I used to consider myself a progressive liberal Democrat and I’m appalled at my own party. It’s sickening. I don’t know why Democratic Leaders do not make it clear that Hamas wants to exterminate every Jew on the planet and over 60 percent of the Palestinians support Hamas. Wtf is progressive about that? I’m one of the few people that support Senator Fetterman. I’m not from Michigan but I will donate to support the Republican candidate.
I’m old enough to remember when we were all appalled at Trump feting Nick Fuentes ONCE. Meanwhile we’re supposed to believe that El-Sayed isn’t an anti-Semite after having Piker all over his campaign? Uh, no.
I'll add here that AES's opponent in this race is a moderate non-trumpy republican, not some kind of hardcore maga guy with a history of corruption. Voting for him would help weaken the illiberal extremes in both parties.
Howdy fellow not much of a democrat. What I want to add is some commentary I think I’m lifting from Jamelle Bouie, but if not apologies to whoever. First is that El-Sayed has more energy, more spunk, whatever you want to call it and that might serve him better in the general election. Secondly, young voters particularly want candidates with a vision on Israel. These DSA types do (and with energy!) while the [insert your label of choice here] types like Kamala don’t/didnt. I’d personally start along the lines of “no, Bibi isn’t controlling the strings, Donald is just the only person dumb enough to take him up on the offer to bomb Iran”. I don’t know if that would work, but I do think “moderates” need to take notes on the energy/enthusiasm/conviction for their own campaigns
Agree. Thank you for this rational, well-articulated piece. I am hoping that more Dems in general stand up and take a position against such candidates and the DSA platforms/arguments and get back to their business of hammering out positions that draw many toward them including Republicans and Independents. I can not support anyone who supports antisemitic views. Or in the case of DSA ideas such as abolishing the Senate, Presidency etc. There are many principled Dems out there. Please stand up and be counted.
I agree with you it is a waste of time debating if El-Sayed is antisemitic. Its like debating if Trump is racist. Who can get inside one's mind to know for sure. But what El-Sayed does is normalize antisemitism and I am astounded at supposed normie Dems, including a media company that will go unnamed and for whom you were a contributor, that continue to normalize his otherizing of Jews.
With respect to Anti-Zionism, one cannot wish hard on the half of world Jewry that lives in Israel and persuade me they do not wish hard on the other half that lives in the U.S. Sadly, anti-Zionism has gone mainstream inside the Dem Party. One would think that this would be obvious to anyone who wrote for pro-Israel publication like The Weekly Standard.
I disagree to the extent that Trump is the bigger hazard and must be checked, regardless of how repugnant El-Sayed is. I don’t like a lot of what is going on with current Israeli political leadership, but the Country of Israel is a friend of USA, not to be kicked to the curb.
A perspective from another side: It has seemed to me that it has been difficult through the years to criticize the nation of Israel without being accused of being anti-Semitic.
No it's not. It's easy. Israelis criticize their government everyday without being antisemitic. But somehow here it always seems to end up with non Israeli Jews being persecuted.
I used to consider myself a progressive liberal Democrat and I’m appalled at my own party. It’s sickening. I don’t know why Democratic Leaders do not make it clear that Hamas wants to exterminate every Jew on the planet and over 60 percent of the Palestinians support Hamas. Wtf is progressive about that? I’m one of the few people that support Senator Fetterman. I’m not from Michigan but I will donate to support the Republican candidate.
Agreed.
I’m old enough to remember when we were all appalled at Trump feting Nick Fuentes ONCE. Meanwhile we’re supposed to believe that El-Sayed isn’t an anti-Semite after having Piker all over his campaign? Uh, no.
I'll add here that AES's opponent in this race is a moderate non-trumpy republican, not some kind of hardcore maga guy with a history of corruption. Voting for him would help weaken the illiberal extremes in both parties.
Howdy fellow not much of a democrat. What I want to add is some commentary I think I’m lifting from Jamelle Bouie, but if not apologies to whoever. First is that El-Sayed has more energy, more spunk, whatever you want to call it and that might serve him better in the general election. Secondly, young voters particularly want candidates with a vision on Israel. These DSA types do (and with energy!) while the [insert your label of choice here] types like Kamala don’t/didnt. I’d personally start along the lines of “no, Bibi isn’t controlling the strings, Donald is just the only person dumb enough to take him up on the offer to bomb Iran”. I don’t know if that would work, but I do think “moderates” need to take notes on the energy/enthusiasm/conviction for their own campaigns
Agree. Thank you for this rational, well-articulated piece. I am hoping that more Dems in general stand up and take a position against such candidates and the DSA platforms/arguments and get back to their business of hammering out positions that draw many toward them including Republicans and Independents. I can not support anyone who supports antisemitic views. Or in the case of DSA ideas such as abolishing the Senate, Presidency etc. There are many principled Dems out there. Please stand up and be counted.
Thank you for this.
Brilliant, Will.
I agree with you it is a waste of time debating if El-Sayed is antisemitic. Its like debating if Trump is racist. Who can get inside one's mind to know for sure. But what El-Sayed does is normalize antisemitism and I am astounded at supposed normie Dems, including a media company that will go unnamed and for whom you were a contributor, that continue to normalize his otherizing of Jews.
With respect to Anti-Zionism, one cannot wish hard on the half of world Jewry that lives in Israel and persuade me they do not wish hard on the other half that lives in the U.S. Sadly, anti-Zionism has gone mainstream inside the Dem Party. One would think that this would be obvious to anyone who wrote for pro-Israel publication like The Weekly Standard.
Agreed, although surely you meant that he was reluctant to Celebrate the death of Khameini, rather than to Criticize it?
I disagree to the extent that Trump is the bigger hazard and must be checked, regardless of how repugnant El-Sayed is. I don’t like a lot of what is going on with current Israeli political leadership, but the Country of Israel is a friend of USA, not to be kicked to the curb.
If supporters of Israel had dealt w Netanyahu and his far right partners we wouldn’t be in the position we are today.
How would should we “deal with Netanyahu” exactly?
A perspective from another side: It has seemed to me that it has been difficult through the years to criticize the nation of Israel without being accused of being anti-Semitic.
🤷🏽♀️🤷🏽♀️🤷🏽♀️
No it's not. It's easy. Israelis criticize their government everyday without being antisemitic. But somehow here it always seems to end up with non Israeli Jews being persecuted.
Totally fair.