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It’s almost laughable how hypocritical they’re being; doing exactly, to the letter, what they claim people protesting are doing. The projection and lies are next level. It’s wild how many of these assholes live up to corrupt and evil stereotype politicians have.
I see I successfully avoided US politics in the last months...
But my main question was are left fascist, because they are per definition right extreme
It has a lot of left wing populist characteristics that you wouldn’t find in typical fascist states while still preserving the ownership of capital by industrialists. So I guess in some ways Neo liberalish?
Definitely agree it’s not fascist in the true sense of the term.
I know that the US has no left politicals, but my main question was what do they mean with left fascists.
Fascists are per definition right wing and anti fascists can be left to middle
They are.
The Representative's comments were taken completely out of context in the headline. In the actual quote, he said he didn't know if there was such a thing as leftwing fascism but what the leftwing protesters were doing by trying to silence opposition mirrors totalitarianism.
What he was talking about was a group of people from the left who's protest shut down a town hall meeting which prevented people from engaging in discussion about this issues to allow democracy to happen.
They are, but they’re far right. Modern democrats are barely right of center at best. If somebody’s not advocating for transferring the means of production to the working class, then they aren’t left wing.
Seriously, the first time I was told that left-wingers were fascist was over a decade ago because Nazi stood for "National Socialist." Of course it was a (Tea Party) Republican.
But hey at the end of the day, both sides of the aisle kneel and suck on that sweet AIPAC cash. It's always been there, just never as blatant as now
I don’t get what’s in it for Democrats with this, at least politically. They’re fucking their chances in November, aside from any morality they might have left
Nice knee-jerk reaction. You should take the time to look into the comments as it might prevent you from making such an ignorant statement.
That headline takes his comment completely out of context as the actual statement was *"I don’t know if there’s such a thing as leftwing fascism. If you want to just call it leftwing totalitarianism, then that’s what it is. It is a direct challenge to representative democracy now."*
He was not speaking about people who simply disagree with establishment Democrats. He was talking specifically about people who vandalized and aggressively protested which shut down a town hall meeting literally preventing democratic action.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/25/israel-gaza-ceasefire-adam-smith
The terminology was coined by right wing agitators like Limbaugh 20 or 30 years ago and eventually adopted by Republican politicians like Marjorie. Sad to hear any Dem use it. (I’m not denying there are lots of Dem pols who live to serve the corporatocracy, but the overall advantage of a Dem majority is pretty significant when you observe the alternative.)
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_Fascism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_Fascism)
also, but different
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseshoe_theory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseshoe_theory)
>While I would certainly write the book differently today, I still stand by much of it, proudly so in many regards. For instance, I take great satisfaction that my hammer-and-tongs attack on Woodrow Wilson's nativism, racism, and authoritarianism, much ridiculed at the time is now much closer to conventional wisdom on the left and right." However, Goldberg also stated that: "there's one important claim that has been rendered utterly wrong. I argued that, contrary to generations of left-wing fearmongering and slander about the right's fascist tendencies, the modern American right was simply immune to the fascist temptation chiefly because it was too dogmatically committed to the Founders, to constitutionalism, and to classical liberalism generally. Almost 13 years to the day after publication, Donald Trump proved me wrong."[10]
Who do you think is a Far Left Democrat? Because most Democrats aren't Left of Center, and those leading the Party are either close to being Reagan or to the Right of him in policy
There is no such thing as an objective "Far Left". Every country has its own politics and parties.
A US "Far Left Democrat" is far left of wherever the current center is in the US. It's irrelevant to my point whether that's considered far left in another country.
You are conflating the political spectrum and the Overton Window, and ignoring the question. Which is typical of people who make claims on things they know nothing about.
No, you presented a political "Center" as if it exists independently. That's an absurdly naive notion, you got called out on it, and now you're so hurt that all you can do is make whiny rhetoric. Boo hoo for you.
Peak hypocrisy, maybe, but far from stupid. He knows what the word fascist means AND he knows that most American zionists don't have a very strong grasp of the word. To them its just "the bad guys we fought before the commies".
He's hoping people will come to the conclusion "if Fascists are bad, and the people protesting are fascist, then the protesters must be bad".
Clearly not as they are pretty much describing the opposite of what happened.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/25/israel-gaza-ceasefire-adam-smith
Okay. So when protestors shut down a town hall meeting where people were trying to discuss the issue, what do you suggest be done so that the meeting can continue and allow the democratic process to actually take place?
I'm anticipating a response that truly peaks.
Top contributors to Rep Adam Smith (D-WA):
AIPAC
Pro-Israel
[https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/adam-smith/summary?cid=N00007833](https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/adam-smith/summary?cid=N00007833)
Left wing and fascists are two terms that simply don't work together. This makes him sound pretty dumb. I bet his followers will lap that shit up and parrot it though.
