We break down which Dems the pro-Israel lobby targets most online, and which it doesn’t. Plus: reporter Cecilia Vega departs CBS with a powerful statement about the partisan damage done by Bari Weiss.
Earlier this week, the NYT published an op-ed by Senator Van Hollen in which he urged the Democratic Party to end its unconditional support for Israel. In the op-ed, he cited the findings of a number of human rights organizations that concluded Israel has committed genocide. The piece elicited hundreds of comments, not all of them favorable. A lot of posters wrote that neither Gaza, nor the Middle East more generally, were or should be of primary concern to Democratic voters, and focusing on them distracts from issues more important to voters and weakens the party. One poster complained about party members on the left who subject candidates to “purity” tests. This opinion was reflected in other comments without use of the word. On the other hand, a lot of posters generally supported the piece, though not all without caveats, e.g., with expressions of concern for Israel’s safety.
This, and my experience within my own community, which is solidly Democratic, makes me a bit skeptical of the polls. For example, how important is Gaza to voters, even among those who don’t support Israel. At protest marches, I’ve rarely seen antiwar signs and even fewer about Palestine or Gaza. I’ve tentatively concluded that Gaza and the war against Iran are not litmus tests for the majority of Democratic voters, even, or especially, those who are actively participating in protests against Trump. I hope I’m wrong, but those issues still seem to be relatively low on the political radar.
I'm not sure what protests you've attended. I live in a small upstate NY town, Trump country, I've been to several No Kings protests, hundreds of protesters, several dozen carrying anti Israel anti genocide signs. In fact we've had weekly pro Palestine demonstrations for over two years.
Glad to hear it. The last march I attended was on the national mall on March 28, shortly after the U.S. attacked Iran. (As I’m sure you know, the March 28 march was reportedly the largest to have taken place in the U.S.). Other than my own antiwar sign, I saw only two. The marches in my area were spread throughout the city and the suburbs that day, so I certainly didn’t see everything. However, based on news coverage of marches across the country e.g., MS NOW provided countrywide video coverage), the antiwar and pro-Palestinian signs were few and far between. My community is politically active, but again, the genocide issue has not been a priority here. I say this with sadness, as it is a priority for me. Again, I hope I’m wrong. I just don’t want to set myself up for disappointment and I’m well past counting on the Democratic Party for meaningful change.
In my congressional district, three candidates competed in the democratic primary. All three were described as having nearly identical progressive stances, but only one refused AIPAC money. The anti-AIPAC candidate won, by a lot.
Just because people aren't openly supporting Gaza in a way that is visible to you doesn't mean it's not an issue.
That’s very good news. I didn’t say it wasn’t an issue. It clearly is. It’s a top one for me. But I’m also seeing that it isn’t a priority for many, even for those whose support for Israel has evaporated. What that suggests to me is that we need to continue to make it an issue — by both supporting candidates such as yours, financially to the extent we can, and by working for them on the ground, and by otherwise getting the word out in our communities. None of the candidates on my ballot have made these issues a priority. And I’m talking about the upcoming Democratic primary. One of the reasons is the ever-present Israel lobby money, which candidates here are reluctant to talk about. A proposal to submit a petition to the DNC from my district opposing unconditional support for Israel was voted down.
Thank you for your work and for your good news. I will use it to motivate myself to keep working.
Earlier this week, the NYT published an op-ed by Senator Van Hollen in which he urged the Democratic Party to end its unconditional support for Israel. In the op-ed, he cited the findings of a number of human rights organizations that concluded Israel has committed genocide. The piece elicited hundreds of comments, not all of them favorable. A lot of posters wrote that neither Gaza, nor the Middle East more generally, were or should be of primary concern to Democratic voters, and focusing on them distracts from issues more important to voters and weakens the party. One poster complained about party members on the left who subject candidates to “purity” tests. This opinion was reflected in other comments without use of the word. On the other hand, a lot of posters generally supported the piece, though not all without caveats, e.g., with expressions of concern for Israel’s safety.
This, and my experience within my own community, which is solidly Democratic, makes me a bit skeptical of the polls. For example, how important is Gaza to voters, even among those who don’t support Israel. At protest marches, I’ve rarely seen antiwar signs and even fewer about Palestine or Gaza. I’ve tentatively concluded that Gaza and the war against Iran are not litmus tests for the majority of Democratic voters, even, or especially, those who are actively participating in protests against Trump. I hope I’m wrong, but those issues still seem to be relatively low on the political radar.
I'm not sure what protests you've attended. I live in a small upstate NY town, Trump country, I've been to several No Kings protests, hundreds of protesters, several dozen carrying anti Israel anti genocide signs. In fact we've had weekly pro Palestine demonstrations for over two years.
Glad to hear it. The last march I attended was on the national mall on March 28, shortly after the U.S. attacked Iran. (As I’m sure you know, the March 28 march was reportedly the largest to have taken place in the U.S.). Other than my own antiwar sign, I saw only two. The marches in my area were spread throughout the city and the suburbs that day, so I certainly didn’t see everything. However, based on news coverage of marches across the country e.g., MS NOW provided countrywide video coverage), the antiwar and pro-Palestinian signs were few and far between. My community is politically active, but again, the genocide issue has not been a priority here. I say this with sadness, as it is a priority for me. Again, I hope I’m wrong. I just don’t want to set myself up for disappointment and I’m well past counting on the Democratic Party for meaningful change.
In my congressional district, three candidates competed in the democratic primary. All three were described as having nearly identical progressive stances, but only one refused AIPAC money. The anti-AIPAC candidate won, by a lot.
Just because people aren't openly supporting Gaza in a way that is visible to you doesn't mean it's not an issue.
That’s very good news. I didn’t say it wasn’t an issue. It clearly is. It’s a top one for me. But I’m also seeing that it isn’t a priority for many, even for those whose support for Israel has evaporated. What that suggests to me is that we need to continue to make it an issue — by both supporting candidates such as yours, financially to the extent we can, and by working for them on the ground, and by otherwise getting the word out in our communities. None of the candidates on my ballot have made these issues a priority. And I’m talking about the upcoming Democratic primary. One of the reasons is the ever-present Israel lobby money, which candidates here are reluctant to talk about. A proposal to submit a petition to the DNC from my district opposing unconditional support for Israel was voted down.
Thank you for your work and for your good news. I will use it to motivate myself to keep working.
I appreciate your daily reporting. Thank you all at Zeteo.