Biden is dramatically out of touch with voters on Gaza. He may lose because of it | Moira Donegan
Biden is dramatically out of touch with voters on Gaza. He may lose because of it | Moira Donegan
The president’s shedding key constituencies. If morality won’t move him to end his support of this war, will self-interest?
Many voters believe, with good reason, that none of this would have happened without Biden’s assent. Biden has continued to speak of Israel’s attack on Palestinian civilians using the absurd language of “self-defense”. He has insulted Jewish Americans and the memory of the Holocaust by invoking them to justify the slaughter. And though his White House repeatedly leaks that he is “privately” dismayed by Israel’s conduct of the war, he has done little to stop the flow of US money and guns that support it.
Even after the US state department issued a vexed and mealy-mouthed report on Israel’s conduct, which nevertheless concluded that it was reasonable to assess that Israel was in violation of international humanitarian law, the Biden administration has continued to fund these violations. That state department report was published on 10 May. The Biden administration told Congress that it intends to move forward with a $1bn arms sale to Israel. “OK, [Israel] likely broke the law, but not enough to change policy,” is how one reporter summarized the administration’s judgment. “So, what is the point of the report? I mean, in the simplest terms, what’s the point?”
Meanwhile, Biden has expressed public disdain for the Americans – many of whom he needs to vote for him – who have taken to protest on behalf of Palestinian lives. Speaking with evident approval of the violent police crackdowns against anti-genocide student demonstrations, he said coolly: “Dissent must never lead to disorder.”
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Meanwhile, if you don't vote for Biden:
https://x.com/Acyn/status/1785491814226510333
“We have to let Israel complete their war on terror. It’s a horrible thing, but they have to do it.” Trump added that Israel must “clean out the cancer.”
The lesser evil campaign strategy isn't going to work anymore. It's ran its course. Biden needs to offer something meaningful otherwise Trump will win.
At this point it's almost certainly too late.
Oh, he definitely needs to offer up something meaningful, but not on Gaza.
The #1 issue for people is the economy, and Biden is being fucking tone deaf telling people who are hurting "What? The economy is doing great!"
3.5% inflation on top of 3% on top of 9%? No, people are not doing great!
Yeah, way too many so-called "progressives" don't seem to really understand the actual choice here. They can stamp their feet and wish for someone better than Biden, but the choices are: 1) Biden 2) Ronald McDonald - and everything that entails. That's it.
The time for them to work for something better as a candidate was the primaries.
This is funny because "it's sad but they have to do it" is basically what Biden has been saying
Biden has chosen to tank his own presidency by supporting Israel. It makes it worse that he's choosing to do it while he's telling us that the alternative is fascism
He's choosing fascism over giving up support for genocide
Actually it's Biden's fault that he is behind Trump is all major general election polls.
Somehow he has alienated both the left and the center. What a political mastermind
Can't wait to think more about this while we all watch Trump destroy Western democracy and loot the remnants of America. Good job Dems
Learn to read, comprehend what you read, think about what you read, and then avoid saying stuff that gets you the exact opposite of what you want. FFS
The winner of the Presidential election in 2024 will either be Biden or Trump. Full stop.
Trump feels Israel isn't being aggressive ENOUGH.
So you vote for Biden, who is maintaining the same Israeli policy as every other President for the last 76 years, or you throw away your vote and help elect Trump who thinks Gaza is a cancer that needs to be cleared out fast.
Biden, who is maintaining the same Israeli policy as every other President for the last 76 years
Why is he doing this?
Same reason all the others did. Money.
Why is that acceptable?
It implies that we are controlled by Israel. If true, shouldn't we as Americans demand that our country extricate itself from such a relationship?
Because money drives the system.
As long as this is going on:
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/03/03/aipac-israel-spending-democratic-primaries-00144552
Nothing will change. It worked locally here as well:
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/top-progressives-blame-aipac-outside-223124508.html
In all fairness though,
trump is known for saying whatever pops into his head, and his words are the wind
Biden has been saying for 50 years that he will always support Israel and nothing will ever change that He's also not stupid enough to say what trump is saying.
But he very likely thinks the same, and this is one thing he won't change his mind on.
There are a million reasons why Biden (and everyone else eligible to run for president) is better than trump.
