We shouldn't support George Galloway (hexbear.net)

submitted 6 months ago by Pluto@hexbear.net to c/chapotraphouse@hexbear.net

34 comments fedilink hide all child comments

He's a transphobe and a racist.

I've seen too many on Reddit and Twitter that say "Oh but isn't it great that we're finally getting recognition!"

No. Not from him. He will likely steer the attention to his org and those that are adjacent to him, which are typically PatSocs and TERFs.

No.

We need to do better. But Galloway gets away with this shit on the left because he says the "most radical" thing next to "some problematic shit."

No.

"Some problematic shit" is still quite big.

Nobody should support George Galloway.

A typical anti-war or anti-Zionist SocDem would be better or any other milquetoast anti-war liberal or peace candidate.

^ There, I said it.

Agree or disagree, idc

all 35 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[-] radiofreeval@hexbear.net 13 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

This is what critical support is for. Most users here support Hamas due to their actions against genocide but don't support their internal stances. The left has transphobic allies like Norm who are useful due to their knowledge or organizing abilities. We should not be asking if someone is perfect or even good. We should be asking if they can be used to advance socialism, and I don't know enough about Galloway to think he can be used to advance socialism, but I have critical support for any prominent figure standing with Palestine in a radical manner(excluding people standing with Palestine solely for reasons of antisemitism).

[-] Pluto@hexbear.net 1 points 6 months ago

Hmmmm

[-] bbnh69420@hexbear.net 13 points 6 months ago

It doesn’t matter at all. You are in the US, like 85% of this userbase. Our support is nothing if we aren’t in his constituency

[-] Pluto@hexbear.net 3 points 6 months ago

Oh true, I just mean the folks online that follow him.

[-] Andrzej@lemmy.myserv.one 13 points 6 months ago

A typical anti-war or anti-Zionist SocDem would be better or any other milquetoast anti-war liberal or peace candidate.

Surely the issue is that neither of these things are on the ballot in many/most constituencies. Totally legitimate to abstain and focus on extra-parliamentary stuff tbc, because Galloway is an awful POS, but let's not pretend there are a wealth of non-problematic electoral options

[-] Pluto@hexbear.net 4 points 6 months ago

Fair enough.

A few British comrades have pointed out the municipal and local candidates that they're voting for that are pretty anti-Zionist or at least pay lip-service to the peace movement or anti-war movement.

But obviously, not everyone will make it.

I think my problem with George Galloway is that everyone that supports him are MLs but also seem to downplay his worst (and not even just his worst, just his bad) qualities in general.

And to me, ML spaces should not be looking the other way or talking about the bloke like those, shall we say, problematic, qualities don't exist.

But yeah, thanks for engaging with me here.

[-] Andrzej@lemmy.myserv.one 3 points 6 months ago

Tbh I'm of the opinion that we don't have to pay much attention to him at all, other than laughing when clowns like him inevitably move into the void on Labour's left

[-] Pluto@hexbear.net 1 points 6 months ago

Yeah, I get that. I'm just afraid he'll reinsource certain tropes and all that. Like, yeesh, he's against abortion? Now?

[-] Andrzej@lemmy.myserv.one 2 points 6 months ago

Yeah he's awful, and it's all very cynical — just a less filtered version of the appealing to conservative religious communities that Labour do all the time (seriously, many Lab candidates will imply incredibly conservative positions on issues like abortion, depending who they're talking to)

[-] Pluto@hexbear.net 1 points 6 months ago

Yeah, I can see that.

[-] dannoffs@hexbear.net 11 points 6 months ago

I know it's wrong to judge someone on their looks but come on

[-] Ram_The_Manparts@hexbear.net 9 points 6 months ago

Roight guvna

[-] Pluto@hexbear.net 8 points 6 months ago

Eh, he's old, but his bowler hat and general demeanor does give off that "cheeky libertarian" vibe every time I see him on camera.

[-] dannoffs@hexbear.net 21 points 6 months ago

He looks like Ricky Gervais after a hard cry.

[-] D61@hexbear.net 10 points 6 months ago

Fuck me, I can't unsee it.

[-] Ram_The_Manparts@hexbear.net 8 points 6 months ago

lmao holy shit

[-] Pluto@hexbear.net 6 points 6 months ago

lol

[-] Vampire@hexbear.net 11 points 6 months ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw4cjsiBLw8

[-] Pluto@hexbear.net 11 points 6 months ago

idc

Supporting Palestine is the bear minimum.

There are people that support Palestine that aren't TERFs or racists or what have you.

[-] Vampire@hexbear.net 4 points 6 months ago

What did he say/do that you're against?

[-] Pluto@hexbear.net 17 points 6 months ago

Platforming transphobes and racist PatSocs.

In general, calling LGBTQ+ folk "unnatural."

[-] HexReplyBot@hexbear.net 2 points 6 months ago

I found a YouTube link in your comment. Here are links to the same video on alternative frontends that protect your privacy:

[-] Pluto@hexbear.net 8 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

It's bad enough that I saw a People's World article once that we had to take down exalting the "growing peace movement" or "anti-Zionist movement" in Britain.

Bleh. There are a bunch of anti-Zionist figures in Britain that aren't George Galloway. I literally have British friends talking about the lower levels and municipal elections and there are plenty of candidates.

But George Galloway is "outspoken" and has "fiery rhetoric" and the rhetoric is all that matters for some "communists."

[-] Vampire@hexbear.net 1 points 6 months ago

I think people like him because he focuses on workers' issues, not the Culture Wars

[-] Pluto@hexbear.net 1 points 6 months ago

Yet he invokes culture war talking-points.

[-] ashinadash@hexbear.net 7 points 6 months ago

Sink terf island

[-] Pluto@hexbear.net 6 points 6 months ago

I ask George to describe his politics in one word. "Socialist. Although I'm not as left wing as you think." Surprise me, George. "I'm strongly against abortion. I believe life begins at conception, and therefore unborn babies have rights. I think abortion is immoral." You can't be pro-choice? "Who is choosing for the child?"

Well, I say, better the unborn unwanted child than the born unwanted one. "I can't accept that, because I believe in God. I have to believe that the collection of cells has a soul." No, he says, his faith in God cannot be shaken, and, yes, he hopes to go to Heaven. "I believe the souls of the departed will be there, and that I will see the good people I have known again." What would Hell be? A two-up, two-down shared with Tony Blair, Charles Moore, Julie Burchill and a cleaner who demands a lot of direction? "That would be hell," he confirms.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/george-galloway-it-s-not-easy-being-gorgeous-54718.html