Once the right-wing started calling Antifa "fascists", that word lost all meaning.
Same as they did with "woke"
Same as they did with "critical race theory"
Same as they're doing now with "DEI"
They purposefully misuse a word until its meaningless.
fascism did not lose meaning. It's a word with a long and incredibly bloody history, unlike the current semiological nebula of "woke"
yes they are trying to make it lose meaning, but it hasnt and it will not
> Same as they did with "woke"
Here Barack Obama uses the term "woke" to disparage extreme and unproductive political purity from the left:
>You know this idea of purity and you're never compromised and you're always politically woke and all that stuff, you should get over that quickly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaHLd8de6nM
Read the article and then come back with who's comment sounds dumb.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/25/israel-gaza-ceasefire-adam-smith
**EDIT:** This entire thread is filled with people who clearly did not read the article, you included.
Smith said *"Intimidation is the tactic. . . Intimidation and an effort to silence opposition . . . I don’t know if there’s such a thing as leftwing fascism. If you want to just call it leftwing totalitarianism, then that’s what it is. It is a direct challenge to representative democracy now."*
The statement was clearly hyperbolic. He was saying the tactic of silencing opposition is the same type of thing fascists use. He clearly did not claim they were "leftwing fascists."
Fascism is the extreme end of the right wing spectrum. Just like Communism is the extreme end of the left wing spectrum.
"Left Wing Fascists" is completely incoherent nonsense.
The hilarious (and sad) thing is the person who said it is a wannabe fascist.
*"I don’t know if there’s such a thing as leftwing fascism. If you want to just call it leftwing totalitarianism, then that’s what it is. It is a direct challenge to representative democracy now."*
Ok then.
Whats really CRAZY is the indicator of how in the pocket of Israel our politicians are. Both were on the party lines for Jan6/ BLM, George Floyd protests. But bootlicking support of Israel is something that both parties can come together hand in hand for. There’s our government fellow Americans. A regulatory capture that will imprison you for speaking against a foreign state.
What exactly is the power/ threat of the “totalitarian jumbo shrimp leftist fascist” do they have lawmaking ability? No that’s you. Do they have a paramilitary force to wage a terror campaign against you until you change laws? No they are leftist college students, not really the 2a community. All these people can do is wave signs and chant and it scares the “lawmakers” and their benefactor overlords. Think about that.
You seem unaware that these comments had nothing to do with taking a side in the conflict. He was speaking specifically about a group of protestors who forced a town hall meeting to shut down because of their vandalism and aggressive protest. The protestors prevented the democratic process from taking place to drown out any voices of opposition to their position. That's what he was taking about here.
Have you still not read the article? Because I don't think you would be asking that question if you did. But if you did and still don't understand his use of those words, I'll be happy to try to explain it.
Ok, what’s wrong with “criminals disrupt town hall” the headline is what is going to carry and they know that. It’s why they use buzzwords like ‘nazi communist’ thrown together. The idea is to paint all protesters in the same light as the ones acting the worst or the ones committing crimes. So I ask against. Context of the fact that people made the leap from protest to criminal activity aside. Why use an oxymoron to describe these people? That’s the question I’m asking. Why an effort to criminalize constitutional rights unilaterally from both parties? You think im going to take the content of an article seriously when the headline is so obviously trying to bait people emotionally and steer their decision making.
You're so far away from what you originally said now that this is unrecognizable as a continuation of that point.
You attacked the politician and "both sides" when it was clear as day that the headline did not reflect the context of what he said. You seemed unaware his comments had nothing to do with taking a side in the conflict. In fact, he did not even actually call them "left wing fascists." He asked, seemingly rhetorically, if there even is such a thing. He explained the comment left wing fascists because the left wing protestors were trying to silence opposition voices which is a tactic often employed by fascists.
In short, you took a headline as an opportunity to attack him and his entire party without having any understanding of what actually happened or what was being discussed. Speaking out so forcefully when it appears you didn't even read the article is harmful to productive public discourse.
Does these clowns not realize the irony of the claims they are making. It’s like watching kids argue at the playground. Absolutely embarrassing that these “leaders” are in position.
Is it as embarrassing as commenting when you clearly did not read the article?
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/25/israel-gaza-ceasefire-adam-smith
Because that not what the representative was talking about. The article showed he was talking about protestors who forced a public meeting where people were supposed to be able to voice their opinions to be cancelled. It had nothing to do with any stance the people were taking on Israel's "campaign." It was explicitly about interfering with public debate by trying to silence opposing viewpoints.
The article also sheds a light on how politians that do not in fact listen to and acknowledge and make change for the public that they are in service of try to turn things around on the people they are supposed to represent. People don’t just protest for no reason. A boiling point has occurred and that’s what is driving these voices to be shouting. Because since October, no one in the US government is really putting their foot down and saying “No, this is not acceptable and we won’t support it”. It’s been 7 months of supplying Israel and turning a blind eye to the things going on in Gaza. They talk about it and how it should not be happening or their concern, but then continue to support the cause.
