Progressive and pro-ceasefire Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal answers pressing questions from subscribers on tomorrow’s US presidential election, in this Town Hall Q&A.
Not only has Harris vote-shamed people wanting to vote 3rd party, but she has REFUSED to give Palestinian Americans a seat at the table... not at the DNC, not at a private meeting later, not with people who have lost family members... If she won't give them time NOW, why in the WORLD would we assume she will do it once she's president?? It would have gone a long way for some people. I'm so tired of the "we can chance harris" or "she'll change later". We MIGHT believe that if she would listen NOW... but she won't.. so she's not going to be swayed later either. Because she'll DEFINITELY be "too busy" to meet with Palestinian Americans then....
Arab and Muslim Americans have reached out an olive branch to her multiple times over the last few months. She continually refuses to say she will break from bidens policies on top of all the basically ignoring of the Muslim group that has been going on. I completely agree with this assessment. I have no faith she will be able to be swayed when she wont even listen or allow the people to speak.
You're spot on Mandy! Regardless of whether it's Harris or Trump, both will give Netanyahu a free hand to do as he pleases in the Gaza, the West Bank and the wider region come January 2025. Both are beholden to key constituencies of the Israel lobby (AIPAC and the ADL in Harris' case, Adelson and the Evangelical bloc in Trump's) and therefore will provide money, weapons, military support, diplomatic cover and the likes for Israel no matter what it does.
Jaypal is gaslighting us by suggesting that there are means to persuade Harris after she takes office. It's a flat out lie. I'd like to see Jaypal try get more colleagues in Congress onboard to agree with the calling for a ceasefire + arm's embargo (which is the bare minimum given it's a genocide we're talking about - the crime of all crimes), and there too she'll realise that so many in Congress are beholden to the Israel lobby.
Dismantling the power and influence of the lobby comes by inflicting defeats on candidates backed by the lobby. When these politicians lose their seats, their committee positions despite taking the lobby's line.
As far as January 2025 goes, regardless of who occupies the Oval Office, Netanyahu wins and the Palestinians lose. Sure, Trump's rhetoric might be a worse than Harris'. But so what? Either way it'll be Netanyahu, Gallant, Ben Gvir, Smotrich and an entire Knesset that just banned UNRWA (the only lifeline for millions of Palestinians) dictating what happens in the OPTs and beyond.
Third party promoters are doing the same. I got called immoral and evil because Union rights healthcare and bodily autonomy and then genocide on my priority list.
It is not about punishing We are exercising our right to vote the best candidate of the 3, and so far Jill stands out as the best of 3. It is not about winning. We do not agree with your lesser of two evils theory.
If you are fighting or voting to win, then you have lost. If you are fighting for the Right, you always win, even if you die fighting.
*Break the corrupt two-party system. RepubliCONS and DemocRATS are two evil sides of the same coin.*
Why don’t you also research Stein to see what her actions are vs her words, what is her record on intermittent years, what else has she done to help Palestinians besides showing up to demonstrations as part of a campaign strategy. She is wealthy and an opportunist. I am NOT voting. A vote for her is a vote for Trump. It is one more delusion!
Break the corrupt two-party system. RepubliCONS and DemocRATS are two evil sides of the same coin.
Its proved that both parties are enslaved to corporate donors, silencing public opinion, suppressing free speech on college campuses, supporting Israel's Genocide, and sending billions overseas for destruction instead of using the same for improving our daily lives, our domestic needs like healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
This will not break the system. Organizing, forming alliances, changing the stereotype and humanizing Arabs and Muslims, disseminating works of Arab intellectuals, artists and filmmakers, etc, supporting real progressive politicians, reaching out across the pond. Where was the Arab community when AIPAC went after Cory Bush? Stein is a spoiler and a vote for Trump-hell on wheels
Question for Mehdi: Why should we believe she is going to change anything after the election if she isn’t able to change Biden’s mind now? Also, she doesn’t really speak like she is eager to stop, but sounds more like a talking piece to garner votes where possible, as every word of supposed sympathy sounds fake.
