Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

pecosbob

(7,534 posts)
Thu Jan 3, 2019, 01:44 AM Jan 2019

Why do DUers link to The Hill and Politico when they're such unabashed right-wing propagandists?

A quick glance at LBN would make you think they're a primary news source for DUers...more than a dozen linked pieces there today, and most of them are either right-wing spin or are published with the intent to make Dems refight the primaries from the last election cycle. Any time a new threat to the one percenters appears you can guarantee that hit pieces from The Hill and Politico will surface here.

This is simply a plea to fellow Dems here at DU to avoid falling into these traps set by the right-wing propagandists by repeating their disinformation over and over again. Thanks for your time and now I'll shut up.

23 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Why do DUers link to The Hill and Politico when they're such unabashed right-wing propagandists? (Original Post) pecosbob Jan 2019 OP
We have a high percentage of trolls. nt DURHAM D Jan 2019 #1
Some are intentionally posted to refight the primaries here, like most of the Sanders threads IMO pecosbob Jan 2019 #4
Examples of today's articles please Yosemito Jan 2019 #2
Here's a few to start... pecosbob Jan 2019 #3
There is nothing wrong with any of those three articles Yosemito Jan 2019 #6
I disagree with your assessment or I wouldn't have posted the links pecosbob Jan 2019 #7
What don't you like about the third article you listed? Flaleftist Jan 2019 #9
If you listen to the interview the gist is that the system is rigged for the wealthy pecosbob Jan 2019 #11
The Hill's headline is NOT what Warren said. SunSeeker Jan 2019 #18
Thanks for that, SunSeeker.. Cha Jan 2019 #23
Oh boy, calls for more censorship. pintobean Jan 2019 #5
Not a call for censorship...simply responsible posting pecosbob Jan 2019 #13
I agree with your assessment. If DU Admins agree too, I wouldn't be against it. ffr Jan 2019 #8
I'm simply asking for posters to thoroughly read the sources before linking pecosbob Jan 2019 #12
maybe same reasons ppl here think rawstory is a news source lol nt msongs Jan 2019 #10
Personally, I like to see many opinions from many sources. Grasswire2 Jan 2019 #14
That's a response I respect pecosbob Jan 2019 #15
Because they're centrist publications, and it's better not to live in an echo chamber. pnwmom Jan 2019 #16
I'd probably hate to see how they label the other sites I visit pecosbob Jan 2019 #17
Thank you for bringing this up... mrsadm Jan 2019 #19
I felt like someone had cut my arm off that day pecosbob Jan 2019 #20
Thank you. nt RandiFan1290 Jan 2019 #21
It's a Mystery. Nt shanny Jan 2019 #22

pecosbob

(7,534 posts)
4. Some are intentionally posted to refight the primaries here, like most of the Sanders threads IMO
Thu Jan 3, 2019, 02:09 AM
Jan 2019

but many are by posters that I hold in high regard. Almost invariably the articles twist truth and take quotes out of context to encourage Dem infighting. I expect the volume to increase dramatically over the next year as more Dems announce their intention to run. I just want to encourage others to read these articles thoroughly before linking.

 

Yosemito

(648 posts)
2. Examples of today's articles please
Thu Jan 3, 2019, 01:49 AM
Jan 2019

Yesterday someone claimed that those concerned about sexual harassment in the Bernie campaign are "neocons". Politico was blamed without good cause.
The Hill is mediocre, but many of their articles are adequate for posting.

Flaleftist

(3,473 posts)
9. What don't you like about the third article you listed?
Thu Jan 3, 2019, 02:36 AM
Jan 2019

"Warren: The Democratic Party is going to say 'no' to the billionaires"

pecosbob

(7,534 posts)
11. If you listen to the interview the gist is that the system is rigged for the wealthy
Thu Jan 3, 2019, 02:46 AM
Jan 2019

and needs to be changed. The Hill selected specific quotes to make it sound as if it were a call for party purity or a litmus test for candidates. It was not. It was a call for Democratic candidates to reaffirm the traditional party platform of representing the people.

