In the wake of Vice President Kamala Harris' speech at the Democratic National Convention, a group of "uncommitted" voters from Dearborn, Michigan, expressed their dissatisfaction with her remarks on the Israel-Gaza conflict.
One voter even cautioned that this could lead to a significant loss of support for Harris in the upcoming election.
According to Fox News, during the convention, Harris addressed the October 7 terrorist attack and the subsequent war between Israel and Hamas. "President Biden and I are working to end this war such that Israel is secure, the hostages are released, the suffering in Gaza ends, and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, security, freedom, and self-determination," she stated.
Yasmin Vossoughian, a national correspondent for MSNBC, interviewed several of these "uncommitted" voters, who are part of a movement threatening to withhold their traditional Democratic support in November due to perceived anti-Israel sentiments. One man criticized Harris' approach, saying, "She walked the line. First, she talked about Israel and how October 7th was horrible. Yeah, it was horrible, but it felt like she kind of downplayed whats been going on the last 10 months."
Another voter, donning a keffiyeh, a scarf symbolizing support for the Palestinian cause, expressed his disappointment with Harris' lack of call for a permanent ceasefire. He said, "If she would have called for a permanent ceasefire, saying, We do need a permanent ceasefire, I think that for me, it wouldve been different."
He further highlighted the long-standing support the Arab and Muslim community has given to the Democrats. "Weve hosted Democrats in our homes, weve donated to them, weve fundraised for them, and weve knocked on doors for them, but at this point our money is going to our families overseas who are dying every single day who need aid because of the direct results of this administration which shes part of."
A woman, also wearing a keffiyeh, voiced her strong disapproval of the Democrat's support for the ongoing war in Gaza. "Youre bombing our families with our money and just one good speech is going to win us over again? I dont think so," she declared. She warned that this could lead to severe electoral consequences for Harris, stating, "Theyre losing voters who are going to put Trump in the office, thats on them. Thats not on us. They are distancing their voters from them. They are not listening to their constituents. Its on them. Its not on us."
Vossoughian reported that these voters, who were more decisively against voting for Biden during the Michigan primary in February, now seem more open to supporting Harris. "They really want her to differentiate herself from President Biden in the next 70+ days, to really make a note to them where she stands on the issues and, as they say, call for a permanent ceasefire, and let her actions represent her words," Vossoughian said.
The "uncommitted" voters, who accounted for one hundred thousand votes in the Michigan Democratic primary, were encouraged to protest Biden's stance on Israel. This is particularly significant given that Michigan is home to one of the largest Muslim communities in the U.S. This situation underscores the importance of understanding and addressing the concerns of diverse voter groups, particularly in a politically charged climate.
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