Why the Democrats started chanting USA! USA! USA! and waving the flag?

[kentuck]

It is not a natural, normal thing for Democrats to resort to such patriotic symbolism. But, that does not mean that Democrats do not love their country. They do.

Many Democrats felt threatened by the candidacy of Donald Trump. They felt that their country and their way of life was threatened. It was a natural reaction to defend our country and to display some outward patriotism. It was an act of protection.

It is not a bad thing. It was a statement. Yes, we love our country and we are not ready to surrender it to the likes of Donald Trump and his minions.

I do not see it as some dangerous drift into nationalism.

[jmg257]

1. A stronger America - together! Nothing wrong with that!

[Vattel]

2. I really doubt that your charitable interpretation is accurate. But it really doesn't matter.

The reality is that most Americans and even most Democrats are excessively militaristic and nationalistic. The attitudes towards war and killing in war held by most mainstream politicians, pundits, and citizens turn my stomach.

[ronnie624]

5. We are observing in real time,

the US political culture being driven further and further to the right.

[KittyWampus]

11. Charitable? They were drowning out the Sanders delegates who were disrupting.

[Vattel]

48. and they could have used an infinite number of different chants to do so.

[seaglass]

3. It was a plannned counter chant

Received guidance on chants that will be coming from Sanders folks throughout the evening. Below lists Sanders chants and what our counter will be. Send to delegates ASAP.

No More War - USA
Love is Love - Join them
Walk the Walk - Hillary
Stop the TPP - Hillary
Ban Fracking now - Hillary
Black Lives Matter - Join them


https://twitter.com/mattyglesias/status/758858618779217921

[some guy]

49. That's weird

Hillary has said she's opposed to TPP, so why wouldn't that be a join them chant, like Love is Love and Black Lives Matter are?

And why would they be opposed to Walk the Walk? Should also be a join them.

I don't know her position on fracking.

On the No More War v USA chant, I suppose having the military represent and be greeted with No More War might be bad optics. Of course, juxtaposd, it makes Dems seem like war mongers. "No, you can't say no more war. We love war."

I'd question whether that tweet was legit, except it seems to dovetail with what happened.

[loyalsister]

4. The speeches were way more jingoistic than most in my memory

I was stunned to not be impressed even by Obama's. I think it's kind of tragic that the organizers would take breaks from the lip service they give to poverty and police brutality to be sure ma nationalistic chant is pounded into the brains of people seemingly with the goal of trying to convince people who are suffering that there is not something fundamentally wrong here.

[adigal]

7. When Obama reminds Republicans of Reagan, I have to really wonder-

What the heck is going on? Watched Dems sounds like Repubs chanting USA, USA, USA, gave me chills, and not in a good way. I live my country, but I recognize its flaws and have never been comfortable with jingoistic cheerleading.

[geek tragedy]

8. remember the days when the Republicans outflanked us on patriotism

and then kicked our asses in Presidential races?

It's payback time.

The Republicans are running a dystopian ethno-nationalist. Distinguishing patriotism from nationalism is one of the necessary--and I do mean necessary--tasks ahead in this race.

[adigal]

9. So we are using a playbook from the 1980s????

I was in college during Reagan's first term. I don't want the Dems to sound like the Republicans. Ever.

[geek tragedy]

10. patriotism and optimism are not part of the rightwing ideology

this is a continuation of Obama's themes from 2004 and onward.

what do Republicans sound like these days? Donald Trump.

patriotism and optimism are effective political themes, and there's nothing anti-progressive about them.

let them be the "America sucks, and so does life" party.

[leftstreet]

13. Voter turnout will tell the tale

The poster is right - it's very retro 80s

[geek tragedy]

15. I'd happily take Reagan's vote percentages and electoral vote count from 1980 and 1984

Heck I'd even take Poppy Bush's from 1988

[leftstreet]

18. When people could afford homes, college, healthcare

issues like 'patriotism' were essentially status quo votes

Now, not so much

[geek tragedy]

19. when were these golden days you speak of when all Americans could afford homes, college

and healthcare?

[leftstreet]

26. ...

You can't be serious

[geek tragedy]

27. that's not an answer. nt

[leftstreet]

28. You said 'all,' I didn't

Sorry I didn't say 'more' but most people assume that's understood

[geek tragedy]

32. okay, when were the golden years of opportunity and equality? nt

[adigal]

14. Of corse you're right about the right owning patriotism

But I always founds Dems to understand that patriotism means you use your brains and skills and question who you vote for and how they are doing. It didn't mean flag waving and chanting.

[geek tragedy]

16. the chanting and flag waving is stagecraft.

a mere supplement, not the main course.

[adigal]

17. I know, I know...I just hated when the Repubs did it.

My husband got sick for this country as a fireman in NYC during 9/11 and the years after. We both love this country, even with its flaws. I just am clear- eyed about it all, as I think many Dems are.

