Don't vote for our brother
September 23, 2018 9:04 AM Subscribe
Don't vote for our brother. A series of ads were released this week featuring 6 of Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar's 9 siblings endorsing his opponent Democrat David Brill. (The NYT reports that their mom supports Paul.)
The videos can be a bit painful to watch. Buzzfeed also covers the tweets between the siblings.
The videos can be a bit painful to watch. Buzzfeed also covers the tweets between the siblings.
I have a sudden urge to call up my siblings and thank them for not being monsters.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 9:26 AM on September 23, 2018 [36 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 9:26 AM on September 23, 2018 [36 favorites]
I normally hate these “interview the sibling and get them to unendorse” things, but this guy seems kind of unequivocally terrible, so...
posted by corb at 9:32 AM on September 23, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by corb at 9:32 AM on September 23, 2018 [4 favorites]
Yikes. Good for them.
posted by greermahoney at 9:34 AM on September 23, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by greermahoney at 9:34 AM on September 23, 2018 [3 favorites]
This really gets at the core dysfunction in American politics somehow. It's like we took that brother that a lot of families have, the one Mom's scared of and who makes everyone uncomfortable, the one who's into conspiracy theories and who is liable to start talking about guns and knives in inappropriate contexts, and elected him to high office.
There is something wrong with us.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 9:34 AM on September 23, 2018 [125 favorites]
There is something wrong with us.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 9:34 AM on September 23, 2018 [125 favorites]
My siblings who chose to film ads against me are all liberal Democrats who hate President Trump. These disgruntled Hillary suppporters are related by blood to me but like leftists everywhere, they put political ideology before family. Stalin would be proud. #Az04 #MAGA2018
I like how he's the odd man out politically in his family but it's them putting politics before family. Lol.
*edited to add quote for proper context
posted by Groundhog Week at 9:36 AM on September 23, 2018 [63 favorites]
I like how he's the odd man out politically in his family but it's them putting politics before family. Lol.
*edited to add quote for proper context
posted by Groundhog Week at 9:36 AM on September 23, 2018 [63 favorites]
My mom grew up one of ten kids, mostly girls but two boys, including the oldest. It's interesting to me that minus the political angle, there's some similarities here with the oldest brother being (or at least acting like he is sure he is) the favored golden child. My mom has reconciled with her brother who luckily did not grow up to be a monster despite kinda being raised to be, but I heard a lot of stories growing up about how her older brother could do literally anything, including being fully awful and abusive to his sisters and doing actual illegal teenaged trouble-making things, and their parents would just shrug it off, while the younger siblings (esp. the girls because patriarchy) would have gotten in massive massive trouble for the same behavior. Given the parents' response here and his shitty tweet about being the favorite, sounds like there's a similar dynamic in the family.
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:39 AM on September 23, 2018 [22 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:39 AM on September 23, 2018 [22 favorites]
Sounds like he should count himself lucky he doesn't have to run for the office of "sibling." I assume there won't be a family Thanksgiving this year. Win or lose, that's gonna throw one hell of a wrench in the family dynamics.
I really feel for the siblings. Their brother's gone batshitinsane on the national stage. I can't even imagine how sad it'd make me if one of my own siblings went so far off the deep end I felt compelled to speak out against them publicly.
posted by los pantalones del muerte at 9:40 AM on September 23, 2018 [12 favorites]
I really feel for the siblings. Their brother's gone batshitinsane on the national stage. I can't even imagine how sad it'd make me if one of my own siblings went so far off the deep end I felt compelled to speak out against them publicly.
posted by los pantalones del muerte at 9:40 AM on September 23, 2018 [12 favorites]
This is one of the most depressing things I’ve seen all week.
posted by not_the_water at 10:02 AM on September 23, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by not_the_water at 10:02 AM on September 23, 2018 [8 favorites]
They put political ideology before family.
Trump's mirror. Paul Gosar has put his ideology so far ahead of his family as to make a career of it.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 10:02 AM on September 23, 2018 [17 favorites]
Trump's mirror. Paul Gosar has put his ideology so far ahead of his family as to make a career of it.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 10:02 AM on September 23, 2018 [17 favorites]
The irony of this tweet is just staggering. No family's obnoxious uncle ever thinks that they're the obnoxious uncle; they believe that they're the righteous one.
