‘Just Like We Drew It Up’: What’s behind Joe Biden’s Super Bowl post? [12 Feb 2024 | Sarah Shamim | Al Jazeera] ( www.aljazeera.com )

Yet, it was no meme page or troll account posting that image: It was posted on Biden’s own X page early on Monday. Coming against the backdrop of Israel’s brutal war on Gaza that has killed more than 28,000 people and that the US has backed, the image prompted particular criticism of Biden by some social media users.

Many suggested that Biden’s post was distasteful and insensitive as it came amid Israel’s devastating war on Gaza.

While calling for an end to civilian deaths in Gaza, the Biden administration continues to sell and supply weapons to Israel.

“But I don’t think Biden is thinking of the global audience here,” he said. “He is mostly thinking about his US audience.”

“The meme in itself is a political communication tool,” he told Al Jazeera. “It is being weaponised by different parties in order to attract attention and distract from other issues.”

Biden is not the only politician who has used memes to relay political messaging. Social media teams and followers of politicians including former US President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have banked on memes and internet trends to further political messages.

LEDZeppelin ,

This is beyond stupid to a point that it is convincingly bad faith argument. If you want better protection for people in Gaza but you are so stupid that you are slandering Biden in the process, just wait until the Orange gets “elected”.

jimmydoreisalefty OP ,
@jimmydoreisalefty@lemmy.world avatar

Being an apologist to Genocide Joe is your right, I will call it out even if I am not the best person to do so...

I would suggest to raise your standards and look at 3rd Party candidates or just sit out, some may be doing that in 2024 like in 2016, that is your choice.

HopeOfTheGunblade , (edited )
@HopeOfTheGunblade@kbin.social avatar

And what happens in that case? A lot of people sat out or voted third party in 2016, we got the annoying orange in office, and our courts are now fucked for years to decades. Now there's Project 2025 to look forward to if we let the "day one dictator" back in office. Say, you wouldn't happen to be a trump supporter disingenuously pretending to be on the left so as to depress voter turnout as an effort to help him get back in, would you? Because if not, you might want change your behavior, because it's indistinguishable from that case.

LopensLeftArm ,
@LopensLeftArm@sh.itjust.works avatar

That's exactly the goal people like OP are pushing for - generate enough discontent with Biden by pretending to be a concerned leftist that Trump wins the election. It's a classic form of bad faith manipulation that conservatives and Russian agents have been engaging in online for at least the past couple elections.

Anyone telling you not to vote for Biden is aiming for a Trump win, period.

xmunk ,

I absolutely wish third party candidates were a reasonable choice (and I am voting against Biden in the primary) but our system makes them non-options... additionally it's just silly to decline to vote, you're empowering the absolute worst people when you voluntarily refuse to vote.

LEDZeppelin ,

Knowing full that it will be a red carpet welcome for fascism, you advocating for 3rd party candidate explains how much you really “care” about people in Gaza. Do mankind a favor and sit this one out.

jimmydoreisalefty OP ,
@jimmydoreisalefty@lemmy.world avatar

It seems many people might sit this one out, I do not think Lemmy is exposed to those people though...

Genocide Joe is in office currently, as long as he keeps funding Israel and other wars he will have a hard time in 2024.

This is just another issue to add to a long set of disappointment, from the people that got him in office and the working class.

As voters we decide what we can do, do not let people pressure you into voting a certain way, I know I will be proud of my decision and so should you!

KairuByte ,
@KairuByte@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

Wow, coming in with the “just don’t vote” option. Quite the choice.

jimmydoreisalefty OP ,
@jimmydoreisalefty@lemmy.world avatar

It is a choice, voters decide that, it does happen in presidential election...

I don't think Lemmy is exposed to those people though.

I hope that helped you understand what I meant.

KairuByte ,
@KairuByte@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

“Vote third party or just sit out” is the same thing as saying “just don’t vote in this election and let what happens happen.”

jimmydoreisalefty OP ,
@jimmydoreisalefty@lemmy.world avatar

I thought I made it clear, vote however you want or sit out, it is your choice.

Be proud of what you decide to do, even if the status quo does not like it.