Because he is an old-fashioned, elderly pro Zionist For whom memories of the holocaust are not distant in the same way and help to motivate his decisions. I’m not saying that they are right I’m just saying that that’s why, and he hasn’t ever realized that the original Israelis are not the same people as these far right racists.
I don’t think it’s so much that I think it’s that she’s frightened, and looking at it as an English person I can see why of the strength of AIPAC. if she can get into power, then she has more room to maneuver
Because she will be the president, not the vice president. She is terrified of the Israeli lobby at the moment, but if she manages to get elected, then she will have beaten them and she will have more freedom to make her own decisions. She’s not going to suddenly be the greatest supporter of the Palestinians, but she’s definitely going to be better than Donald Trump.
You are so misguided. I totally agree about the genocide and the democrats but the same people doing the slaughter will also save you (Jill Stein) is wealthy and pro Israel. Has no real commitment. I am just not voting and not funding Democrats. I left the party but Stein is nothing to clamor about either. We are simply f***ed unless we get organized and link arms with many others. The average American AND European has swallowed all the anti Muslim/Arab tropes and perception and that is something to work on.
You are so right. Here in Europe, it is now openly acceptable to talk about Muslims as though they are inferior human beings. There are plenty of people who don’t feel that way, but we need to be organized and make alliances not reject possible allies.
I have voted for Dr Stein as I saw her to best represent the agenda I agree with. That, I think, should be the basis of casting one’s vote and not to be treated just as a number for those who are unable to utter a word against the genocide being enabled by their government.
Ms Harris sealed this decision when she referred to targeted assassination of martyrs of Palestinian and Lebanese Resistance as “justice”, that not only being a cruel Bin Ladenesque label per se but a green light for similar acts in reprisal against those committing and facilitating genocide.
Do you know the one thing that is going to stop if Harris loses, is that Harris and democrats will know finally they can’t take Muslim votes for granted.
Yes, this is exactly the point, and I can't for the life of me understand how so few people see it. Democrats will have no incentive to change unless they're punished.
But the people who are going to be punished our ordinary Muslims, who are going to be discriminated against, refused entry people of Gaza will carry on being bombed. if Trump were an ordinary candidate, I would agree with you, but the fear of what he may do is too great to risk it
Same answer as Sb, we will be punished no matter what. It's a matter of when not if.
Even strategically, if Harris wins, she likely won't have the Senate, won't have the House, and will lose even more seats during the midterms, and get swamped by a landslide in 2028. The best chance for Dems long-term is for her to lose.
Stein is a russian asset who pops up every four years. Anyone who votes for her, as is their right, is foolish if they think their little protest will ever yield a result that isn’t a disaster. Why? Look up ralph nader or anti-Hillary Bernie Bro protest votes in recent elections. How did those work out for Palestinians? Do you want progress or revenge?
Get over your magical thinking, build partnerships, and become a viable member of our democracy (you know, the hard work) instead of threatening to burn things to the ground. I made that mistake and regret it every day.
I regret my protest Gore vote for Nader. I am in FL and very directly helped get us Bush and Trump is by far a much bigger threat. For me it is not a “both are horrible” because I like a lot of Harris’ platform and track record in California.
But I also understand that her supporting by not calling out genocide is horrific. John Oliver pleaded on his show last night for those on the fence in swing states to consider voting for Harris because of some reasons mentioned here and by the Uncommitted and Ruwa Romman… but he said he understood how it must be like asking people who they are going to vote for at a funeral because the level of pain Palestinian Americans and their allies are feeling.
If you don't want to vote for Greens, then don't. Should they get more involved from the grassroots and work their way up - sure.
But don't use the Palestinians being genocided in a campaign that is unequivocally supported by both Democrats and Republicans as cover to make your argument. Open your eyes! Gaza is ALREADY destroyed. It is ALREADY uninhabitable. The whole point of the General's Plan is to cage the remaining Palestinians into a smaller concentration camp (hence the ethnic cleansing and massacres in the North) surrounded by the with the IGF so that they control who gets in and who gets out. UNRWA has been banned so that food, water, medicine and the likes won't get in and get distributed. The Palestinians of Gaza are being left with two choices - stay and starve or pack up and leave. And regardless of who's in office come January 2025, this is going to continue unimpeded because the money, the weapons and the diplomatic cover to carry out this diabolical plan will flow unfettered.