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:07 AM on September 23, 2018 [30 favorites]
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:07 AM on September 23, 2018 [30 favorites]
It seems like Dave, the one most active on Twitter, hasn't spoken to Paul in nearly a decade.
posted by k8t at 10:13 AM on September 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by k8t at 10:13 AM on September 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
The worst part is that it's a solid red district and he's almost certainly going to win.
posted by octothorpe at 10:33 AM on September 23, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 10:33 AM on September 23, 2018 [3 favorites]
I say kudos to the Gosar siblings. Sometimes standing in your integrity means making very, very difficult decisions like this.
posted by bologna on wry at 10:48 AM on September 23, 2018 [30 favorites]
posted by bologna on wry at 10:48 AM on September 23, 2018 [30 favorites]
On the face of it the 6 siblings challenged his politics and leadership--he then personalized it. But I certainly agree with the poster that it is a most unfortunate commentary on polarized politics and the inability to find the common ground in support of the commonweal
posted by rmhsinc at 11:04 AM on September 23, 2018
posted by rmhsinc at 11:04 AM on September 23, 2018
They *are* putting politics before family, and if he's a white nationalist, that's the the right thing to do.
My 1st thought was that this would be a great way to get out of Thanksgiving with family because, awkward. I have 1 sibling who's probably still anti-choice, siblings who used to be homophobic and fairly conservative in that I've got mine, too bad for anybody who doesn't way, but they've evolved for the most part.
posted by theora55 at 11:46 AM on September 23, 2018 [11 favorites]
My 1st thought was that this would be a great way to get out of Thanksgiving with family because, awkward. I have 1 sibling who's probably still anti-choice, siblings who used to be homophobic and fairly conservative in that I've got mine, too bad for anybody who doesn't way, but they've evolved for the most part.
posted by theora55 at 11:46 AM on September 23, 2018 [11 favorites]
Everything is broken and it won't get fixed.
posted by tommasz at 11:57 AM on September 23, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by tommasz at 11:57 AM on September 23, 2018 [14 favorites]
Good for them, more people close to politicians need to speak out like this in the US. It's common enough abroad. He's clearly had a pretty cynical career of appealing to the lowest common denominator and he comes from an intelligent and educated old-school Catholic family who see it for what it is and probably know very well how he's benefited financially and other wise from pandering to the Tea Party. I'd call out one of my own siblings if they did this too.
Plus he insulted the Pope and if any of them are at all traditional them's fighting words. I'm surprised his Ma was ok with that one.
posted by fshgrl at 12:31 PM on September 23, 2018 [10 favorites]
Plus he insulted the Pope and if any of them are at all traditional them's fighting words. I'm surprised his Ma was ok with that one.
posted by fshgrl at 12:31 PM on September 23, 2018 [10 favorites]
"Am I so out of touch? No, it's the children that are wrong!"
posted by blue_beetle at 1:48 PM on September 23, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by blue_beetle at 1:48 PM on September 23, 2018 [8 favorites]
I don't think it's the siblings who have ruined Thanksgiving. I bet Paul has been making Thanksgiving excruciating for years.
posted by clawsoon at 1:52 PM on September 23, 2018 [28 favorites]
posted by clawsoon at 1:52 PM on September 23, 2018 [28 favorites]
People like Gosar with abhorrent views SHOULD feel shame for them, but they've doubled down in the last few years. If your entire family is calling you out like this, some folks would maybe rethink their positions. But the backfire effect is a hell of a drug.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 2:26 PM on September 23, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 2:26 PM on September 23, 2018 [7 favorites]
My siblings who chose to film ads against me are all liberal Democrats who hate President Trump. These disgruntled Hillary suppporters are related by blood to me but like leftists everywhere, they put political ideology before family. Stalin would be proud. #Az04 #MAGA2018
What’s that rule? If you think everyone in the room is an asshole, it is you who is probably the asshole.
posted by bondcliff at 3:06 PM on September 23, 2018 [22 favorites]
What’s that rule? If you think everyone in the room is an asshole, it is you who is probably the asshole.
posted by bondcliff at 3:06 PM on September 23, 2018 [22 favorites]
Note that Gosar, while saying his siblings’ opinions don’t count because they don’t live in Arizona, does not live in the district where he’s running.
posted by Etrigan at 3:07 PM on September 23, 2018 [18 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 3:07 PM on September 23, 2018 [18 favorites]
What’s that rule?
I believe that's the Asshole's Razor.
Usually deployed in a row over some low hanging fruit.
posted by snuffleupagus at 3:14 PM on September 23, 2018 [3 favorites]
I believe that's the Asshole's Razor.