People are doing it in the real world, even if it is not talked about in social media.

I hope that helped clear it up a bit more!

LopensLeftArm ,
@LopensLeftArm@sh.itjust.works avatar

This is such an obvious bad faith reading of that post, literally no one was confused as to what it was in reference to.

jimmydoreisalefty OP ,
@jimmydoreisalefty@lemmy.world avatar

If you read the article, you will know the context. They do explain that it started with the “Let’s Go Brandon” meme and much more...

Anti-war people are the ones calling out the attack that took place in Rafah, while people talk about the Super Bowl.

Clam_Cathedral ,

Look there are so many other actually legitimate topics for criticizing this administration's handling of Gaza that reaching as far as this article is to connect a tweet about the Superbowl to foreign policy just makes you sound unreasonable and insufferable.

FlyingSquid ,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

Many suggested that Biden’s post was distasteful and insensitive as it came amid Israel’s devastating war on Gaza.

Elections do not end just because there is a war. He's running for re-election and trolling his opposition.

“But I don’t think Biden is thinking of the global audience here,” he said. “He is mostly thinking about his US audience.”

No shit. It was a response to a right-wing American conspiracy about the Superbowl.

This is silly.

jimmydoreisalefty OP ,
@jimmydoreisalefty@lemmy.world avatar

Ah, okay.

FYI, while the Super Bowl was taking place, Natanyahu attacked Rafah, where more civilians were killed.

Responding to online people on things that do not matter are more important than what Genocide Joe is funding...

FlyingSquid ,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

FYI, while the Super Bowl was taking place, Natanyahu attacked Rafah, where more civilians were killed.

If Biden had not sent that meme, would those people still be alive?

Responding to online people on things that do not matter are more important than what Genocide Joe is funding…

Sorry, how much time and effort do you think it takes for his media team to post a meme?

jimmydoreisalefty OP ,
@jimmydoreisalefty@lemmy.world avatar

Genocide Joe has the power to stop funding these wars.

That is why it is being called out, without US support these wars would not be happening at the level they are currently growing towards...

FlyingSquid ,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

You did not answer my questions. I will ask them again:

If Biden had not sent that meme, would those people still be alive?

how much time and effort do you think it takes for his media team to post a meme?

jimmydoreisalefty OP ,
@jimmydoreisalefty@lemmy.world avatar

I am here to expose what was happening when this meme took place.

Rafah being bombed, that is what I care about, I am sure those questions are important to you, but to me they are a distraction from the OG reason I shared this article.

Thank you for your helpful questions and let us keep on learning of what we are funding!

FlyingSquid ,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

Rafah being bombed, that is what I care about

Either not sending the meme would have stopped the bombing, in which case you should just tell me that is the case or sending the meme would not have stopped the bombing, in which case you posting this article was pointless.

I'm guessing you won't tell me which it is because you're not interested in people asking you questions.

jimmydoreisalefty OP ,
@jimmydoreisalefty@lemmy.world avatar

You asked questions and I answered to the best that I could.

It is okay that you do not agree with my view points on this topic.

Why ask questions you know the answer to?

I agian reinstate the reasoning behind my post: to call out the bombing in Rafah during the Super Bowl.

FlyingSquid ,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

I answered to the best that I could.

That is a lie. Not only did you not answer, you said you would not answer: "I am sure those questions are important to you, but to me they are a distraction from the OG reason I shared this article."

Why ask questions you know the answer to?

For the third time:

"If Biden had not sent that meme, would those people still be alive?"

"how much time and effort do you think it takes for his media team to post a meme?"

jimmydoreisalefty OP ,
@jimmydoreisalefty@lemmy.world avatar

I think I understand what you are trying to get at by asking these questions, but I am also trying to point out how Genocide Joe is helping Israel.

The meme that was sent out helped continue the talks about Palestinian deaths during the Super Bowl.

Genocide Joe funding Israel has gotten 25,000 to 35,000 civilians killed.

I am pointing out again that Genocide Joe could stop these wars anytime, but choices to continue to fund them.