And if you think it'll get worse in the West Bank because Miriam Adelson gave Trump $100 million to formally recognise the annexation of the West Bank - SO WHAT? A territory that's been occupied for six decades, where the occupier can settle it's population at will, setup checkpoints etc. etc. is already de-facto annexed. And no, the West Bank will never get carpet bombed like Gaza - one because it endangers the 700,000+ settlers and two scorched earth will destroy all of the fertile lands that the Zionists eagerly covet. Pogroms will intensify just as they have over the last year to gradually drive the Palestinians towards Jordan and expel them. That's the only viable option available to the Israelis. And regardless of who's in office, Israel will be given a free hand to carry on business as usual (just as they have since June 10, 1967).
You want to say Trump is worse than Harris, go ahead, but have the decency and the intellectual honesty not to do it on the backs of the Palestinians who are being annihilated - and will continue to be annihilated, no matter who occupies the Oval Office.
Exactly. Stein is a wealthy Jewish woman pro Israel from Boston who has not done anything close to what Medea Benjamin has done. She is an opportunist!!!!
America is crumbling because both parties are enslaved to corporate donors, silencing public opinion, suppressing free speech on college campuses, supporting Israel's Genocide, and sending billions overseas for destruction instead of using the same for improving our daily lives, our domestic needs like healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
The heading of this call has a vote shaming flavour to it. I could care less what she says, but if we paid subscribers are coming here to hear someone who supposedly have reasons to not go 3rd party, but just continues to echo Harris - then this isn’t it.
Why is refusing to vote for someone who has unconditionally supported a genocide - militarily and politically - framed as "punishing" them. My own ethical and moral sense would prohibit me from voting for Harris because I need to look at myself in the mirror every morning. It's Harris who's created this problem. Stop laying Trump at the feet of people making a pretty bloody modest demand that she stop helping slaughter and starve civilians.
Donald is a fascist. We must elect democrats up and down the ticket to have a say in trying to help Palestinians to the extent that the US is involved or not involved with Israel and to help ourselves. Remember Trump's Muslim Ban? Remember that Donald promises to hurt "his enemies". That's not acceptable here in America. Our president must represent All of us even if she doesn't always agree with us. We must retain the right to Protest. We must elect Kamala and take back the House and keep the Senate.
I remember not just Trump’s Muslim ban, but also many other of his Islamophobic acts and utterances. I also see the ongoing genocide in Palestine and bombardment of Lebanon, both funded and facilitated by the Biden-Harris administration. That’s why I am not voting for either, but for the candidates who have spoken out in favor of arms embargo on the genocidal entity.
A majority of Dems are potential allies, while Trump will sell out the Palestinians if he hasn't already.. A depraved, demented sociopath who threatens courageous adversaries like Liz Cheney with firing squad vs Harris Walz... #VoteBlue https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CB23KtHIPOI
Heather Cox Richardson 11/2/24: "On November 5 we will find out just how strong we are. We will each choose on which side of the historical ledger to record our names. ..we can list our names on the side of those from our past who defended democracy and, by doing so, guarantee that American democracy reaches into the future."
Not only has Harris vote-shamed people wanting to vote 3rd party, but she has REFUSED to give Palestinian Americans a seat at the table... not at the DNC, not at a private meeting later, not with people who have lost family members... If she won't give them time NOW, why in the WORLD would we assume she will do it once she's president?? It would have gone a long way for some people. I'm so tired of the "we can chance harris" or "she'll change later". We MIGHT believe that if she would listen NOW... but she won't.. so she's not going to be swayed later either. Because she'll DEFINITELY be "too busy" to meet with Palestinian Americans then....
