4 ms·

The BI story thing is only a slimy tactic if you assume the sexual assault accusation to be true. If Elon knows its false and a tactic to paint him in a specifi

by daenz 4y ago

The BI story thing is only a slimy tactic if you assume the sexual assault accusation to be true. If Elon knows its false and a tactic to paint him in a specific light, how could he be blamed for getting out in front of the narrative? Should he just let people say reputationally-damaging things about him, without intervening in any way? I think we've seen recently with the Amber Heard case that it's better to let these things shake out in court first.

ethanbond 4y ago
Strongly disagree. I'm completely ambivalent as to whether the accusation is true or not – I have literally no idea and probably never will. Elon didn't come out and say, "hey there are accusations coming about an issue that was settled long ago outside of court, I maintain position X." He said, "I am switching to the Republican party, expect political hit pieces." He has turned his legal issue into a Republican vs Democrat issue. That's slimy regardless of the veracity of the allegations.
- daenz 4y ago
  Again, in order to think it's slimy, you have to make assumptions about what is true. In the instance you just described, you still have to assume that the "hit piece" isn't because he was starting to lean more Republican. I don't think we know why the accusation re-surfaced, do we?
  - WoahNoun 4y ago
    Most people don't change their political ideology based on sexual assault accusations. Even if they were false, why would that cause someone to join a party with a radically different view of society than their previous party?
    - daenz 4y ago
      >Most people don't change their political ideology based on sexual assault accusations That's not the ordering of events I'm suggesting. People have commented over time how Elon has been "moving right" for some time now. I'm suggesting it's possible that the accusation re-surfaced in response to how his political alignment shifting overall. Him saying he's "switching parties" is a soundbite for the last 5 years of his politics.
    - jacquesm 4y ago
      The best explanation that I've seen so far is that he was a Democrat only because it boosted Tesla's sales.
      - FireBeyond 4y ago
        He's been massively donating more to the GOP than the Democrats since before Trump. About the only thing that espouses a liberal viewpoint is his view on legalization of weed (but don't smoke it if you work for his companies, unless you're him).
    - lolbert2 4y ago
  - plorkyeran 4y ago
    The claim that he was a Democrat but is now starting to lean more Republican is itself a blatant lie based on his historical political donations.
    - daenz 4y ago
      Sometimes people support the candidate that happens to protect their interests more, and the color of their party doesn't really mean a lot. Am I imagining that Trump and Elon were portrayed in the media as having a good relationship? Wouldn't you consider that leaning more Republican, especially considering Trump's radioactivity?
      - FireBeyond 4y ago
        Musk is openly anti-tax, anti-regulation, anti-worker protection, anti-trans. Not remotely liberal.
- abnry 4y ago
  The problem is that media organizations _do_ write hit pieces for political/agenda-driven reasons. A certain side of the political aside has been unhappy about Musk trying to acquire Twitter. We've already seen how the media treats the views of this group of people. A certain supreme court nominee hearing comes to mind. It really, really isn't a stretch to think they'd attempt similar things to Musk. That is, if the allegation is actually false. If it is true, it is another matter. Musk isn't as pure as the wind-driven snow. But these sorts of things have to be based on evidence. The actual story was second hand information and the fact of a settlement doesn't prove guilt.
- FireBeyond 4y ago
  He didn't even switch. For years, he's donated to both political parties (as most of the ultra rich do). But for years, for every million dollars he's donated to the GOP, he's only donated just over 100,000 to the Democrats. The only thing "liberal" about Musk is his attitude to weed (well, for himself, not his employees). Anti-tax, anti-regulation, anti-trans, etc., etc.

by daenz 4y ago

ethanbond 4y ago

Strongly disagree. I'm completely ambivalent as to whether the accusation is true or not – I have literally no idea and probably never will. Elon didn't come out and say, "hey there are accusations coming about an issue that was settled long ago outside of court, I maintain position X." He said, "I am switching to the Republican party, expect political hit pieces." He has turned his legal issue into a Republican vs Democrat issue. That's slimy regardless of the veracity of the allegations.

daenz 4y ago
Again, in order to think it's slimy, you have to make assumptions about what is true. In the instance you just described, you still have to assume that the "hit piece" isn't because he was starting to lean more Republican. I don't think we know why the accusation re-surfaced, do we?
- WoahNoun 4y ago
  Most people don't change their political ideology based on sexual assault accusations. Even if they were false, why would that cause someone to join a party with a radically different view of society than their previous party?
  - daenz 4y ago
    >Most people don't change their political ideology based on sexual assault accusations That's not the ordering of events I'm suggesting. People have commented over time how Elon has been "moving right" for some time now. I'm suggesting it's possible that the accusation re-surfaced in response to how his political alignment shifting overall. Him saying he's "switching parties" is a soundbite for the last 5 years of his politics.
  - jacquesm 4y ago
    The best explanation that I've seen so far is that he was a Democrat only because it boosted Tesla's sales.
    - FireBeyond 4y ago
      He's been massively donating more to the GOP than the Democrats since before Trump. About the only thing that espouses a liberal viewpoint is his view on legalization of weed (but don't smoke it if you work for his companies, unless you're him).
  - lolbert2 4y ago
- plorkyeran 4y ago
  The claim that he was a Democrat but is now starting to lean more Republican is itself a blatant lie based on his historical political donations.
  - daenz 4y ago
    Sometimes people support the candidate that happens to protect their interests more, and the color of their party doesn't really mean a lot. Am I imagining that Trump and Elon were portrayed in the media as having a good relationship? Wouldn't you consider that leaning more Republican, especially considering Trump's radioactivity?
    - FireBeyond 4y ago
      Musk is openly anti-tax, anti-regulation, anti-worker protection, anti-trans. Not remotely liberal.
abnry 4y ago
The problem is that media organizations _do_ write hit pieces for political/agenda-driven reasons. A certain side of the political aside has been unhappy about Musk trying to acquire Twitter. We've already seen how the media treats the views of this group of people. A certain supreme court nominee hearing comes to mind. It really, really isn't a stretch to think they'd attempt similar things to Musk. That is, if the allegation is actually false. If it is true, it is another matter. Musk isn't as pure as the wind-driven snow. But these sorts of things have to be based on evidence. The actual story was second hand information and the fact of a settlement doesn't prove guilt.
FireBeyond 4y ago
He didn't even switch. For years, he's donated to both political parties (as most of the ultra rich do). But for years, for every million dollars he's donated to the GOP, he's only donated just over 100,000 to the Democrats. The only thing "liberal" about Musk is his attitude to weed (well, for himself, not his employees). Anti-tax, anti-regulation, anti-trans, etc., etc.