Bethany Mandel, the controversial right-wing pundit, home-schooling advocate, and prolific social media poster, is running for county school board — as a Democrat.
Though the school board race in deep-blue Montgomery County, Maryland, is technically nonpartisan, Mandel’s campaign published a graphic on Tuesday listing her as a Democrat. The move quickly raised eyebrows online, and prompted a community note on X (formerly Twitter) stating, “Bethany Mandel has identified as a Republican numerous times on her personal Twitter account.”
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Those who know Mandel recognize her for writing molten-hot takes and far-right political commentary. The most infamous was a column, published in the wake of the violent white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, titled “We Need to Start Befriending Neo Nazis.” (Mandel is Jewish.) Her content can be cringey, like her column defending Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ wife: “If Casey DeSantis is a Karen, she’s our Karen.” She’s posted dehumanizing rhetoric, too. “Not nuking these fucking animals is the only restraint I expect and that’s only because the cloud would hurt Israelis,” she’s written about Palestinians.
Why are you writing like you’re attempting to sound smart? Anyway, for someone who “excelled” in college, you provide surprisingly little substance in your argument. So I’ll gently call you out: Convince us you’re not just basing your entire argument off of personal experience.
Now I’m not saying I’m on either side. I’ve heard reports from both ends of that spectrum. So, lennybird, which side should we accept more strongly?
Tell me, what exactly did I write that makes me, “sound smart”? Please, be detailed. Is that your own insecurity talking? I’ve written many comments like this on other subjects, but isn’t it funny how it’s this specific subject-matter that makes people so often attack my character. Isn’t that more of a reflection on you? Let’s just start here before proceeding further.
For calling me out on little substance, it’s curious that both (1) You haven’t given any support to the opposite conclusion whatsoever, and (2) have only lightly cherry-picked at what you perceive as being low-hanging fruit without really countering anything, or even offering genuine questions of inquiry.
You’re deflecting, just like you have in other replies I’ve seen. Substance. You have the proof, right? It’s important, so share with the class.
How am I deflecting? Is this projection? You’re deflecting, actually. Again, do tell me where I attempt to “sound smart.”
Just gave it to the other user. Feel free to read.
They were home schooled. They don’t know what that means.
Damn. You’re kind of an asshole, aren’t you? Mother must be proud, huh buddy?
Did you learn bullying and ganging up on people in school, too?
Ironically, yeah, sort of.
Learning to read the room and make jokes (sometimes at other’s expense) is certainly something you learn from frequently socializing outside of your immediate circle.
Something that your extreme touchiness in this thread highlights. You’re in an internet forum taking an aggressive stance on something unpopular, and repeatedly whine that other’s aren’t held to the same expectations.
You stood on the hill to die. You chose that. You homeschooling mommy and daddy can’t insulate you when you leave your safe space.
And yes, that last snark was bullying. I couldn’t help myself.
Ah yes, the tragedy of identifying cognitive bias and desiring “same expectations.”
How very wrong and terrible of me, lol.
But yes, please keep putting doubling-down on your own ignorance and ego above learning.
That I’m nothing like you is something I am quite proud of, so I guess I’ll leave it there.
Nothing. Trying to, like they said? Plenty.
Oh really? Like where?
Edit: Just as I suspected. Low-blow cheapshot snarkiness;… But nothing in the way of substance.
The top level comment literally provides zero substance. Why didn’t you call it out?
Substance wasn’t really my focus. We all have the capacity to look things up ourselves. How the other user said it, the snarkiness and better-than-thou feel, it felt like a bit much. I’m all for opinions, they get conversations going and usually someone learns something or at least has a good time. You’re right though, I should have asked for the same from the original comment and not gotten stuck on the one.
Have an upvote, I deserve the call out here.
My god, man.
The double-standard is palpable. So I’m “snarky,” but you’re a liar.
I matched snarkiness with snarkiness; the previous user literally called what I went through and what I do for my kids “child abuse” and you don’t fucking object to that? I’m not supposed to get passionate about that? Should I have written more typos, kissed their ass more? What would’ve received your blessing, exactly?
Give me a fucking break and grow up.