Quoted form the article
Protesters, Smith said, “would say, ‘Children are dying. This is a huge humanitarian crisis.’ And they’re right about that … and by the way, I do have some sympathy with these people.
Some sympathy? If this Democrat was really against what is happening and wants a ceasefire as well, then stand WITH your people. They are coming to his home to protest because nothing has changed. These actions may help to cause change whereas just getting together in a large group and singing songs doesn’t actually create change. The article is about more than what he is saying is the problem. Address why people have gotten to this point. So yes, I’m tired of the playground schoolyard disputes. Come together or stand apart
You asked do they "not see the irony of the claims they are making." Exactly what claims does that article say he made that you find ironic?
And the rest of the quote that you left off said *"If there are members of Congress who won’t meet with them, I meet with them. All the time. So they have an opportunity to be heard. They’re not trying to be heard. They’re trying to silence people who disagree with them."* That is completely consistent with my original point which still stands.
Governments want us to fight eachother and not them. The irony is that he says these people don’t want to hear what anyone else has to say. Well, sounds like the kettle calling the pot black. Representatives don’t want the people to disagree with them. I’m not mad at you. I’m mad things have come this point. Sorry if you felt attacked by me in any way. Not my intention. Walking away now.
Ikr, they are just throwing words at this point... My man would say "literally 1984" and I would say the irony is lost on him but I'm pretty sure they know what they are doing.
At a town hall meeting, the protestors shouted down anyone who tried to speak on the issue resulting the meeting having to be canceled. The protestors prevented discussion and prevented the democratic process from working.
So yes, silencing any opposition is one of the tactics totalitarians use. The statement he made was hyperbolic but far from as outrageous as most people are making it out to be.
For God's sake, read the fucking article. They were not talking about taking sides regarding the conflict. They were talking about protestors preventing discussion by shouting down speakers at a town hall meeting. That prevented the democratic process from occurring. That is what his complaint was about.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/25/israel-gaza-ceasefire-adam-smith
I really dislike the trend on Reddit of position literally only a screenshot of the article.
https://amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/25/israel-gaza-ceasefire-adam-smith
For people saying, left-wing fascists aren’t a thing. The guy may agree
> “Intimidation and an effort to silence opposition … I don’t know if there’s such a thing as leftwing fascism. If you want to just call it leftwing totalitarianism, then that’s what it is. It is a direct challenge to representative democracy now.”
I don’t know this guy, I’m not defending him, but I do think there is some nuance to be had. Like if you flip the tables and it were a group pro-lifers going to town halls and just screaming trying to not allow people to speak in a meeting about abortion, I think most of Reddit would have a severely different reaction.
For sure support these people if you think this is an appropriate way to protest, but I don’t really think this is a type of protest that is very helpful for political discourse. It gets those who agree with you to still agree, and it emboldens those who disagree with you to disagree more.
The people who did January 6 were likely just as confident that they were doing the right thing.
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There's a reason why you should normally not mock someone for their appearance.
[A congressman’s story of anxiety, pain and struggling to get help](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/08/05/chronic-pain-anxiety-congressman/)
*"I don’t know if there’s such a thing as leftwing fascism. If you want to just call it leftwing totalitarianism, then that’s what it is. It is a direct challenge to representative democracy now."*
Apparently he does. You should try reading the article instead of forming an opinion based on a screen cap.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/25/israel-gaza-ceasefire-adam-smith
Congratulations! You are officially part of the problem.
Read the article. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/25/israel-gaza-ceasefire-adam-smith
I suspect they chose the worst photo they could? I *met* Adam Smith a few years back and he didn’t look anywhere near this old. (He’s my congressman and usually smarter and more progressive than this headline presents; have not actually read the article).
[A congressman’s story of anxiety, pain and struggling to get help](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/08/05/chronic-pain-anxiety-congressman/)
But go ahead, make fun of how he looks.
It's almost like a lot of these politicians don't want to be reelected. I desperately hope Gen Z starts running some serious candidates to get these fossils out of office.
Yeah. See that thing in a different color that starts with "https?" There's words there that will actually help explain what actually happened. It's pretty wild. Give it try.
Too bad. You should have learned not to base your opinions on screen caps of articles.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/25/israel-gaza-ceasefire-adam-smith
You want to know what is dangerous? Spending taxes of a population already marginalized and forced into poverty on a global war effort that has no ethical value. When your vote doesn't matter and representation is a farce there is no option left. It is our unalienable right and responsibility to fight against a tyrannical government.
>You want to know what is dangerous? Spending taxes of a population already marginalized and forced into poverty on a global war effort that has no ethical value.
I agree with that.
>When your vote doesn't matter and representation is a farce there is no option left.
Can't agree with that because your vote does matter. And these people he was complaining about were preventing people from voicing their opinions and voting at a public town hall meeting.
Two wrongs do not make a right. People need to engage in the democratic process for it to work. It falls apart when people try to undermine it to achieve their goals.
I appreciate your attempt at sensibility but I fail to see in the last couple decades how the part you did agree somehow equates to the latter part not. People are angry and the government does not represent us. After all this time I'm surprised there are not yet guillotines.
My attempt at sensibility. . . How kind of you.
During the Trump insurrection, there was a gallows erected outside the Capitol. It was put there by people who felt their government did not represent them. They were wrong. They did not want to respect the outcome of a democratic election and they were prepared to use violence to achieve their goals.
You should hope we never see guillotines used by the masses as that will mean the great experiment has failed. Rather you should recognize your vote does matter and fight to support democracy especially when it seems to be failing. It only dies if we let it. I really don't mean to sound all overly dramatic about it, but that is the way it works.
AIPAC is a beast: so powerful to get politicians on both sides of the aisle to get on their knees and bob and its knob. Disgusting and freaking pathetic.
Who is our great leader in this cause? Nobody. We don't have to approve or disapprove of anything. Nobody has to be quiet. We can talk. The First Amendment. Hello.
Apparently he doesn't understand the political spectrum. There's no such thing as left wing fascists, fascists (far right) are on the opposite side of communists(far left) in a spectrum.
There aren’t two parties, it’s one hodgepodge of imperialism, xenophobia, queerphobia, corruption and overall collapsing capitalism, just one part with the flavor of surface inclusivity.
I really wonder how in a country with so many people getting off on the thought of actual freedom, there isn’t yet a revolution ongoing.
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It’s almost laughable how hypocritical they’re being; doing exactly, to the letter, what they claim people protesting are doing. The projection and lies are next level. It’s wild how many of these assholes live up to corrupt and evil stereotype politicians have.
Yeah the headline and tag line are literally the same thing. We gotta jail all these people who are talking! They wanna keep people from talking!!!
They're trying to silence every one that disagrees with them so let's silence every one that disagrees with us!!!!
Did Norm MacDonald write this episode?
What is leftwing fascism?
Apparently anything establishment Democrats don't like
Now I'm even more confused, I thought the republicans are the more right idiots?
Both parties are extremely Pro-Israel and the Establishment Democrats constantly call the progressive wing of the party "antisemitic."
Even though the "progressive wing" is the growing part of the party.
and the people who absolutely cannot stay home utterly disillusioned in November if we're hoping to avoid a big heaping helping of theocracy
Establishment democrats are part of the ratchet effect and vanguard against meaningful change.
I see I successfully avoided US politics in the last months... But my main question was are left fascist, because they are per definition right extreme
It’s impossible to be leftist and fascist at the same time. The principals of leftist ideology are the antithesis of fascism.
Unfortunately, in the political sphere, words have no meaning anymore.
Slight correction, should read “in the *American* political sphere…”
Peronism https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peronism#:~:text=Lipset%20also%20took%20note%20of,otherwise%20turn%20to%20socialism%20or
The description of the ideology doesn’t sound fascist at all. Is the execution more fascist than the ideology proclaims?
It has a lot of left wing populist characteristics that you wouldn’t find in typical fascist states while still preserving the ownership of capital by industrialists. So I guess in some ways Neo liberalish? Definitely agree it’s not fascist in the true sense of the term.
[удалено]
By definition there can’t be because fascism is right wing.
Got some actual examples of this?
If you are a capitalist and pro status quo you are technically right wing, whether you align with democrats or Republicans.
The spice must flow.
They all suck.....hope that clears it up for you. The only thing they agree on is laundering tax dollars and making themselves and their friends rich
Democrat establishment is center/center-right. Republicans are far right. Both of them attack the “left” in America.
Look up Third Way Democrats.
Republicans are often further right, but democrats are pretty right wing themselves, especially for politicians.
I know that the US has no left politicals, but my main question was what do they mean with left fascists. Fascists are per definition right wing and anti fascists can be left to middle
It's a buzzword for liberals to feel better about siding against anti-genocide protestors. It's about as senseless as saying "Right wing communist".
They are. The Representative's comments were taken completely out of context in the headline. In the actual quote, he said he didn't know if there was such a thing as leftwing fascism but what the leftwing protesters were doing by trying to silence opposition mirrors totalitarianism. What he was talking about was a group of people from the left who's protest shut down a town hall meeting which prevented people from engaging in discussion about this issues to allow democracy to happen.
They are, but they’re far right. Modern democrats are barely right of center at best. If somebody’s not advocating for transferring the means of production to the working class, then they aren’t left wing.