Usually deployed in a row over some low hanging fruit.
posted by snuffleupagus at 3:14 PM on September 23, 2018 [3 favorites]
They put political ideology before family.
Trump’s mirror. Paul Gosar has put his ideology so far ahead of his family as to make a career of it.
There’s an interesting parallel here with Julia Salazar, who is running (and won her primary and thus probably her election) for New York’s state senate. Salazar’s brother and mother disputed her own characterization of her past, and Salazar accused her brother of trying to sink her campaign because he disagreed with her politics. Her brother said that he didn’t want his own family badmouthed. (A good Vox explainer.)
Compared to the Salazar fight, which was based in objections to how she characterized her own life (and by extension the lives of her family members), the Gosar fight seems abstract in the extreme. It’s only about his politics; it includes no specifics of how his policies or actions had made it harder for his brothers or sisters; it doesn’t imply that he has been somehow hypocritical. There’s no real charge against his character beyond the general charge that “his policies are awful and bad for everyone” - and that isn’t a charge that is going to move the dial much in either way. Gosar is either the one member of his family who came out okay, or the one member who came out screwed up. When Salazar accused her brother of stirring up trouble because of his politics, she was turning it into a “he said, she said” situation. But that’s where the Gosar fight starts.
Incidentally, Gosar is almost definitely going to win his race. These ads are probably going to moot when it comes to knocking the man out of his seat, but are still probably the siblings’ best chance to make their views heard. It must feel incredibly empowering to take that shot, but I do hope they and their families are ok bringing a lot of heat onto themselves for something that won’t matter.
posted by Going To Maine at 3:20 PM on September 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
Trump’s mirror. Paul Gosar has put his ideology so far ahead of his family as to make a career of it.
There’s an interesting parallel here with Julia Salazar, who is running (and won her primary and thus probably her election) for New York’s state senate. Salazar’s brother and mother disputed her own characterization of her past, and Salazar accused her brother of trying to sink her campaign because he disagreed with her politics. Her brother said that he didn’t want his own family badmouthed. (A good Vox explainer.)
Compared to the Salazar fight, which was based in objections to how she characterized her own life (and by extension the lives of her family members), the Gosar fight seems abstract in the extreme. It’s only about his politics; it includes no specifics of how his policies or actions had made it harder for his brothers or sisters; it doesn’t imply that he has been somehow hypocritical. There’s no real charge against his character beyond the general charge that “his policies are awful and bad for everyone” - and that isn’t a charge that is going to move the dial much in either way. Gosar is either the one member of his family who came out okay, or the one member who came out screwed up. When Salazar accused her brother of stirring up trouble because of his politics, she was turning it into a “he said, she said” situation. But that’s where the Gosar fight starts.
Incidentally, Gosar is almost definitely going to win his race. These ads are probably going to moot when it comes to knocking the man out of his seat, but are still probably the siblings’ best chance to make their views heard. It must feel incredibly empowering to take that shot, but I do hope they and their families are ok bringing a lot of heat onto themselves for something that won’t matter.
posted by Going To Maine at 3:20 PM on September 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
Gosar has 9 siblings, apparently 3 of them didn't get on board for this. Still 6 out of 9 is... well it's not the makings for a nice family reunion
posted by gryftir at 3:44 PM on September 23, 2018
posted by gryftir at 3:44 PM on September 23, 2018
More siblings supported this effort but did not want to or were not able to travel to be in the videos. There was a letter about him signed by more.
posted by k8t at 4:09 PM on September 23, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by k8t at 4:09 PM on September 23, 2018 [12 favorites]
One out of every five Facebook posts my sister makes is pro-Trump (and usually involves Jesus because she became an evangelical Christian after she moved down South) so I wonder what I would do if she ever ran for office. What would our brother do?
posted by Ruki at 4:17 PM on September 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Ruki at 4:17 PM on September 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
More siblings supported this effort but did not want to or were not able to travel to be in the videos. There was a letter about him signed by more.
