You know, how back in 2016, the Democrats made sure the spotlight was constantly on Trump because they just assumed everyone would see how obviously terrible he is, and that would lead to an easy victory for the Democrats, and that ended up biting them in the ass, hard.

It seems like the Republicans (and centrist Dems, tbh) are making that same mistake with Hasan. They're constantly putting the spotlight on him, with the assumption that people will see he's terrible. But this does two things:

  1. Gets more attention to Hasan, makes more people see what he has to say (which is actually not even that bad)

  2. Keeps their attacks off the candidates who are actually running.

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[–] 2 points 1 day ago

some democrats still can’t get over what he said about 9/11 lmao

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  • [–] 36 points 2 days ago* (2 children)
  • [–] 32 points 2 days ago* (1 child)

    It's so weird that they're focusing so much on him though. I know Trump likes to talk about TDS, but the social media pundits/MSM are in total lockstep about this. That is actual "derangement."

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  • [–] 19 points 2 days ago (4 children)

    It reminds me of Corbyn tbh. Initially it did boost Corbyn and the entire country recognised that he was being attacked for nothing. But eventually it worked.

    It doesn't have to be rational. Do it long enough and the emotional association settles in despite the irrationality of the attacks, allegations, accusations, etc.

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  • [–] 14 points 1 day ago* (3 children)

    That's because Corbyn blinked. The winning strat is to double down, never apologize, and always be on the attack.

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  • [–] 4 points 1 day ago (2 children)

    Maybe but that was not that possible with IRA stuff and that's where things really started to leak through, it was "he supports the IRA" I heard on doorsteps the most.

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  • [–] 7 points 1 day ago* (1 child)

    I really think that's because he blinked. Never apologize, never admit fault, always be on the attack.

    Though now that I think about it, saying "there were fine people on both sides" might be literally illegal in the UK?

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  • [–] 2 points 1 day ago

    "Do you condemn the IRA?" would've been thrown at him in every single setting until they've got 5000 videos of him not answering a question that he's only allowed to answer one way yeah.

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  • [–] 19 points 2 days ago (6 children)

    He needs to get up there and say Buttigeg has a dog for a husband or whatever it was Trump said about Cruz. Extra points because Buttigeg would get his wires crossed when talking about dogs.

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  • [–] 18 points 2 days ago (5 children)

    'If my husband's a dog, how come I haven't killed him?'

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  • [–] 8 points 2 days ago (4 children)

    This would make me vote for Pete

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  • [–] 5 points 2 days ago* (3 children)

    Because he's not a spouse killer or because he is a dog killer?? or is it just cause it'd be a politician speaking honestly for once

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  • [–] 10 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

    The last part. And because it is a funny answer. I vote for the funniest candidate, which is why I write in Hilary every election. Yes I spell it wrong on purpose

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  • [–] 19 points 2 days ago (1 child)

    The mechanism of gaining popularity because some people hate you is well established and Hasan obviously isn't going to reach the same heights that Trump did. He also was extremely popular long before the establishment recognized him.

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  • [–] 8 points 2 days ago

    He was only popular among (some of) the online left this is a male shift into the mainstream. In either case he is definitely not "extremely popular". He still polls below 50% in name recognition among democrats.

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  • [–] 10 points 2 days ago (2 children)

    can you show me an example of centrist Dems focusing on him? I know Republicans have been acting like he leads the party.

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  • [–] 22 points 2 days ago

    That depends on what your definition of "centrist" and "focusing" is I suppose. I personally think that an unprompted surrender to rightwing framing is damning enough. With that said, this is my list off the top of my head:

    A bunch of them (including leadership) publicly condemned him.

    Henry Cuellar recently made comments about Hasan making Jews at University of Texas feel less safe.

    Cuomo basically started this nonsense when he held a press conference about Hasan Piker's American deserved 9/11 quote. Cuomo later went on to demand Zohran "Mandami" condemn Hasan during a debate..

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