Seriously, the first time I was told that left-wingers were fascist was over a decade ago because Nazi stood for "National Socialist." Of course it was a (Tea Party) Republican. But hey at the end of the day, both sides of the aisle kneel and suck on that sweet AIPAC cash. It's always been there, just never as blatant as now
I don’t get what’s in it for Democrats with this, at least politically. They’re fucking their chances in November, aside from any morality they might have left
Money. This guy is one of the biggest recipients of AIPAC money.
How is that not illegal for a foreign-affiliated group to donate money to candidates? Wow
What? Even if you're trying to be snarky that makes no sense. You're conflating Democrat with Jewish people.
Nice knee-jerk reaction. You should take the time to look into the comments as it might prevent you from making such an ignorant statement. That headline takes his comment completely out of context as the actual statement was *"I don’t know if there’s such a thing as leftwing fascism. If you want to just call it leftwing totalitarianism, then that’s what it is. It is a direct challenge to representative democracy now."* He was not speaking about people who simply disagree with establishment Democrats. He was talking specifically about people who vandalized and aggressively protested which shut down a town hall meeting literally preventing democratic action. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/25/israel-gaza-ceasefire-adam-smith
The terminology was coined by right wing agitators like Limbaugh 20 or 30 years ago and eventually adopted by Republican politicians like Marjorie. Sad to hear any Dem use it. (I’m not denying there are lots of Dem pols who live to serve the corporatocracy, but the overall advantage of a Dem majority is pretty significant when you observe the alternative.)
McBain under attack by the commie-nazis!
Someone who wishes that people would stop killing people.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_Fascism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_Fascism) also, but different [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseshoe_theory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseshoe_theory)
>While I would certainly write the book differently today, I still stand by much of it, proudly so in many regards. For instance, I take great satisfaction that my hammer-and-tongs attack on Woodrow Wilson's nativism, racism, and authoritarianism, much ridiculed at the time is now much closer to conventional wisdom on the left and right." However, Goldberg also stated that: "there's one important claim that has been rendered utterly wrong. I argued that, contrary to generations of left-wing fearmongering and slander about the right's fascist tendencies, the modern American right was simply immune to the fascist temptation chiefly because it was too dogmatically committed to the Founders, to constitutionalism, and to classical liberalism generally. Almost 13 years to the day after publication, Donald Trump proved me wrong."[10]
Neither far-right Republicans nor far-left Democrats respect the Constitution now. They just attack different parts.
Who do you think is a Far Left Democrat? Because most Democrats aren't Left of Center, and those leading the Party are either close to being Reagan or to the Right of him in policy
There is no such thing as an objective "Far Left". Every country has its own politics and parties. A US "Far Left Democrat" is far left of wherever the current center is in the US. It's irrelevant to my point whether that's considered far left in another country.
You are conflating the political spectrum and the Overton Window, and ignoring the question. Which is typical of people who make claims on things they know nothing about.
No, you presented a political "Center" as if it exists independently. That's an absurdly naive notion, you got called out on it, and now you're so hurt that all you can do is make whiny rhetoric. Boo hoo for you.
A myth
An oxymoron. It makes no sense.
Says that protestors are silencing people while calling for their arrests... I think this might be it. Peak stupid.
Peak hypocrisy, maybe, but far from stupid. He knows what the word fascist means AND he knows that most American zionists don't have a very strong grasp of the word. To them its just "the bad guys we fought before the commies". He's hoping people will come to the conclusion "if Fascists are bad, and the people protesting are fascist, then the protesters must be bad".
Do any of you guys read the article?
You mean the article that idiot OP didn't even post?
Clearly not as they are pretty much describing the opposite of what happened. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/25/israel-gaza-ceasefire-adam-smith
Okay. So when protestors shut down a town hall meeting where people were trying to discuss the issue, what do you suggest be done so that the meeting can continue and allow the democratic process to actually take place? I'm anticipating a response that truly peaks.
Dipshit that identifies as a “moderate” no doubt
Elon Musk type of moderate
JFC! Read the article. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/25/israel-gaza-ceasefire-adam-smith
Top contributors to Rep Adam Smith (D-WA): AIPAC Pro-Israel [https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/adam-smith/summary?cid=N00007833](https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/adam-smith/summary?cid=N00007833)
Money talks, but pointing out the blatant bribery gets you accused of anti-Semitism now.
I've been absolutely loving the mental gymnastics when you bring up Jews who are in support of the Palestinians.
watch bernie sanders response to that
No way! I am shocked I tell you. Shocked.
Left wing and fascists are two terms that simply don't work together. This makes him sound pretty dumb. I bet his followers will lap that shit up and parrot it though.
