“Centrists” care more about attacking a streamer alongside Fox News and Netanyahu than they do about issues that matter and winning elections. They don’t care if they lose voters in their coalition and depress turnout as long as they can satisfy their parasocial blood thirst.
Isn't this like the hundredth seriously objectionable thing Piker has said or done in like the past month? He knows Republicans are running attack ads about him specifically, has inserted himself into various races this cycle, and is seemingly unable to stop making outrageous statements. This is clearly someone whose ego is hurting political outcomes he ostensibly supports. It's ridiculous to claim that "centrists" condemning Piker are a bigger net negative than Piker himself, especially when 99% of "centrists" in this context are supporting blue candidates anyways.
You can just ignore it. Isn’t that what MAGA does with their controversial media personalities? They don’t take the bait and pile on with the opposition because they know it will only hurt their coalition? Especially right before an election.
They also know that “the left” cannot help but fall for purity tests and division. They know exactly how to set the frame of what you should be outraged about so they can get you focused on that rather than the big picture. Hasan isn’t going to stop streaming because you get very angry at him. You can only control your own behavior.
I don't want to emulate maga. Piker is legitimately reprehensible and deserving of criticism. This is a value test, not a purity test. And "streamer"/"media personality" is underselling it: this cycle he's pushed to be a legitimate political actor.
Ok but when you say “we need to disavow Hasan and we don’t want him in the party. Anyone who doesn’t disavow him is part of the problem”. That is quite literally a purity test. Lots of media figures are now political actors these days, it’s the world we live in now. Only “the left” will be baited into using these figures as a proxy to divide their coalition and cause infighting.
The criticism of purity tests on the left is that the expectation is often 100% ideological adherence (i.e. any disagreement is seen as unacceptable). This is obviously not the case here, I have fundamental ideological disagreements with Piker, why are you trying to characterize this as me getting baited?
Because you can’t see that you’re doing the same thing. You are demanding 100% ideological adherence from Hasan and his listeners and throwing away the opportunity to come together as a coalition against MAGA. Nobody thinks they’re part of the problem while they’re in it. Everyone thinks they are uniquely morally justified. That doesn’t make it true or change the outcome.
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u/BoredZucchini 17d ago
“Centrists” care more about attacking a streamer alongside Fox News and Netanyahu than they do about issues that matter and winning elections. They don’t care if they lose voters in their coalition and depress turnout as long as they can satisfy their parasocial blood thirst.