Gretchen Whitmer responds to calls by some Democrats to vote ‘uncommitted’ in Michigan’s primary on Tuesday

Gretchen Whitmer responds to calls by some Democrats to vote ‘uncommitted’ in Michigan’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.

“It’s important not to lose sight of the fact that any vote that’s not cast for Joe Biden supports a second Trump term,” she said on Sunday during an interview on CNN’s State of the Union. “A 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.”

Whitmer, who is a co-chair of Biden’s 2024 campaign, also said she wasn’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 “uncommitted” in Michigan’s 27 February primary.

  • intensely_human@lemm.ee
    11·
    8 months ago

    There may not be a peaceful solution, but the correct violent solution would be for Israel to stop the weapons blockade on Gaza, so that non-Hamas Gazans can arm themselves, and so they have a chance to overthrow Hamas on their own.

    Hamas rules without elections, hence do not have the consent of those governed.

    The weapons embargo is failing, obviously. As gun control opponents in the USA often point out, gun laws basically ensure the rule followers are disarmed; it doesn’t do much to disarm the criminals.

    All this weapons blockade is doing is making Gazans helpless.

    And because they are helpless, they are not responsible for Hamas.

    I’m NOT trying to say here that arming average Gazans would make it okay to carpet bomb Gaza, but it would at least open the door for Gazans to take a side.

    If I were running Israel, my policy would be:

    • Stop enforcing the naval blockade
    • Possibly even push weapons into Gaza
    • Make it known that from here on out, the people will be held responsible for Hamas actions
    • Give them five years to either overthrow Hamas or take responsibility for Hamas’s actions
    • Then if necessary, treat Gazan civilians as if they’re one and the same with Hamas

    With the Gazan people being actively prevented from arming themselves by the Israeli military, there is no way in hell that Gazans could ever be responsible for Hamas. They are in a state of helpless victimhood that is continually enforced by the actions of Israel.

    Stop the weapons blockade. It is a violation of human rights. I mean naturally the food and medicine blockades are fucked too. But keeping the Gazan population unarmed is also a serious violation of their rights, and it makes Israel’s current actions immoral.

    • phillaholic@lemm.ee
      12·
      8 months ago

      Support for Hamas is Growing

      I don’t believe adding more guns solves any problem, so that’s a non starter for me.

      However just today, Palestinian prime minister submitted the government’s resignation, so we will see what’s next.

      • SaltySalamander@kbin.social
        3·
        8 months ago

        However just today, Palestinian prime minister submitted the government’s resignation, so we will see what’s next

        Which has fuckall to do with Hamas. The Palestinian Authority has no presence in Gaza.

        • phillaholic@lemm.ee
          1·
          8 months ago

          I’ve said before that there is no resolution without getting rid of Hamas. Outside of that, there are measures like this. If these are meaningless, then all out war is the only answer and that’s what Israel is doing.