Gretchen Whitmer responds to calls by some Democrats to vote ā€˜uncommittedā€™ in Michiganā€™s primary on Tuesday

Gretchen Whitmer, the Michigan governor, pushed back on calls to not vote for Joe Biden over his handling of the Israel-Gaza conflict, saying on Sunday that could help Trump get re-elected.

ā€œItā€™s important not to lose sight of the fact that any vote thatā€™s not cast for Joe Biden supports a second Trump term,ā€ she said on Sunday during an interview on CNNā€™s State of the Union. ā€œA second Trump term would be devastating. Not just on fundamental rights, not just on our democracy here at home, but also when it comes to foreign policy. This was a man who promoted a Muslim ban.ā€

Whitmer, who is a co-chair of Bidenā€™s 2024 campaign, also said she wasnā€™t sure what to expect when it came to the protest vote.

Rashida Tlaib, a Democrat who is the only Palestinian-American serving in Congress, urged Democrats last week to vote ā€œuncommittedā€ in Michiganā€™s 27 February primary.

  • FuglyDuck@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    Soā€¦.

    We canā€™t agree that genocide is bad?

    Once again: you are talking about a possible future- a very likely future. Protesting the genocide of Gazaā€™s isnā€™t about what might happen in the future. The protests are about what is happening now.

    And what our current, active government is doing to support it. ā€œFirst they came for the Gazans, and I did nothing because Biden was better than Trumpā€ is not something I want to express later.

    Our government is complicit in genocide. Period. It doesnā€™t matter if the current president is better than the alternative. Itā€™s still complicit in genocide- and because it ostensibly represents me- I have an obligation to tell it to knock it off.

    You, on the other hand, are using your right to free speech to enable and defend genocide.

    • Lopen's Left Arm@sh.itjust.works
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      8 months ago

      You asked me for a favor, and Iā€™m not inclined to do you any favors until you commit to voting for Biden in the general. After that, we can talk.

      • Zaktor@sopuli.xyz
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        8 months ago

        Why does saying genocide is bad require a favor for you to do?

        • Lopen's Left Arm@sh.itjust.works
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          8 months ago

          Canā€¦ you do me a favor? Can you just agree that genocide is bad?

          That was the other person, not be. I donā€™t do favors for fascist supporters, of which Iā€™m now convinced they are one.

      • FuglyDuck@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        ā€œDo what I tell you and then we can talkā€

        you sound like a republican. You canā€™t even agree that genocide is bad and you expect me to actually agree to do what you say as if youā€™re some divinely appointed prophet? Fuck. That.

        • Lopen's Left Arm@sh.itjust.works
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          8 months ago

          Iā€™m not doing you any favors while thereā€™s still some question as to whether or not youā€™re supporting fascism. If you refuse to vote for Biden in the general, thatā€™s exactly what youā€™re doing. So hereā€™s the opportunity to clear the air about how youā€™re going to vote.

          • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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            8 months ago

            Youā€™re not gonna admit that genocide is bad because you donā€™t believe it is. Iā€™m voting for Biden.

            • Lopen's Left Arm@sh.itjust.works
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              8 months ago

              See everyone! Itā€™s not difficult to commit to voting for the only one standing between us and Trumpā€™s fascist takeover of the U.S. Seriously, people act like itā€™s pulling teeth to say theyā€™ll vote for Biden.

              Yes, of course genocide is bad, and we should immediately stop giving funding to Israel because of it. Like you, thatā€™s not going to inhibit me in the slightest from voting for Biden in the general.

              • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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                8 months ago

                Seriously, people act like itā€™s pulling teeth to say theyā€™ll vote for Biden.

                After all the times you refused to say genocide was bad, you say this.

                Yes, of course genocide is bad

                Some of us donā€™t need to have stupid arbitrary demands met in order to say it.

          • FuglyDuck@lemmy.world
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            8 months ago

            Youā€™re concerned Iā€™m maybe supporting fascismā€¦. Fascists just love their genocide too.

            So maybe since youā€™re so concerned about fascism- check the goddam mirror.

            And once again: the protests arenā€™t about the goddamn election. Itā€™s about the American government supporting genocide, and speaking against that.

            Oh, another thing fascists do: silence dissent. They also love loyalty and purity tests.

            You donā€™t have to do me any favors you donā€™t want to do. But seriously; you want to persuade peopleā€¦ this isnā€™t the way.