HopeOfTheGunblade ,
@HopeOfTheGunblade@kbin.social avatar

Really, those deaths were all dependent on Joe Biden? That's pretty wild, because from what I hear his admin has been trying to get Israel to not do a shitload of war crimes, but since we don't actually own Israel as a client state, they can do pretty much what they want to.

Good to know that he personally ordered the killings, and directed the Israeli troops, that everything that happened is all him. It's impressive how well he runs the entire planet for a senile guy, huh?

FlyingSquid ,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

I knew you wouldn't answer them. Such easy questions to answer too. If you're here in good faith.

Lauchs ,

That's a lot of posts to avoid answering pretty simple questions.

A) Would those people be alive if Biden's social media team hadn't sent that meme?

B) How much effort do you think Biden, or any of his cabinet who actually make decisions, spent on this? Several seconds approving it if that?

jimmydoreisalefty OP ,
@jimmydoreisalefty@lemmy.world avatar

The meme helped keep the talk on Palestine, due to the bombing in Rafah, during the Super Bowl.

Genocide Joe is funding the deaths of civilians, which should be of importance to people that are anti-war.

Yes, I understand that they are simple questions, I am staying on topic about Palestinians deaths happening on Genocide Joe's watch.

Lauchs ,

You could just write out the more accurate and shorter: "those questions demonstrate the silliness of this post and as such I refuse to answer them!"

Windex007 ,

By this logic, nobody can do or say anything ever because there are unspeakably terrible things going on at all times, forever. Gaza, while terrible, isn't even the only terrible thing happening. There were terrible things going on before. There will be terrible things to come after.

This isn't intended to minimize the suffering of anyone, but it's impractical to demand that a leader only speak in a tone appropriate to the worst thing currently going on on the planet.

xmunk ,

While you were commenting here hundreds of Rohingya refugees died. Why do you endorse the murder of innocent refugees.

... /s obviously that's fucking dumb but it's pretty equivalent to the your point. Lots of things happen contemporaneously, sometimes those things are done to distract from real issues... in this case a staffer saw an opportunity to make conspiracy theorist Republicans look dumb and try to make it less likely that Trump is reelected. I think this meme was, on the whole, good.

BolexForSoup ,
@BolexForSoup@kbin.social avatar

Genocide Joe isn’t a thing. Stop trying to make it a thing.

Tremble ,

I see your point but he also didn’t say anything about increasing the minimum wage to help out the millions of Americans living in poverty paycheck to paycheck.

Nor did he discuss offshore tax havens and getting rid of tax loopholes.

Nor did he mention the ongoing war in the Congo.

Cylusthevirus ,
@Cylusthevirus@kbin.social avatar

What a strange way to tell us that your sense of ideological purity is worth more than people's actual lives.

Deceptichum ,
@Deceptichum@kbin.social avatar

Garbage article as every news article based on Twitter reaction comments always are.

philo ,
@philo@discuss.online avatar

Is that what Homelander is going to look like when he gets old?

philo ,
@philo@discuss.online avatar

Will Biden make an appearance on The Boys season 4 as Homelander's father?

Ensign_Crab ,

I don't see what the big deal is. It's just Biden taking credit for something he didn't accomplish.

KairuByte ,
@KairuByte@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

O.o Wait, you think this was a legit tweet? Like, that Biden literally meant he worked toward this outcome in the Super Bowl?

Ensign_Crab ,

Like, that Biden literally meant he worked toward this outcome in the Super Bowl?

Of course not. Do I think there's an impulse among his supporters to give him credit for things he hasn't done? Absolutely.

KairuByte ,
@KairuByte@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

No one thinks this is anything beyond trolling.

Grant_M ,
@Grant_M@lemmy.ca avatar

Aljazeera is fucking awful.

philo ,
@philo@discuss.online avatar

The Qatari hatred is so damn obvious its actually silly.

FlyingSquid ,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

I'm no expert in these things, but I'm fairly certain it is possible to be critical of an Al Jazeera article without hating Qatar.

philo , (edited )
@philo@discuss.online avatar

No, Qatar funds Al-Jazeera and Qatar HATES the US with a passion.

