#kamala — Public Fediverse posts

**In which I refuse to behave like a #fascist even to defeat fascists**

A post of mine got a little traction, which is unexpected and affirming. It also attracted the usual detractors, including one or two hOw DaRe U cRitIciZe kAmaLa?! folks. This was also common with Biden.

The #conservative internet is chock full of right-wingers shouting down other right-wingers for failing to sufficiently praise their leaders. Just look for conversations where #Republicans question some of the decisions of big-name Rs like #Trump, #McConnell, et al. Hell, the mudslinging by and about #MTG is a whole thing in itself, mostly focused on other Republicans.

Perhaps inevitably, the #liberal internet has those people, too. I realize that #unity is a great (maybe necessary) way to win elections. However, unity in #voting doesn't need to imply unity in all thought and #messaging, and calls for unity are frequently a smokescreen for "conform or else" messaging.

Perhaps you recall how "unity" messaging is used by actual literal fascists to maintain authoritarian control.

I don't know how to explain this in a way the tribalist progressive gatekeepers (TPGs?) will understand, but these sentiments

* "Fall in line"
* "Don't criticize the leader"
* "Keep your doubts to yourself"
* "if you're not with us you're against us"
* "Any criticism of Kamala is a vote for Trump"

are authoritarian. Even if they are targeted toward a laudable goal (e.g., not electing Trump again), they are not OK ways to do that. There's a whole "ends justify the means" kind of thinking behind them.

The mastodonian in the conversation screenshotted on this post (username redacted in case they want to distance themselves from this behavior in the future) can only see the world in black and white terms: you are 100% supporting #Kamala or you are literally a MAGA Trump voter. There is no possibility of supporting Kamala while also noting that she is not one's _ideal_ candidate. There is no space for "The best candidate available" or "lesser of evils" (not that I currently think #Kamala is evil; I don't). There are only two options: full support for the #DNC candidate or betrayal.

Again: this is #authoritarian, #fascist reasoning. I don't use the F-word lightly; this is literally, documentably a go-to messaging tactic of #fascism.

I refuse to use, or condone, authoritarian tactics even when working to defeat authoritarians.

When I was about 12 my dad asked me "do the ends justify the means", largely to shut me up on a long drive. I've thought about this for decades. My only answer so far is "We become our means more than our ends."

I'm not into becoming a #MAGA #reactionary, so I refuse to behave like one.

#uspol #politics #election #democrat #republican #gatekeeping #conformity #obedience #fuckthat