Arab and Muslim Americans have reached out an olive branch to her multiple times over the last few months. She continually refuses to say she will break from bidens policies on top of all the basically ignoring of the Muslim group that has been going on. I completely agree with this assessment. I have no faith she will be able to be swayed when she wont even listen or allow the people to speak.
You're spot on Mandy! Regardless of whether it's Harris or Trump, both will give Netanyahu a free hand to do as he pleases in the Gaza, the West Bank and the wider region come January 2025. Both are beholden to key constituencies of the Israel lobby (AIPAC and the ADL in Harris' case, Adelson and the Evangelical bloc in Trump's) and therefore will provide money, weapons, military support, diplomatic cover and the likes for Israel no matter what it does.
Jaypal is gaslighting us by suggesting that there are means to persuade Harris after she takes office. It's a flat out lie. I'd like to see Jaypal try get more colleagues in Congress onboard to agree with the calling for a ceasefire + arm's embargo (which is the bare minimum given it's a genocide we're talking about - the crime of all crimes), and there too she'll realise that so many in Congress are beholden to the Israel lobby.
Dismantling the power and influence of the lobby comes by inflicting defeats on candidates backed by the lobby. When these politicians lose their seats, their committee positions despite taking the lobby's line.
As far as January 2025 goes, regardless of who occupies the Oval Office, Netanyahu wins and the Palestinians lose. Sure, Trump's rhetoric might be a worse than Harris'. But so what? Either way it'll be Netanyahu, Gallant, Ben Gvir, Smotrich and an entire Knesset that just banned UNRWA (the only lifeline for millions of Palestinians) dictating what happens in the OPTs and beyond.
Third party promoters are doing the same. I got called immoral and evil because Union rights healthcare and bodily autonomy and then genocide on my priority list.
None of my friends even know where Gaza is
It is not about punishing We are exercising our right to vote the best candidate of the 3, and so far Jill stands out as the best of 3. It is not about winning. We do not agree with your lesser of two evils theory.
If you are fighting or voting to win, then you have lost. If you are fighting for the Right, you always win, even if you die fighting.
*Break the corrupt two-party system. RepubliCONS and DemocRATS are two evil sides of the same coin.*
Why don’t you also research Stein to see what her actions are vs her words, what is her record on intermittent years, what else has she done to help Palestinians besides showing up to demonstrations as part of a campaign strategy. She is wealthy and an opportunist. I am NOT voting. A vote for her is a vote for Trump. It is one more delusion!
I keep repeating. No one is a saint.
Break the corrupt two-party system. RepubliCONS and DemocRATS are two evil sides of the same coin.
Its proved that both parties are enslaved to corporate donors, silencing public opinion, suppressing free speech on college campuses, supporting Israel's Genocide, and sending billions overseas for destruction instead of using the same for improving our daily lives, our domestic needs like healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
This will not break the system. Organizing, forming alliances, changing the stereotype and humanizing Arabs and Muslims, disseminating works of Arab intellectuals, artists and filmmakers, etc, supporting real progressive politicians, reaching out across the pond. Where was the Arab community when AIPAC went after Cory Bush? Stein is a spoiler and a vote for Trump-hell on wheels
Question for Mehdi: Why should we believe she is going to change anything after the election if she isn’t able to change Biden’s mind now? Also, she doesn’t really speak like she is eager to stop, but sounds more like a talking piece to garner votes where possible, as every word of supposed sympathy sounds fake.
I agree with all things Mehdi but your push for Dems/Harris makes no sense in the current climate. she takes the Muslim votes for granted.
Okay, then how come Biden (also a democrat?) hasn’t picked up the phone and shut Netanyahu’s ethnic cleansing and genocidal operation?
Because he is an old-fashioned, elderly pro Zionist For whom memories of the holocaust are not distant in the same way and help to motivate his decisions. I’m not saying that they are right I’m just saying that that’s why, and he hasn’t ever realized that the original Israelis are not the same people as these far right racists.