FlyingSquid ,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

I'm pretty sure that's not true either considering there's a massive air base with joint US/UK/Qatari forces stationed there.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Udeid_Air_Base

philo ,
@philo@discuss.online avatar

Look it up if you think I'm lying. Or don't, your choice.

FlyingSquid ,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

Ok. I'll look it up.

Qatar and the United States are strategic allies. Qatar has been designated a major non-NATO ally by the United States.[1]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar%E2%80%93United_States_relations

Seems weird for a country that hates America to be a major non-NATO ally.

Another thing that seems weird for a country that hates America from that same page:

Amid the conflict, Qatar played a crucial role in securing the release of two American hostages from Hamas.

And then there's all the money Qatar gives to the U.S. in exchange for arms...

In 2014, the United States sold $11 billion worth of arms to Qatar, including AH-64 Apache attack helicopters and Patriot and Javelin defense systems.[55]

In June 2017, Qatar signed a $12 billion deal to buy 36 F-15QA strike aircraft from the United States, with Boeing as the prime contractor on the sale.[56]

And then there were the times they gave America money and didn't expect anything in return.

Qatar donated $100 million in aid to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast in August 2005.[57]

When Hurricane Harvey hit the state of Texas from August to September 2017, Qatar's ambassador announced on 8 September that the country would be donating $30 million in aid to help rebuild Texas.[58]

So... I looked it up like you told me to and it looks kind of like it's exactly the opposite of your claim.

philo ,
@philo@discuss.online avatar

You didn't look up anything. This is a bunch of propaganda nonsense. Qatar funds Al-Jazeera as a "state" media that is both anti-US and anti-semitic. It favors the Muslim Brotherhood and every other FTO you care to mention.

FlyingSquid ,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

What do you mean I didn't look up anything? I literally read the Wikipedia article on American-Qatari relations. If that wasn't what you wanted me to look up, you should have been more specific. You could still be more specific.

KairuByte ,
@KairuByte@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

“Do your own research sheep, don’t let people tell you how to think.”

“Okay”

“You did the research wrong, I’m just going to tell you what you should think.”

You okay over there bud?

HWK_290 ,

Jfc, he (more accurately his social media team) is meeting these homegrown idiots where they're at. Not everything is about his foreign policy..

jimmydoreisalefty OP ,
@jimmydoreisalefty@lemmy.world avatar

Yes, when civilians are being bombed while these "oh, so importatant" memes are taking place...

Foreign policy is important to some of us that are anti-war... especially when we are the ones funding these wars, per Genocide Joe.

Telorand ,

It seems you expect him to talk nonstop about the war in Gaza.

But like it or not, other things happen and are happening. It's nice to be silly once in a while, and I don't know why you're so bothered by levity.

jimmydoreisalefty OP ,
@jimmydoreisalefty@lemmy.world avatar

I am anti-war, so anytime I can call it out I will gladly do it.

Yes, Genocide Joe should talk about Palestine until they stop funding these wars, but they continue to fund them...

IMO talking about 10s or thousands of civilians being killed by our bombs should be a major talking point, even in Lemmy.

ptz ,
@ptz@dubvee.org avatar

The constant use of juvenile nicknames really helps people take your position seriously. /s

jimmydoreisalefty OP ,
@jimmydoreisalefty@lemmy.world avatar

Yes, nicknames are given to people.

Friends also tend to give each other nicknames.

Genocide Joe is a fitting nickname to the "most progressive president in our lifetime".

ptz ,
@ptz@dubvee.org avatar

Does the troll farm you work for have good benefits? I ask only because I'm looking for somewhere with a good dental plan. Lisa needs braces.

jimmydoreisalefty OP ,
@jimmydoreisalefty@lemmy.world avatar

Sadly, I am located in the US.

We do not have M4A or guaranteed vaction time, if you use too much we get fired or disciplined.

Many have to work multiple part time jobs to get by.

Dental plans are a dream to many.

I would suggest to go to universities and let students work on your teeth, it is the more economic route, many in the US use that as a way to fix our teeth.

Just expect long lines if you go to dentisty students for procedures!

Grant_M ,
@Grant_M@lemmy.ca avatar

Are you russian?

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