Yeah, 8 out of 9 supported the ads. One more was going to appear in them, but changed his/her mind.
posted by Weeping_angel at 4:22 PM on September 23, 2018
Yeah, 8 out of 9 supported the ads. One more was going to appear in them, but changed his/her mind.
posted by Weeping_angel at 4:22 PM on September 23, 2018
It is times like these that I am more than grateful to be an only child.
posted by Alexandra Kitty at 5:42 PM on September 23, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by Alexandra Kitty at 5:42 PM on September 23, 2018 [7 favorites]
His mother, ugh. She didn't just say ״ I love my son and have no further comment", no, she agrees and supports his policies. Ugh.
posted by kitten magic at 6:01 PM on September 23, 2018
posted by kitten magic at 6:01 PM on September 23, 2018
As a mostly mainstream democrat, I'm probably the farthest right person in my immediate family.
posted by octothorpe at 6:03 PM on September 23, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 6:03 PM on September 23, 2018 [8 favorites]
Gosar the Gosarian was more fun in Ghostbusters.
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 6:36 PM on September 23, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 6:36 PM on September 23, 2018 [10 favorites]
His mother, ugh. She didn't just say ״ I love my son and have no further comment", no, she agrees and supports his policies. Ugh.
People in this thread (and elsewhere!) have been saying that Gosar is the odd one out in his family, but when it becomes child & parent vs. other children it becomes more complicated. These battles are not just about pure numbers.
posted by Going To Maine at 6:53 PM on September 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
People in this thread (and elsewhere!) have been saying that Gosar is the odd one out in his family, but when it becomes child & parent vs. other children it becomes more complicated. These battles are not just about pure numbers.
posted by Going To Maine at 6:53 PM on September 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
THis makes me wish Click and Clack took the time to run for office.
"Don't vote for my brohter!" "Don't vote for MY brother."
And though legal counsel here and at the FEC reach for their hip flasks when they year us say it, this is NPR, national public radio...
posted by ocschwar at 6:59 PM on September 23, 2018 [15 favorites]
"Don't vote for my brohter!" "Don't vote for MY brother."
And though legal counsel here and at the FEC reach for their hip flasks when they year us say it, this is NPR, national public radio...
posted by ocschwar at 6:59 PM on September 23, 2018 [15 favorites]
This has been really weird to watch because I'm friends with one of the Gosar siblings in those ads. I've met Dave and Grace, their parents, and once dogsat their Mom's (utterly fabulous amazing) dog years ago. I don't know what I should be saying in public on the internet and I'm not sure I can offer any unique insights anyway other than this has been brewing for a while, and it's been painful.
I have to disagree with Going to Maine's take that this is on an abstract level. Grace Gosar has cancer. Paul Gosar wants to dismantle the programs that are keeping his own sister alive. On second thought I'm not sure the ad where she tells her story makes that point clear, although it's well worth watching.
posted by gamera at 8:25 PM on September 23, 2018 [26 favorites]
I have to disagree with Going to Maine's take that this is on an abstract level. Grace Gosar has cancer. Paul Gosar wants to dismantle the programs that are keeping his own sister alive. On second thought I'm not sure the ad where she tells her story makes that point clear, although it's well worth watching.
posted by gamera at 8:25 PM on September 23, 2018 [26 favorites]
This politician guy souns like someone who watched A Fish Called Wanda and got Otto deeply imprinted on his psyche.
Dear Otto, nowhere in Zen Buddhism or the Constitution is it written, "Every man for himself."
posted by zaixfeep at 8:16 AM on September 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
Dear Otto, nowhere in Zen Buddhism or the Constitution is it written, "Every man for himself."
posted by zaixfeep at 8:16 AM on September 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
A candidacy only a mother could love.
posted by I paid money to offer this... insight? at 1:19 PM on September 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by I paid money to offer this... insight? at 1:19 PM on September 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
Grace Gosar has cancer. Paul Gosar wants to dismantle the programs that are keeping his own sister alive.
Thus making it even more horrifying that Ma Gosar backs her son's politics when they could kill her daughter.
posted by sobell at 6:55 PM on September 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
Thus making it even more horrifying that Ma Gosar backs her son's politics when they could kill her daughter.
posted by sobell at 6:55 PM on September 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
Grace Gosar has cancer. Paul Gosar wants to dismantle the programs that are keeping his own sister alive.
Thus making it even more horrifying that Ma Gosar backs her son's politics when they could kill her daughter.
The Shirley Exception at work: there is no doubt in my mind that Ma Gosar thinks, Surely there will be a system in place to help the good cancer victims like Grace.
posted by Etrigan at 7:47 PM on September 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
Thus making it even more horrifying that Ma Gosar backs her son's politics when they could kill her daughter.
The Shirley Exception at work: there is no doubt in my mind that Ma Gosar thinks, Surely there will be a system in place to help the good cancer victims like Grace.
posted by Etrigan at 7:47 PM on September 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
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