I don’t think it’s so much that I think it’s that she’s frightened, and looking at it as an English person I can see why of the strength of AIPAC. if she can get into power, then she has more room to maneuver
Because she will be the president, not the vice president. She is terrified of the Israeli lobby at the moment, but if she manages to get elected, then she will have beaten them and she will have more freedom to make her own decisions. She’s not going to suddenly be the greatest supporter of the Palestinians, but she’s definitely going to be better than Donald Trump.
Bottom line, cannot vote for GENOCIDE!
All those good democrats in congress should quit the party and join Jill or any 3rd party. They too are risking their seats.
Bot
give me your number, i will call you.
You are so misguided. I totally agree about the genocide and the democrats but the same people doing the slaughter will also save you (Jill Stein) is wealthy and pro Israel. Has no real commitment. I am just not voting and not funding Democrats. I left the party but Stein is nothing to clamor about either. We are simply f***ed unless we get organized and link arms with many others. The average American AND European has swallowed all the anti Muslim/Arab tropes and perception and that is something to work on.
You are so right. Here in Europe, it is now openly acceptable to talk about Muslims as though they are inferior human beings. There are plenty of people who don’t feel that way, but we need to be organized and make alliances not reject possible allies.
I have voted for Dr Stein as I saw her to best represent the agenda I agree with. That, I think, should be the basis of casting one’s vote and not to be treated just as a number for those who are unable to utter a word against the genocide being enabled by their government.
Ms Harris sealed this decision when she referred to targeted assassination of martyrs of Palestinian and Lebanese Resistance as “justice”, that not only being a cruel Bin Ladenesque label per se but a green light for similar acts in reprisal against those committing and facilitating genocide.
Do you know the one thing that is going to stop if Harris loses, is that Harris and democrats will know finally they can’t take Muslim votes for granted.
Yes, this is exactly the point, and I can't for the life of me understand how so few people see it. Democrats will have no incentive to change unless they're punished.
We will all be punished with Trump! The genocide will continue and the country will be a mess
You will eventually get punished much harder if you keep rewarding evil behavior
But the people who are going to be punished our ordinary Muslims, who are going to be discriminated against, refused entry people of Gaza will carry on being bombed. if Trump were an ordinary candidate, I would agree with you, but the fear of what he may do is too great to risk it
Same answer as Sb, we will be punished no matter what. It's a matter of when not if.
Even strategically, if Harris wins, she likely won't have the Senate, won't have the House, and will lose even more seats during the midterms, and get swamped by a landslide in 2028. The best chance for Dems long-term is for her to lose.
Democrats are trying to put "lipstick on a pig" and Mehdi/Zeteo is helping to apply the lipstick.
Break the corrupt two-party system. RepubliCONS and DemocRATS are two evil sides of the same coin.
Stein is a russian asset who pops up every four years. Anyone who votes for her, as is their right, is foolish if they think their little protest will ever yield a result that isn’t a disaster. Why? Look up ralph nader or anti-Hillary Bernie Bro protest votes in recent elections. How did those work out for Palestinians? Do you want progress or revenge?
Get over your magical thinking, build partnerships, and become a viable member of our democracy (you know, the hard work) instead of threatening to burn things to the ground. I made that mistake and regret it every day.
I regret my protest Gore vote for Nader. I am in FL and very directly helped get us Bush and Trump is by far a much bigger threat. For me it is not a “both are horrible” because I like a lot of Harris’ platform and track record in California.
But I also understand that her supporting by not calling out genocide is horrific. John Oliver pleaded on his show last night for those on the fence in swing states to consider voting for Harris because of some reasons mentioned here and by the Uncommitted and Ruwa Romman… but he said he understood how it must be like asking people who they are going to vote for at a funeral because the level of pain Palestinian Americans and their allies are feeling.
What are you talking about, Al Gore won!
The Supreme Court blocked his win, but the recount eventually showed that he won.
You didn't throw away your vote, the Supreme Court did.
If you don't want to vote for Greens, then don't. Should they get more involved from the grassroots and work their way up - sure.
