Uh oh. It looks like folks on the left are concerned about X owner Elon Musk because he happens to be an influential individual who criticizes them.
Whatever shall we do, dear reader?
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Apparently, Musk’s use of social media to target political critics and amplify anti-Democrat narratives has ruffled some feathers on the left, according to a report from The Hill.
Of particular concern is Musk’s recent comments about retired Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, among others. The X owner wrote a post in which he said, “Vindman is on the payroll of Ukrainian oligarchs and has committed treason against the United States.”
Vindman, who once served as the National Security Council’s Ukraine expert and also testified in the first politically-motivated impeachment against President-elect Donald Trump, replied, “You, Elon, appear to believe you can act with impunity and are attempting to silence your critics. I’m not intimidated.”
So bold. So brave. Give this man a medal!
Vindman’s twin brother, Rep.-elect Eugene Vindman (D-VA), also jumped into the fray, slamming Musk’s comments as “really false and defamatory.”
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) said, “The Vindman family embodies patriotism and public service. You know nothing about either.”
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Related: Why Does the Left Hate Elon Musk? Because He’s the Donald Trump of the Internet.
War of Words: Elon Musk Slams Trump ‘Whistleblower’ Alexander Vindman—You ‘Will Pay’
Political historian Matt Dallek, a professor at George Washington University, noted that “Musk is a good fit for Trump because Musk clearly enjoys…vengeance and gets off on retribution.”
Kristen Hawn, a Democratic strategist, argued that Musk’s rhetoric could have a negative impact on society. “He has a huge platform, and anytime you do — we’ve seen what type of bluster and misinformation and just spiteful, hateful rhetoric has had on, not just our elections, but on our society as a whole,” Hawn said to The Hill.
Alright, accusing Vindman of treason might be a little strong, but it’s hard to take the outrage seriously coming from people who have been calling Trump the second incarnation of Adolf Hitler for years. I’m not going to weep for those who would refer to those who support the president-elect as Nazis while using even worse rhetoric against his allies.
The bottom line is that Democrats are upset because Musk has influence, and he’s not using it to help them. Instead, he is siding with their enemies. If the X owner was still in the Democratic camp, they would not be clutching their pearls over accusations of treason or his overall rhetoric.
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It was already bad enough that Musk bought Twitter about two years ago and lifted much of the censorship practices that targeted folks on the right. Having conservatives and libertarians on a more even playing field is anathema to those on the authoritarian left who preferred the time when the social media platform’s content moderators sought to ensure that progressives maintained a level of supremacy over discourse.
But now, Musk has allied himself with the Orange Man What Is Bad™, which is just a bridge too far. The fact that he is heading up Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a role that will involve making recommendations aimed at cutting government spending and regulations, is also another reason for these people to whine about him.
Unfortunately for them, Musk does not appear to be going anywhere anytime soon.