[geek tragedy]

20. the target audience are people who are considering voting for Trump

or who don't see him as a threat to our democracy.

So, things have to be dumbed down a bit to appeal to them, as they aren't the types who pay attention to the details.

[leftstreet]

24. Why would you WANT a Trump voter?

The target audience should be nonvoters

[geek tragedy]

25. not Trump voters, those who are on the fence having internalized a lot of the

smears against Clinton over the past 40 years.

[leftstreet]

30. People you call 'dumb'

So you're saying the Clinton campaign is targeting idiots by 'dumbing down' the message

My question remains the same - why would you WANT those voters when half the voting population doesn't vote and you COULD target them on economic issues?

Oh wait...

[geek tragedy]

33. Adlai Stevenson:

During his 1956 presidential campaign, a woman called out to Mr. Stevenson "Senator, you have the vote of every thinking person!" Stevenson called back "That's not enough, madam, we need a majority!"


There is targeting of unlikely/lapsed voters, but as a general rule they don't vote for reasons that transcend anything any candidate can do or say.

[Adrahil]

31. There's nothing wrong with love of country.

Nothing wrong at all. The difference between us need not be whether or not we love our country, but how we manifest it.

For Republicans, how to manifest love of country is very different than for Democrats, in most cases.

When people are saying that Obama sounded like Reagan, they are referring to his optimism and expressed love of country.

People really DO respond to an optimistic, hopeful message.

[loyalsister]

35. It enables xenophobia

If anyone thinks we're going to change the minds of haters by validating their "America first" attitudes has not been paying attention to the US culture as it has evolved post 911.

[JI7]

41. you think khan was enabling xenophobia ?

[loyalsister]

44. Only xenophobes require people to prove their patrotism

With pledges to the flag, flag decals, America first rhetoric, never criticize the USA, and of course, rewriting history in order to sanitize it enough that people will be foolish enough to participate.

[JI7]

46. you think that's what khan was demanding of trump ?

You think it was about wearing the flag and never criticising ?

[bigwillq]

6. I had no issue with that

Folks are free to do what they choose.

[KittyWampus]

12. The fact you don't know they were drowning out the disrupting Sanders delegates

means you might want to inform yourself.

And why the f*ck shouldn't a Democrat be patriotic and proud of OUR flag and country?

[maxsolomon]

21. I've been putting TWO flags out every possible holiday

and I took them on vacation and put them up outside our cabin.

Republicans want to own the flag. Fuck them.

[ileus]

22. Being a proud American is only natural.

[rollin74]

23. it was an appropriate response to attempted disruptions

I had no problem with chants of USA or Hillary

or with expressions of patriotism at the Democratic National Convention

Democrats can be patriotic too

[redstateblues]

29. Patriotic Progressive here. I was happy to see it

Work to form a more perfect union

[BainsBane]

34. They are recasting patriotism

Trump gave them an opening and they took it. It's very smart.

The chants were to drown out the protesters' heckling.

[loyalsister]

37. My neighbor is a Trump supporters

and now believes that Democrats actually think he's right but won't admit it because of special interests. Jingoism is the path into xenophobia, not out.

[BainsBane]

38. The Democrats showed patriotism to be the opposite of xenophobia

That was the point. America is great BECAUSE of its diversity. Celebrating America requires celebrating its people, all of us.

[loyalsister]

39. Is there a serious belief that their definition of USA is going to change

among xenophobes and racists by mimicking their America rules, "pledge allegiance pass the ammunition" mentality?

[BainsBane]

40. Why do you assume xenophobes own patriotism?

Or that it is somehow about them and not the rest of us?

[loyalsister]

42. Xenophobes can have their absurd and disgusting expressions of patriotism

As are most expressions of "my country is king" crap, USA! USA! USA! is a praise 'merica pass the ammunition promotion. I am disappointed and ashamed. I thought jingoism was one of the biggest flaws of republican twisted culture.

[BainsBane]

45. You've allowed the right to define it for you

And refuse to consider the reframing that explicitly made the opposite point. Why do you think they featured the Khan family, the father with his copy of the constitution?

Being anti-war and anti-racist doesn't require disdain for country.

[loyalsister]

47. Actually you are the one using that operating definition

It doesn't have to be loud chanting LIKE republicans are apt to do. It can be tasteful and personal. Holding hands and chanting is joining the party of enforced jingoism. Get caught not chanting or saying the pledge and you will be accused of letting them define patriotism or worse.

[JI7]

43. it makes me wonder why they think it was bad when republicans were doing it

Which was always about bigotry.

It wasn't love of country that was bad but the way they made it about white america.


This was the opposite . An immigrant muslim father of a soldier killed use the constitution against them.

[liberal N proud]

36. I have seen several posts saying it was an effort to drown out the Bob's disruptions.