’s probably good enough but he tweeted again and said some stupid shit and he’s really gross, you wish he’d stop.
And you start thinking, as you make dinner with the TV on in the background, how you voted for him the first time and he hasn’t really followed through on a lot of what he promised. You’re not doing *that* much better.
Boy, that really was a nice Bernie supporter though.
Boy, that really was a nice Bernie supporter though.
They had a nice conversation with you and *they* weren’t radical or scary. They didn’t seem like a communist who wants to tear everything apart. They just talked about how everyone should have good-paying jobs and health care. Those aren’t radical things, they’re good!
Sure, you said you just didn’t think you could get behind him, you’re going to stick with Trump, but then they didn’t call you a racist or insult you. They just smiled and said okay, they really appreciate your time, and they said they’d still love to have you on their side.
When was the last time you heard Trump say anything like that? He says pretty nasty things about people he disagrees with. You don’t like those things all that much. And you saw a thing about what’s happening to thos kids at the border, that made you uncomfortable too.
You know, it really did sound like Bernie Sanders wants good stuff. But more than anything, that was a really nice person and a really pleasant conversation. Boy, if more Bernie supporters are like that, maybe that *is* a pretty good campaign with good people.
They said something about a Bernie rally this weekend. Maybe you’ll go, just check it out. See what he says. See what those other people are like. Hey, you’ve got nothing better to do. Might be interesting.
It works. I’m telling you, it works. It changes minds. Not all minds, and not all conversations are pleasant, but if you talk to organizers, they’ll tell you that the overwhelming majority of interactions are positive. Even if you don’t win them over right there.
It doesn’t mean coddling racists. It doesn’t mean working to make the coalition a haven for white supremacists. It’s about making that connection to just some average person who may not be sure.
And it’s about—this might be THE MOST CRUCIAL PART—reacting respectfully if they don’t jump in with both feet. Because you *still* might change their mind.
You will win not a single fucking vote by screaming at someone online. You will lose votes. A lot of them.
You will win not a single fucking vote by screaming at someone online. You will lose votes. A lot of them.
If you support Bernie and you want him to win—in the primary and in the general—you lay out the argument, you make the case, you’re kind to people who don’t join you right away. You recognize you’re the face of the campaign and ask yourself what kind of campaign attracts people.
So if you’ve spent this entire time being ugly to Warren supporters... Yeah, you have almost certainly cost us votes. Thanks. Thanks for that. Great job.
I want Bernie to win. So I’m going to be kind.
I want Bernie to win. So I’m going to be kind.
btw I’m using canvassing as an *example* here. This is not just about canvassing. This is about how every time you talk about your candidate with someone, it’s a chance to put your best foot forward just by not being an asshole.
Maybe you change a mind, maybe you don’t, but either way you haven’t turned anyone *off*, and tell me how that’s a bad thing.
If someone knows you’re a Bernie person, and you’re nice to them, and they associate you after that with Bernie Sanders, that’s good. That’s a good thing.
(And I can’t believe I have to issue this as a caveat but I probably do so I AM NOT SAYING BE NICE TO RACISTS OR FASCISTS OR MAGAHEADS, I JUST MEAN IN GENERAL)