But support of Israel and funding their genocide isn't one of them. trump would want something in return, and might cut off all aid at a moments notice once he got what he wanted and ask for more.
I'm sure the guy Netanyahu named a settlement in the occupied Golan Heights after and who moved the US embassy to Jerusalem, half of which is supposed to belong to Palestine will somehow support Israel less than Biden:
You know the article has words in it that aren't in the headline?
And that if you actually care about Biden winning, you need to engage with these arguments or at least have the good sense to STFU for fear of alienating people even further?
There's no need to engage with an argument that makes no sense.
Biden's pro-Israel policy is the same policy we've had for 76 years.
Trump's policy is "Gaza is a cancer, wipe them out fast".
Those are your two choices. You do not have an alternative.
Choosing not to vote only helps Trump.
Voting 3rd party only helps Trump.US presidents have told Israel to cut the shit and stop or else multiple times in the past and Israel has listened. The same can and should be done here. Eisenhower did it, ford did it, Reagan did it, and h w bush did it.
Trying to voter shame people when they feel so strongly about this really isn't going to work or help you. I agree, Trump really should not be allowed to get into office, but at the same time you can't act as if these voters don't have a right to be angry. For these people, it goes further than just voting.
They really haven't listened, and will continue not listening.
My favorite example was in the run up to the Iraq war. One of the excuses W. tried to float was that Iraq was in violation of 17 or 18 UN resolutions.
At the time, Israel was violating over 80 of them and it would have been more except for US veto power.
As long as the money keeps flowing, Israel doesn't give two shits.
Those are your two choices. You do not have an alternative.
You think this is a persuasive statement?
If the choice is between genocide and more genocide then voters are right to denounce the United States as a whole
It's not intended to be persuasive, it's a statement of fact.
Israel is going to do whatever they want to do regardless of what Biden says.
The difference is, Trump would openly ENCOURAGE such genocide. Further, he would bring the worst of those policies back home, illegally invading Mexico the same way Israel illegally invaded Lebanon.
Trump would openly ENCOURAGE such genocide.
And what is Biden doing by continuing to supply arms and funds to Israel? And by threatening the ICC and ICJ?
Biden is not telling Israel "Gaza is a cancer, clear it out fast."
Trump specifically said that.
So what?
Biden is arming and funding Israel and is protecting them from international agencies.
Which is far worse than verbal statements
Trump is a fascist. But he never committed a genocide. Biden has.
Which is so foolish, as it makes fascism in America significantly more likely to occur, to disastrous results
Choosing to treat anyone who thinks otherwise as too stupid to realise this is exactly why Trump might win. Please stop.
And people refusing to acknowledge that Biden is better than Trump in every way is going to help Trump get elected as well. We're not calling you stupid, we're pointing out the facts on the ground and why your strategy results in more harm to the people you want to protect.
The only way we beat Trump is by coalescing the Democratic coalition. That's going to take the politicians responding to voters needs AND the voters to show up and prevent GOP victories. Withholding your vote in November, regardless of what Biden does, results in progressive causes backsliding further and makes it harder if not impossible to gain control in the future. I want people to understand that voting is a strategic choice, not a moral one.
It's like 2016 all over again. It's fascinating how we learned absolutely nothing.
We're fucked and there's nothing we can do about it
I'll vote for Biden, and do it proudly, but I'd never be so pathetic as to resort to whatever the fuck these grandstanding libs/Dems/definitely not progressives are doing when they try to "convince" people to support the candidate they support (read: try to feel morally superior for their vote) as they look down their noses at anyone that dares to ask, "Hey, did Clinton oppose gay marriage? Did she do enough to oppose the Iraq War when she was Secretary of State? Is it true she's said some super racist shit in the past?"
If they realized this, they wouldn't be saying Joe is engaging in genocide. ;)
Either stupid or selfish take your pick.
There is zero reason to chase your vote. You will just move the goalposts. It's like negotiating across the isle with the Republicans. All you'll do is make compromises that will alienate your base, and then you'll just pull the football at the last second.
I'm tired of all these "Biden needs to change to get MY vote". The stakes are obvious. If you're not on board to make the best of a bad situation, then your vote is already unobtainable.
You are negotiating in bad faith, and it's obvious to everyone.
least have the good sense to STFU for fear of alienating people even further?
gee, you're doing such a great job of that already...
How do you interpret the above? FFS.