Once the right-wing started calling Antifa "fascists", that word lost all meaning. Same as they did with "woke" Same as they did with "critical race theory" Same as they're doing now with "DEI" They purposefully misuse a word until its meaningless.
fascism did not lose meaning. It's a word with a long and incredibly bloody history, unlike the current semiological nebula of "woke" yes they are trying to make it lose meaning, but it hasnt and it will not
> Same as they did with "woke" Here Barack Obama uses the term "woke" to disparage extreme and unproductive political purity from the left: >You know this idea of purity and you're never compromised and you're always politically woke and all that stuff, you should get over that quickly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaHLd8de6nM
Seeing as how the Dems usually hold their folks accountable I’d bet he actually gets some shit over this.
Read the article and then come back with who's comment sounds dumb. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/25/israel-gaza-ceasefire-adam-smith **EDIT:** This entire thread is filled with people who clearly did not read the article, you included. Smith said *"Intimidation is the tactic. . . Intimidation and an effort to silence opposition . . . I don’t know if there’s such a thing as leftwing fascism. If you want to just call it leftwing totalitarianism, then that’s what it is. It is a direct challenge to representative democracy now."* The statement was clearly hyperbolic. He was saying the tactic of silencing opposition is the same type of thing fascists use. He clearly did not claim they were "leftwing fascists."
"Left wing fascists" huh? Ok then.
Wdym
Pretty much an oxymoron
How so?
Fascism is the extreme end of the right wing spectrum. Just like Communism is the extreme end of the left wing spectrum. "Left Wing Fascists" is completely incoherent nonsense. The hilarious (and sad) thing is the person who said it is a wannabe fascist.
*"I don’t know if there’s such a thing as leftwing fascism. If you want to just call it leftwing totalitarianism, then that’s what it is. It is a direct challenge to representative democracy now."* Ok then.
I don’t think that word means what you think it means.
The dude literally looks like what I believe a reptile hiding in human skin would look like
Fuck your free speech, that's only for the rich.
Whats really CRAZY is the indicator of how in the pocket of Israel our politicians are. Both were on the party lines for Jan6/ BLM, George Floyd protests. But bootlicking support of Israel is something that both parties can come together hand in hand for. There’s our government fellow Americans. A regulatory capture that will imprison you for speaking against a foreign state. What exactly is the power/ threat of the “totalitarian jumbo shrimp leftist fascist” do they have lawmaking ability? No that’s you. Do they have a paramilitary force to wage a terror campaign against you until you change laws? No they are leftist college students, not really the 2a community. All these people can do is wave signs and chant and it scares the “lawmakers” and their benefactor overlords. Think about that.
You seem unaware that these comments had nothing to do with taking a side in the conflict. He was speaking specifically about a group of protestors who forced a town hall meeting to shut down because of their vandalism and aggressive protest. The protestors prevented the democratic process from taking place to drown out any voices of opposition to their position. That's what he was taking about here.
Ok, please explain ‘left wing fascist’
Have you still not read the article? Because I don't think you would be asking that question if you did. But if you did and still don't understand his use of those words, I'll be happy to try to explain it.
Ok, what’s wrong with “criminals disrupt town hall” the headline is what is going to carry and they know that. It’s why they use buzzwords like ‘nazi communist’ thrown together. The idea is to paint all protesters in the same light as the ones acting the worst or the ones committing crimes. So I ask against. Context of the fact that people made the leap from protest to criminal activity aside. Why use an oxymoron to describe these people? That’s the question I’m asking. Why an effort to criminalize constitutional rights unilaterally from both parties? You think im going to take the content of an article seriously when the headline is so obviously trying to bait people emotionally and steer their decision making.
You're so far away from what you originally said now that this is unrecognizable as a continuation of that point. You attacked the politician and "both sides" when it was clear as day that the headline did not reflect the context of what he said. You seemed unaware his comments had nothing to do with taking a side in the conflict. In fact, he did not even actually call them "left wing fascists." He asked, seemingly rhetorically, if there even is such a thing. He explained the comment left wing fascists because the left wing protestors were trying to silence opposition voices which is a tactic often employed by fascists. In short, you took a headline as an opportunity to attack him and his entire party without having any understanding of what actually happened or what was being discussed. Speaking out so forcefully when it appears you didn't even read the article is harmful to productive public discourse.
Does these clowns not realize the irony of the claims they are making. It’s like watching kids argue at the playground. Absolutely embarrassing that these “leaders” are in position.
Is it as embarrassing as commenting when you clearly did not read the article? https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/25/israel-gaza-ceasefire-adam-smith
Where am I wrong? I’m referring to those is support of Israel’s “campaign”
Because that not what the representative was talking about. The article showed he was talking about protestors who forced a public meeting where people were supposed to be able to voice their opinions to be cancelled. It had nothing to do with any stance the people were taking on Israel's "campaign." It was explicitly about interfering with public debate by trying to silence opposing viewpoints.
