As President Biden grapples with internal dissent within his party over his backing of Israel, Pennsylvania's Democratic Senator John Fetterman is challenging voters to contemplate the potential consequences of enabling another candidate's victory, as reported in a Sunday column.
Fetterman drew parallels between the tepid support for Hillary Clinton among Democrats in the 2016 election and the current political climate. "Fetterman, who has consistently shown support for Israel since October 7, much to the chagrin of his left-wing critics, suggested that young voters should think about the potential repercussions of empowering a candidate who might give Netanyahu even more leeway," wrote Politico columnist Jonathan Martin on Sunday.
Fetterman was quoted by Politico as saying, "I made the same point to voters in 2016. I told them, 'If you're not a fan of Clinton, go ahead and see what Trump has to offer. And now, how do you feel about that?'"
Unlike many of his party colleagues, the Pennsylvania senator has expressed robust support for Israel in its conflict with Hamas. Fetterman's stance on Israel is markedly different from that of several progressive Democrats in both the House and Senate. His position was further solidified in January when he addressed a leadership luncheon organized by the Orthodox Union Advocacy Center in Washington, D.C.
Fetterman questioned the motives of those who targeted Israel with protests across the United States and globally, asking why they were not "protesting Hamas." He stated, "They're blocking tunnels, they're blocking roads. Why arent they protesting, When will we get the hostages back home? Why arent they protesting Hamas? Why aren't they protesting systemic rape and torture of Israeli women and children?"
Martin cautioned Democrats that the "most severe threat" to Biden in his probable rematch with former President Trump emanates from the left. He posed the question, "How many Biden speeches need to be disrupted before Democrats realize that a heated conflict in Gaza this fall could result in 30,000 fewer votes each in Madison, Dearborn, and Ann Arbor, thereby costing the presidency?"
Biden's speeches have been repeatedly interrupted in recent weeks due to his support for Israel, with protesters dubbing him "Genocide Joe" and chanting slogans such as "Free Gaza" and "Stop funding genocide."
The debate over America's reaction to the October 7 terrorist attacks against Israel has created a schism within the Democratic Party, a division that is also reflected in polls of Arab Americans. Some surveys, including one conducted by Arab American Institute president James Zogby, suggest a decline in Biden's support among this crucial demographic.
The Post reported, "Zogbys October poll revealed that Biden's support among Arab Americans had dropped to 17 percent, a significant decrease from 59 percent in 2020. The poll also found that two-thirds of Arab Americans disapprove of Bidens handling of the violence in Israel and Gaza."
Login