But don't use the Palestinians being genocided in a campaign that is unequivocally supported by both Democrats and Republicans as cover to make your argument. Open your eyes! Gaza is ALREADY destroyed. It is ALREADY uninhabitable. The whole point of the General's Plan is to cage the remaining Palestinians into a smaller concentration camp (hence the ethnic cleansing and massacres in the North) surrounded by the with the IGF so that they control who gets in and who gets out. UNRWA has been banned so that food, water, medicine and the likes won't get in and get distributed. The Palestinians of Gaza are being left with two choices - stay and starve or pack up and leave. And regardless of who's in office come January 2025, this is going to continue unimpeded because the money, the weapons and the diplomatic cover to carry out this diabolical plan will flow unfettered.
And if you think it'll get worse in the West Bank because Miriam Adelson gave Trump $100 million to formally recognise the annexation of the West Bank - SO WHAT? A territory that's been occupied for six decades, where the occupier can settle it's population at will, setup checkpoints etc. etc. is already de-facto annexed. And no, the West Bank will never get carpet bombed like Gaza - one because it endangers the 700,000+ settlers and two scorched earth will destroy all of the fertile lands that the Zionists eagerly covet. Pogroms will intensify just as they have over the last year to gradually drive the Palestinians towards Jordan and expel them. That's the only viable option available to the Israelis. And regardless of who's in office, Israel will be given a free hand to carry on business as usual (just as they have since June 10, 1967).
You want to say Trump is worse than Harris, go ahead, but have the decency and the intellectual honesty not to do it on the backs of the Palestinians who are being annihilated - and will continue to be annihilated, no matter who occupies the Oval Office.
?!!!!!!
And vote for AIPAC assets?
Not sure who you’re calling an AIPAC asset, but between that and a functioning democracy, yes. Think long-term strategy. AIPAC sure does.
Exactly. Stein is a wealthy Jewish woman pro Israel from Boston who has not done anything close to what Medea Benjamin has done. She is an opportunist!!!!
The Israelis are finishing things off as Democrats sit impotently
America is crumbling because both parties are enslaved to corporate donors, silencing public opinion, suppressing free speech on college campuses, supporting Israel's Genocide, and sending billions overseas for destruction instead of using the same for improving our daily lives, our domestic needs like healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
The heading of this call has a vote shaming flavour to it. I could care less what she says, but if we paid subscribers are coming here to hear someone who supposedly have reasons to not go 3rd party, but just continues to echo Harris - then this isn’t it.
Why is refusing to vote for someone who has unconditionally supported a genocide - militarily and politically - framed as "punishing" them. My own ethical and moral sense would prohibit me from voting for Harris because I need to look at myself in the mirror every morning. It's Harris who's created this problem. Stop laying Trump at the feet of people making a pretty bloody modest demand that she stop helping slaughter and starve civilians.
Exactly
Thank you so much for hosting this, Mehdi, and for taking these questions, Rep. Jayapal. This conversation gave me a little bit of hope.
Donald is a fascist. We must elect democrats up and down the ticket to have a say in trying to help Palestinians to the extent that the US is involved or not involved with Israel and to help ourselves. Remember Trump's Muslim Ban? Remember that Donald promises to hurt "his enemies". That's not acceptable here in America. Our president must represent All of us even if she doesn't always agree with us. We must retain the right to Protest. We must elect Kamala and take back the House and keep the Senate.
I remember not just Trump’s Muslim ban, but also many other of his Islamophobic acts and utterances. I also see the ongoing genocide in Palestine and bombardment of Lebanon, both funded and facilitated by the Biden-Harris administration. That’s why I am not voting for either, but for the candidates who have spoken out in favor of arms embargo on the genocidal entity.
A majority of Dems are potential allies, while Trump will sell out the Palestinians if he hasn't already.. A depraved, demented sociopath who threatens courageous adversaries like Liz Cheney with firing squad vs Harris Walz... #VoteBlue https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CB23KtHIPOI
Heather Cox Richardson 11/2/24: "On November 5 we will find out just how strong we are. We will each choose on which side of the historical ledger to record our names. ..we can list our names on the side of those from our past who defended democracy and, by doing so, guarantee that American democracy reaches into the future."