Michigan Democrat and member of “The Squad” Rep. Rashida Tlaib is urging her state’s Democratic voters to send a clear message to President Joe Biden by voting “uncommitted” in their upcoming primary. Tlaib, a Palestinian-American, is angry at Biden’s support for Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip and is using Michigan’s sizable Arab American population to try and pressure the White House.
Speaking in a video posted on Saturday, Tlaib claimed that by voting “uncommitted,” voters can “raise their voices” and show their opposition to Biden’s actions. Tlaib, who was censured by the House of Representatives last year for her comments about the Israel-Hamas conflict, also accused the Biden administration of neglecting and ignoring the Palestinian people.
But Tlaib is not alone in her efforts. Arab American activists and groups in Dearborn, Michigan are also pushing for Democrats to vote “uncommitted” in the primary. They claim that the goal is to create a strong voting bloc that will send a message to Biden and the rest of the country that they are tired of a government that supports war and destruction.
Squad member Rep. Rashida Tlaib urges Democrats in Michigan to withhold their support for President Biden and mark “uncommitted” on their ballots in the state’s Democratic primary
Who’s going to primary her?pic.twitter.com/d2c2OZxNlH
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) February 17, 2024
And their efforts seem to have gotten the attention of the White House. Last week, a large group of senior officials were dispatched to meet with Arab American leaders in Michigan. According to participants in those meetings, the Biden administration apologized for “mistakes and missteps” in their response to the Gaza conflict.
But Tlaib and her supporters are not satisfied with mere apologies. They want action, and they want it now. Tlaib has put her support behind a campaign called “Listen to Michigan,” which is calling on Democrats to vote “uncommitted” in the primary. Their hope is that a strong showing for “uncommitted” will signal trouble for Biden in the November general election in Michigan, a critical battleground state.
But it’s not just about Michigan. President Biden is reportedly taking his push for a temporary cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war to the United Nations Security Council. The administration has proposed a draft resolution that calls for a temporary cease-fire and urges Israel not to enter the city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip. This move has drawn criticism from some who believe that Biden is putting pressure on Israel for political reasons, rather than focusing on the safety and security of American citizens.
It’s worth noting that Israel has opposed Biden’s attempts to stop their planned seizure of Rafah, citing the need to rescue hostages, including Americans, who are being held by Hamas terrorists.
After speaking with Israel’s PM Netanyahu for the second time this week, in a press conference, Biden says ‘There has to be a temporary ceasefire to get those hostages back’ pic.twitter.com/Lhyh92UKPS
— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) February 16, 2024
So why is President Biden imposing pressure on Israel, if not for the safety of American citizens? According to experts, it’s simply ideological. Senior advisor at The Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Jonathan Goldberg, says that it’s “left-wing ideologues” using the pretext of political necessity and the potential of a Saudi-Israel normalization deal to push their agenda.
But ultimately, it’s the voters who will have the final say. And it remains to be seen whether Tlaib’s call for a protest vote in Michigan will have any real impact. What is certain, however, is that the conflict between Israel and Hamas is far from over, and President Biden will have to carefully navigate his actions in order to protect American interests.