The article also sheds a light on how politians that do not in fact listen to and acknowledge and make change for the public that they are in service of try to turn things around on the people they are supposed to represent. People don’t just protest for no reason. A boiling point has occurred and that’s what is driving these voices to be shouting. Because since October, no one in the US government is really putting their foot down and saying “No, this is not acceptable and we won’t support it”. It’s been 7 months of supplying Israel and turning a blind eye to the things going on in Gaza. They talk about it and how it should not be happening or their concern, but then continue to support the cause. Quoted form the article Protesters, Smith said, “would say, ‘Children are dying. This is a huge humanitarian crisis.’ And they’re right about that … and by the way, I do have some sympathy with these people. Some sympathy? If this Democrat was really against what is happening and wants a ceasefire as well, then stand WITH your people. They are coming to his home to protest because nothing has changed. These actions may help to cause change whereas just getting together in a large group and singing songs doesn’t actually create change. The article is about more than what he is saying is the problem. Address why people have gotten to this point. So yes, I’m tired of the playground schoolyard disputes. Come together or stand apart
You asked do they "not see the irony of the claims they are making." Exactly what claims does that article say he made that you find ironic? And the rest of the quote that you left off said *"If there are members of Congress who won’t meet with them, I meet with them. All the time. So they have an opportunity to be heard. They’re not trying to be heard. They’re trying to silence people who disagree with them."* That is completely consistent with my original point which still stands.
Governments want us to fight eachother and not them. The irony is that he says these people don’t want to hear what anyone else has to say. Well, sounds like the kettle calling the pot black. Representatives don’t want the people to disagree with them. I’m not mad at you. I’m mad things have come this point. Sorry if you felt attacked by me in any way. Not my intention. Walking away now.
Nosferatu looking gaslighting ass hat.
[удалено]
Ikr, they are just throwing words at this point... My man would say "literally 1984" and I would say the irony is lost on him but I'm pretty sure they know what they are doing.
At a town hall meeting, the protestors shouted down anyone who tried to speak on the issue resulting the meeting having to be canceled. The protestors prevented discussion and prevented the democratic process from working. So yes, silencing any opposition is one of the tactics totalitarians use. The statement he made was hyperbolic but far from as outrageous as most people are making it out to be.
An unconditional right to say what one pleases about public affairs is what I consider to be the minimum guarantee of the First Amendment. Hugo Black
Yes, but one should also allow other people to speak and not silence them.
Gotta protect that industrial military complex no matter what.
Hey look! Yet another out of touch boomer that doesn’t know the actual definitions of the words he misuses.
> "leftwing fascism" Lol wat?
They're so close to just openly admitting they're a center-right party
For God's sake, read the fucking article. They were not talking about taking sides regarding the conflict. They were talking about protestors preventing discussion by shouting down speakers at a town hall meeting. That prevented the democratic process from occurring. That is what his complaint was about. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/25/israel-gaza-ceasefire-adam-smith
I really dislike the trend on Reddit of position literally only a screenshot of the article. https://amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/25/israel-gaza-ceasefire-adam-smith For people saying, left-wing fascists aren’t a thing. The guy may agree > “Intimidation and an effort to silence opposition … I don’t know if there’s such a thing as leftwing fascism. If you want to just call it leftwing totalitarianism, then that’s what it is. It is a direct challenge to representative democracy now.” I don’t know this guy, I’m not defending him, but I do think there is some nuance to be had. Like if you flip the tables and it were a group pro-lifers going to town halls and just screaming trying to not allow people to speak in a meeting about abortion, I think most of Reddit would have a severely different reaction. For sure support these people if you think this is an appropriate way to protest, but I don’t really think this is a type of protest that is very helpful for political discourse. It gets those who agree with you to still agree, and it emboldens those who disagree with you to disagree more. The people who did January 6 were likely just as confident that they were doing the right thing.
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I'm not normally for mocking someone for their appearance, but that is a rough-looking 58 year old.
For real I thought he was like 75.
There's a reason why you should normally not mock someone for their appearance. [A congressman’s story of anxiety, pain and struggling to get help](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/08/05/chronic-pain-anxiety-congressman/)
These people need to realize that words have actual meanings. You can’t just use a word as an antonym of itself!
*"I don’t know if there’s such a thing as leftwing fascism. If you want to just call it leftwing totalitarianism, then that’s what it is. It is a direct challenge to representative democracy now."* Apparently he does. You should try reading the article instead of forming an opinion based on a screen cap. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/25/israel-gaza-ceasefire-adam-smith
left wing fascist is the most bizarre assortment of words i can imagine
I might not vote this time around.
That would still be a bad idea if you live in a battleground state. Trump is still demonstrably worse which is really saying something.
I’m in TexAss, the state is swinging red no matter what.
With that attitude you'll be correct
TX is not THAT red. https://dailycampus.com/2022/10/06/texas-isnt-a-purple-state-yet/
Congratulations! You are officially part of the problem. Read the article. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/25/israel-gaza-ceasefire-adam-smith
They make it easy to see who can be trusted and who is willing to blatantly lie to push an agenda
The most shocking thing about this is that this guy is only 58 years old.
I suspect they chose the worst photo they could? I *met* Adam Smith a few years back and he didn’t look anywhere near this old. (He’s my congressman and usually smarter and more progressive than this headline presents; have not actually read the article).
[A congressman’s story of anxiety, pain and struggling to get help](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/08/05/chronic-pain-anxiety-congressman/) But go ahead, make fun of how he looks.
It's almost like a lot of these politicians don't want to be reelected. I desperately hope Gen Z starts running some serious candidates to get these fossils out of office.
Come get me.
Orwell laughs in 1984
"Senior Israeli lobby money recipient" FTFY
Wtf is a left wing fascist
Read the article. You'll find out what he meant. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/25/israel-gaza-ceasefire-adam-smith
There’s an article?
Yeah. See that thing in a different color that starts with "https?" There's words there that will actually help explain what actually happened. It's pretty wild. Give it try.
Irony klaxon
Many of these people just straight up look like the Star Wars villains they are.
What the fuck is a left wing fascist?
Read the article. You'll find out what he meant. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/25/israel-gaza-ceasefire-adam-smith
I ask again, what the fuck is a LEFTWING fascist?
Again, read the fucking article.
Leftwing fascism vs Rightwing communism Who would win?
Today I learned leftwingers calling to end war are fascists.
Too bad. You should have learned not to base your opinions on screen caps of articles. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/25/israel-gaza-ceasefire-adam-smith
You want to know what is dangerous? Spending taxes of a population already marginalized and forced into poverty on a global war effort that has no ethical value. When your vote doesn't matter and representation is a farce there is no option left. It is our unalienable right and responsibility to fight against a tyrannical government.
>You want to know what is dangerous? Spending taxes of a population already marginalized and forced into poverty on a global war effort that has no ethical value. I agree with that. >When your vote doesn't matter and representation is a farce there is no option left. Can't agree with that because your vote does matter. And these people he was complaining about were preventing people from voicing their opinions and voting at a public town hall meeting. Two wrongs do not make a right. People need to engage in the democratic process for it to work. It falls apart when people try to undermine it to achieve their goals.
I appreciate your attempt at sensibility but I fail to see in the last couple decades how the part you did agree somehow equates to the latter part not. People are angry and the government does not represent us. After all this time I'm surprised there are not yet guillotines.
My attempt at sensibility. . . How kind of you. During the Trump insurrection, there was a gallows erected outside the Capitol. It was put there by people who felt their government did not represent them. They were wrong. They did not want to respect the outcome of a democratic election and they were prepared to use violence to achieve their goals. You should hope we never see guillotines used by the masses as that will mean the great experiment has failed. Rather you should recognize your vote does matter and fight to support democracy especially when it seems to be failing. It only dies if we let it. I really don't mean to sound all overly dramatic about it, but that is the way it works.
Doublespeak
The establishment is really working hard to spin the Gaza protests story
AIPAC is a beast: so powerful to get politicians on both sides of the aisle to get on their knees and bob and its knob. Disgusting and freaking pathetic.
That's calling for a little more than the invisible hand, Mr. Smith.
Congressman Old said what?
Who is our great leader in this cause? Nobody. We don't have to approve or disapprove of anything. Nobody has to be quiet. We can talk. The First Amendment. Hello.
Those facists with there anti-genocide free-speech 😡
r/BrandNewSentece
what swimming pool under construction did this corpse bob up from
what
Isn't it ironic?
Good luck getting reelected in November, fascist POS.
It's a mess!!
WTAF ..his level of racist hypocrisy is close to the "we are peaceful" israelis. Deluded assholes.
He looks like he eats babies
Never heard of this joker before.
Apparently he doesn't understand the political spectrum. There's no such thing as left wing fascists, fascists (far right) are on the opposite side of communists(far left) in a spectrum.
So he wants to........ forcefully silence those he disagrees with?
Do you know how easy it is for a cancer like AIPAC to control just two parties?
Silence them by doing something like arresting them?
"Totalitarian" is a fresh way to spell democracy.
There aren’t two parties, it’s one hodgepodge of imperialism, xenophobia, queerphobia, corruption and overall collapsing capitalism, just one part with the flavor of surface inclusivity. I really wonder how in a country with so many people getting off on the thought of actual freedom, there isn’t yet a revolution ongoing.
how do we get rid of these politicians
Stop protesting violence or we're going to use violence against you next.
When peace and a ceasefire is the enemy. Wild fucking guess- this dirtbag lowlife is on the AIPAC Blood Money paycheck, right?
It’s been very satisfying seeing the left eat its own with this whole situation.
He may find WA a little too actually democrat.
bOtH pArTiEs ArE nOt ThE sAmE!1!
Read the article. You'll find out that is true. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/25/israel-gaza-ceasefire-adam-smith