GDSmithTX
Corporate cog
What does Bernie Bro mean to you?
The term is much-overused and it's a gross generalization ... but those it fits, it fits to a T.
It's a vocal minority of supposedly-progressive, entitled, self-important Bernie supporters -- generally young white guys -- who made frequent sexist-oriented attacks against Clinton, her supporters and journalists that they felt didn't support their chosen candidate enough. They used these tactics incessantly, trolling forums, comment sections and social media throughout the internet.
It's the same type of tactics and attacks and attitudes found in GamerGaters ... and I suspect there is significant overlap in the actual people as well.
In the real world, they often didn't have their ducks in a row when it came to the primaries: either not understanding the rules, or neglecting to register in time to cast their votes in the primaries. And when exceptions weren't made for their lack of preparedness, when they weren't allowed to cast their vote because they hadn't done what they should have, they resorted to shout-whining about the "establishment conspiracy to suppress their voices" ... when the blame lay solely with themselves.
These guys, frustrated that their candidate was defeated, falsely claimed that information revealed by the DNC hacks showed pervasive DNC collusion with the media and the Clinton campaign to defeat Bernie and to silence them. They would claim that the evidence was there and was clear as day, but when pressed to provide links to it in the DNC emails, they couldn't. Because they had been convinced of its existence by their fellow Bernie supporters, but when they went looking, they found out it was an old Bros' tale. And that further confused and angered them.
Once Clinton won the nomination, a sizeable chunk of these Bros went on to support Trump in a fit of thwarted pique because so much of their political identity had been wrapped up in "Not-Hillary!!!" that they would throw their weight behind the Devil himself to defeat her.
A friend of mine was sort of caught up in the Bro phenomenon due to his heavy involvement on Facebook and many, many friends in the Houston club scene. He sent me tons of links purporting to expose the perfidious DNC/Clinton/Media cabal that was suppressing Bernie and his supporters. I would research them, send him back actual, verifiable facts refuting the wild-ass Bro claims, and he would end up confused.
After the election, he sheepishly saw the error of his ways and feels kind of foolish about it now.
Last edited: