Wil, you’re good hearted and trying to support feminism, but you’re also sort of being duped, which…

Summary

The web content discusses the potential pitfalls of social media campaigns within the feminist movement, particularly in the context of the 2016 U.S. presidential election, and cautions against creating a divide that could inadvertently benefit Republican candidates.

Abstract

The article warns that progressive media's erasure of left feminism may inadvertently pit class against gender, making socialism appear sexist to feminists and feminism seem bourgeois to working people. It highlights the danger of turning political campaigns into ugly caricatures, as evidenced by the heated rhetoric from young feminists and Sanders supporters against Hillary Clinton. The author emphasizes that despite the internal conflicts within the Democratic Party, there is a clear distinction between Hillary Clinton and Republican candidates, citing Clinton's support for women's health and rights. The article also questions the motives behind the so-called "Bernie Bros" phenomenon, suggesting it could be a tactic to create a wedge within the Democratic coalition, ultimately risking a Republican presidency. It calls for positivity in the campaign and a focus on the impending challenges posed by the Republican campaign and voter suppression laws.

Opinions

The author suggests that Wil, despite his good intentions, is being misled and is inadvertently misleading his followers in the context of feminist support.
The article references Amber A’Lee Frost's warning from The Baffler about the risk of progressive media erasing left feminism, which could create a false dichotomy between class and gender interests.
The author criticizes the portrayal of Hillary Clinton by young feminists and Sanders supporters, asserting that such depictions are not only anti-feminist but also anti-American.
There is a clear stance against creating a false equivalency between Hillary Clinton and Republican candidates, with a reminder of the historical consequences of such comparisons.
The author points out Bernie Sanders' popularity among young women and his progressive agenda, questioning the contradictory behavior of some male supporters known as "Bernie Bros."
The article raises the possibility that the "Bernie Bros" could be Republican plants or a strategy to divide the Democratic Party and weaken its unity.
It is emphasized that despite the internal Democratic disagreements, it is crucial to support Hillary Clinton if she wins the nomination to prevent a Republican victory.
The author draws a parallel between the "Bernie Bros" issue and the Black Lives Matter movement's interruptions of Sanders and O'Malley, suggesting both instances send a message that could dissuade minority voters from participating if Hillary Clinton does not win the nomination.
The call to action is to maintain a positive campaign and to focus on the significant challenges ahead, including the Republican campaign and voter suppression efforts.

Wil, you’re good hearted and trying to support feminism, but you’re also sort of being duped, which in turn misleads your legions of followers.

This entire social media sh*t storm is just a distraction from the true danger which was stated so well in this Baffler article (thanks Ernest J. Alcala) by Amber A’Lee Frost, a woman:

The danger here is that in erasing left feminism, consciously or not, progressive media is pitting class against gender — making socialism (or Cold War social democrats, whatever) look sexist to feminists, and making feminism look fucking bourgeois to working people.

Everything about these campaigns is turning into ugly caricatures.

Holly Woods, a young female Sanders supporter is writing enraged posts every few days, saying “Fuck Hillary’s reality,” “How Hillary is Already Complicit with the Next Subprime Real Estate Bubble” or comparing Hillary and the Boomers to Gordon Gekko.

It’s so bad, we’ve even got young feminists claiming that Hillary is not even a feminist. Here’s news for you: this and this and this and this is not only anti-feminist, it’s anti-American.

We cannot create a false equivalency between HRC and the Republicans. For people under the age of 34, you missed out on the last generation who thought there was no difference between the parties. Their apathy, along with a few thousand votes for Ralph Nader gave us the disaster of George W. Bush.

If Bernie does not win the nomination, he will still work like hell to get Hillary elected. You can see that by his refusal to attack her on the GOP’s email witch hunt or the anti-feminist argument because HRC is still associated with Bill Clinton.

On the other hand, let’s examine the ugliness of the Bernie Bros. The fact that they seem to be anonymous internet trolls, or assholes wearing masks is especially troubling on a number of levels:

Sanders has a decided advantage over Clinton among women 18–34
Sanders’ progressive agenda is dedicated to providing equal opportunity for women, minorities, and people of all sexual orientations. Why would there be a subset of male supporters who would go along with this agenda, but turn around and attack the very women Sanders supports?
Who stands to gain from this media circus? Maybe Hillary in the short term, but I see this as a means to create a wedge among the Democratic coalition. If Sanders wins the nomination, and Hillary is lukewarm in her support during the general election, every feminist and minority Clinton supporter who doesn’t vote and work for the general election is another huge step toward a Trump, Cruz or Rubio or Bush presidency.
Is it possible that the Bernie Bros are Republican plants?

This is exactly the same sh*t that happened with Black Lives Matter. The black demonstrators who hijacked speeches by Sanders and O’Malley sent a subliminal message to minority voters: these white guys are no different from the white guys in the other party. So if HRC doesn’t win the nomination, your vote won’t matter.

Keep the campaign positive.

And stay focused on the real sh*t storm ahead — the nastiest, most expensive GOP campaign in history combined with the voter suppression laws designed to disenfranchise minorities, the poor and the young.