SunSeeker

(51,550 posts)
18. The Hill's headline is NOT what Warren said.
Thu Jan 3, 2019, 04:07 AM
Jan 2019

I just watched the whole interview on Rachel Maddow. 
Warren said that FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY, campaigns should be fueled by "grassroots," not billionaires. Rachel explicitly asked her if this meant she thought Steyer and Bloomberg shouldn't run and she said that is not what she meant, that they should run, but their FUNDING should not be by self-funding or by funding from billionaires. Warren explained that the Dem candidate should be one that is supported by a "movement." 

I am pretty sure that when it comes to the general election, Warren does not expect Democrats to unilaterally disarm against the GOP money juggernaut. I am sure Warren would have no objection to progressive billionaires donating to the Democratic nominee.

Cha

(297,120 posts)
23. Thanks for that, SunSeeker..
Thu Jan 3, 2019, 06:47 AM
Jan 2019

when I read about Elizabeth and the Billionaires.. I wondering if that meant she didn't think Tom Steyer should run.

pecosbob

(7,534 posts)
13. Not a call for censorship...simply responsible posting
Thu Jan 3, 2019, 02:54 AM
Jan 2019

Consider the response DUers will have when reading it. If it encourages infighting, consider not posting it.

ffr

(22,668 posts)
8. I agree with your assessment. If DU Admins agree too, I wouldn't be against it.
Thu Jan 3, 2019, 02:36 AM
Jan 2019

I've been quoting both sources as appropriate and feel guilty knowing most of their other stories slant are anti-American, anti-democratic, anti-progressive, etc...

pecosbob

(7,534 posts)
12. I'm simply asking for posters to thoroughly read the sources before linking
Thu Jan 3, 2019, 02:49 AM
Jan 2019

and consider what the response here will be, not any kind of blanket prohibition.

Grasswire2

(13,565 posts)
14. Personally, I like to see many opinions from many sources.
Thu Jan 3, 2019, 03:21 AM
Jan 2019

I trust my judgment to know what's bogus and what's slanted.

Only seeing things I agree with is some sort of tunnel vision akin to what the RW imposes on its people.

IMO

pecosbob

(7,534 posts)
15. That's a response I respect
Thu Jan 3, 2019, 03:28 AM
Jan 2019

it just disheartens me when I see a half dozen posts in LBN that I know are going to cause infighting.

pnwmom

(108,973 posts)
16. Because they're centrist publications, and it's better not to live in an echo chamber.
Thu Jan 3, 2019, 03:47 AM
Jan 2019

This site even puts Politico to the left of MSNBC.

https://guides.lib.umich.edu/c.php?g=637508&p=4462444

Here's another analysis. It puts Political in the somewhat liberal category, and The Hill in the somewhat conservative.

https://www.adfontesmedia.com/the-chart-version-3-0-what-exactly-are-we-reading/

pecosbob

(7,534 posts)
17. I'd probably hate to see how they label the other sites I visit
Thu Jan 3, 2019, 04:05 AM
Jan 2019


I just cringe each time I visit and see all the food-fights.

mrsadm

(1,198 posts)
19. Thank you for bringing this up...
Thu Jan 3, 2019, 04:15 AM
Jan 2019

I have been wondering about the same topic. Trolls, that is. There are probably at least a few. Back during the 2016 election, DU was down for many hours on election eve and day. I did not see any posts about the cause (although I could have missed it); I suspected Russian hacking. Some current trolls may have the same origin.

pecosbob

(7,534 posts)
20. I felt like someone had cut my arm off that day
Thu Jan 3, 2019, 04:27 AM
Jan 2019

and I had only been visiting here for a few months back then. I know I'd go into full withdrawal if it happened again now. I think most here are now able to spot the out and out trolls, but we do have a few issue-specific poo-flingers that still want to fight the primaries from last cycle and some that seem to defend the status quo against what they see as attacks from the left a bit too vehemently IMO.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Why do DUers link to The ...