#BernieLostMe Hashtag Trends on Twitter Following Violence in Nevada
Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, speaks during a rally at the Indiana state Capitol in Indianapolis, April 29, 2016. Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Democratic presidential candidate and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is feeling the burn on social media after the hashtag #BernieLostMe started trending Wednesday in response to a group of his supporters who became violent at a Nevada political event this weekend.
“#BernieLostMe when he failed to tell the truth about dangerous behavior of his followers in Nevada last weekend,” Twitter user Tara Gold wrote last night.
#BernieLostMe when he failed to tell the truth about dangerous behavior of his followers in Nevada last weekend. https://t.co/PW2Z28IxRY
— Taro Gold (@TaroGold) May 19, 2016
Other critics chimed in:
#BernieLostMe when his campaign stopped being for something and just became against someone.
— Marv (@Marv_Vien) May 19, 2016
#BernieLostMe when he did not raise money for down-ticket candidates. I support Democrats who support other Democrats. #ImWithHer
— Adam J. Smith (@AdamSmith_USA) May 19, 2016
#BernieLostMe When his supporters seemed more intent on bringing down the Democrats than Republicans.
— califunia (@GravityisRising) May 18, 2016
Sanders addressed the issue during a campaign stop in California.
“I denounced it. I don’t know why people don’t perceive it. Violence is absolutely unacceptable. Harassing individuals is unacceptable. And I have made that as clear as I possibly can,” Sanders said in an interview with ABC-owned station KGO Wednesday.
He previously released a statement on Tuesday saying party leaders in Nevada had been claiming that the Sanders campaign “has a ‘penchant for violence.’ That is nonsense.”
“Our campaign has held giant rallies all across this country, including in high-crime areas, and there have been zero reports of violence. Our campaign of course believes in non-violent change and it goes without saying that I condemn any and all forms of violence, including the personal harassment of individuals,” Sanders said.
But that didn’t stop the hashtag from picking up steam, with some tweeters making a joke of it:
#BernieLostMe when he asked to know where they keep the Big Apple in NY.
— John Hergt (@natureofthings7) May 19, 2016
Others used it as an opportunity to show their support for the Vermont senator and taunt his main rival, Hillary Clinton:
I just made BIG $$$ tweeting the simple hashtag #BernieLostMe and you can too. Contact @HillaryClinton for details.
— Robin Peterson (@Robin081564) May 19, 2016
I just made BIG $$$ tweeting the simple hashtag #BernieLostMe and you can too. Contact @HillaryClinton for details.
— Robin Peterson (@Robin081564) May 19, 2016
#BernieLostMe by caring about selfish things like equality, affordable healthcare, women’s rights and the working class. Psych! #BernieWonMe
— Darren Hayes (@darrenhayes) May 19, 2016
This isn’t the first time a presidential candidate has come under fire on social media.
Last month, the hashtag #HillarySoQualified trended on Twitter in an effort to support the Democratic front-runner, but backfired when Sanders supporters used it to highlight Clinton’s flaws.
