Open Letter From an Online Democrat

 

Sitting squarely at the intersection of privilege, condescension and cluelessness, we find the Bulwark's own Tim Miller and the Bulwark's own in-house pet Centrist-in-Liberal-clothing, Will Saletan, opining the following garbage in their podcast entitled "Calm Down—Democrats WON the Shutdown!"

I have added emphasis to guide your wandering eyes

MILLER:  Democrats online are big mad. Not me. But before we get to my contrarian take, Will, what what do you make of the deal?

SALETAN:  Damn. Well, Tim, I'm afraid we probably agree more than you'd like. Uh, okay. To me, the key word in what you just  said was online. Democrats online are really pissed off.  This is not an online thing. This is a real life thing. ... So I I don't think it's a terrible loss. I think Democrats are still standing up for what they fought for. Um and I think only if you are so online that you don't feel the pain that a lot of people are feeling over the shutdown would you think this is a total sellout. 

This drawing of a clear, bright distinction between "online" Democrats and "real" people is something the Bulwark is positively riddled with.  And undoubtedly its a big reason why they never engage with actual Liberals living out here in the real world.  

Furthermore, if you are familiar with my family's situation, you know that even though my wife and I are both "online Democrats" we're also about to see the price of insurance for her and our youngest child quadruple come January.   It's already more that our monthly mortgage, so quadrupling that is unsustainable.  

And the hear these privileged clowns giggling and hand-waving -- these same privileged clowns who routinely scold Democrat for appearing uppity and out-of-touch with Real Murricans because we use big words  -- well that was bloody infuriating.

I would expend a few hundred words reminding everyone why is was a terrible idea to cede the moral and political high ground after the GOP nominated and elected Trump, because once our "liberal" media (and far too many of the liberal rank-and-file) started picking winners and losers, they decided that a tiny group of recently-former Republicans would become the official Voice of the Sensible Opposition.

This is what happens.  

However, since the Bulwark keeps its YouTube comment section open, I don't need to, because, bless 'em, actual commentors did all the heavy lifting.

Here is just a sample:

• "I am not an “online” person, I am a senior citizen , this not an “emotional thing”, this is not a laughing matter, this is our day to day life we are fighting for.  Please don’t dismiss us so lightly!"

• I’m online and I’m a real person impacted by this shutdown AND impacted by the insane lawless actions of this Administration. This is maddening. A shutdown shows the chaos of a Trump presidency more clearly.

• Love you Tim, but I hope you’re reading these comments. Millions of us (myself included) are losing healthcare because of this. The pain is very real for us “internet people”.

• the fact that “Raging Moderates” is more outraged than the bulwark by this is CRAZY!

• Its hard to giggle along with Tim when my local hospital in rural VA just announced theyre closing their OB/GYN dept. Now the closest L&D dept will be an hour away. There will be women and babies dying because of it. Listening to Tim laugh off our anger was just another slap in the face.

• I'm on SNAP and Medicaid. Your suggestion that only people online who weren't suffering were willing to hold out longer. It's wrong to think americans who are hungry or sick would instantly cave, like we're  weak We are as strong as any one.

• I feel sick. I can no longer bear this cynical cheerfulness between these two privileged men.

• I am a real person whether I'm online or not and this sucks and I'm really super pissed. We were winning and now we're losing. You're wrong.

• You're right, I'm online watching the Bulwark too much. No more.

• I've spoken to 5 democrats today IN PERSON who are pissed about this. This isn't just the 'online' people.

• The Bulwark just dropped several levels of respect for me.

• Calling people who want health insurance "The very online crowd" is not a good look, fellas.   We're not all members of the millionaire elite media class.  We don't get to pay our bills with MSNBC media appearance money - we've got these things called jobs, and they only go so far.

• My whole family is affected by the shut down. Guess what? I still say we chickened out. Don’t tell me about how I’m “just online.” I lived this shit. It’s the one time it would have been worth it.

• This is super alienating - how can you not get it? I might be “online” to you, but I promise I’ve lost my real job, im losing my real healthcare and may well lose my real life. It’s not hypothetical for me and I’m furious they caved.

• WTF, real person here and I’m gonna lose my Healthcare.   I can barely pay what they are asking now.  If my premiums go up, I am done.   My sister just passed away from cancer 

• Gosh, I guess I must be "online", which I suppose means to you two that I'm not a real person with real concerns. I live entirely on Social Security benefits and I have a spouse suffering from Alzheimer's. My 38-year-old son, who is autistic, cannot manage to keep a job because of his awkwardness.  We're all just hanging on by a thread, but we're not real people because we're "online". 

• Wow. To be so disconnected from one's own listeners and supporters.

• This is the most out of touch crap I've ever heard. 

• Fed family here. We were being crushed without my husband's paycheck. And I called every rep I have asking them to keep fighting. Temporary pain for me, but longterm pain for my neighbors who cant afford healthcare. This isnt a win, and Im tired of Tim's smugness toward his own audience.

• Good to know your guest doesn't think online opinion matter. I'm a professional who lives in VA just outside DC. I've had family in the federal government for decades. That comment was ignorant and offensive.

• This isn’t just the worst take you’ve had Tim, it’s the one that myself and others will leave over. My feelings are hurt a bit, and I feel some kind of way about your comments about ‘online’ outrage. 

• Will either of you lose your healthcare  come January? Will you lose the ability to afford medication that you will die without? There are people who won't live to see the end of January. Without ACA subsidies, I will die before the end of 2026. But yeah, I'm just an out of touch online weirdo. I'm delusional about my health conditions and my financial situation.

• Since you guys think the “Online” community is the lesser of the communities , if that’s the case then stop peddling the Bulwark!

• Boy I am glad you guys were never in a foxhole with me.

• I am on the internet, and I’m suffering. Please don’t talk down to us too.

• This "online" retiree will lose health care insurance on Jan 1.  I will lose the $737 subsidy and the cheapest plans will be over $1400 per month with a $10K deductible.  That is more than my mortgage and, in fact, more than my entire pension.  So keep your holier than thou "only online dems are mad" bullshit.

That about covers it.

I Am The Liberal Media