More than 100 Arizona Palestinian, Arab, Muslim, and progressive Democrats and community leaders have signed a letter making the case for those reluctant to support Kamala Harris against Donald Trump.

“We know that many in our communities are resistant to vote for Kamala Harris because of the Biden administration’s complicity in the genocide,” the letter, published Thursday night, reads.

“Some of us have lost many family members in Gaza and Lebanon. We respect those who feel they simply can’t vote for a member of the administration that sent the bombs that may have killed their loved ones,” the letter continued. “As we consider the full situation carefully, however, we conclude that voting for Kamala Harris is the best option for the Palestinian cause and all of our communities.”

  • pjwestin@lemmy.world
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    11 hours ago

    Man, I hope this changes some minds, but it might be too little too late. She’s had a lot of opportunities to turn things around with the Arab community, and she’s flat out ignored all of them. I’m really worried this will be her version of Hillary’s, “I don’t need to campaign in the Rust Belt,” decision.

    • corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca
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      10 hours ago

      She’s had a lot of opportunities to turn things around with the Arab community, and

      You DO realize that she can’t campaign on that, right?

      I know it’s a little subtle for an American political scene that no longer uses such terms as waffler and carpet-bagger, but these used to be campaign-wrecking slurs.

      She’d be labeled a waffler in seconds. And not only would we like her to change her position, but so would the gqp for the political damage. She can’t change until she’s achieved a 4-year contract.

      • pjwestin@lemmy.world
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        8 hours ago

        No one is saying she has to do a 180 on Gaza, but she could have let a Palestinian speak at the DNC, or met with the Uncommitted leadership last month. It would take very little effort to make herself look more appealing to Arab Americans than Biden and Trump, but she just didn’t do it.

        • PriorityMotif@lemmy.world
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          8 hours ago

          It’s the lawyer effect, they overanalyze everything and make “safe” bets. Trump is going out there and waving his bare ass around while the Dems sit above wringing their hands about what each micro group might think. They’re too worried about stroking “group leaders” egos than actually addressing real people’s needs.

          • pyrflie@lemm.ee
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            6 hours ago

            In that case she sided with a foreign power over Americans and that’s a worse look politically.

          • pjwestin@lemmy.world
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            8 hours ago

            Yeah, that seems right. I also wonder if they’re chasing the wrong numbers. There was a WSJ article last month that said swing state voters were more confident in Trump’s handling of Gaza than Harris’. It didn’t necessarily mean that they would vote for Trump, and honestly, a lot of the impression that Trump is, “stronger,” on military issues is probably just misogyny, but I could see an overreacting campaign look at and say, “we can’t soften our position on Gaza at all, we need to close that gap!”

      • pyrflie@lemm.ee
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        6 hours ago

        You do realize her campaign has pretty much shuttered Muslims out right. They were expelled from every campaign stop and the national convention. It’s pretty hard to think of a way she could have expressed they were not welcome beyond what she’s done short of lethal violence.

    • GBU_28@lemm.ee
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      10 hours ago

      It’s a major complication / fault with running a candidate who is in office already. They cannot deviate from the official position, tone, language, admission of guilt, etc.

      I’m not saying I have secret info and Harris would 180 on Israel if she won, just saying she can’t even build breathing room from Biden while being the sitting vp.

      This is not an excuse for the administration’s stance, just a reflection on the challenges of running while in office.

      • pjwestin@lemmy.world
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        8 hours ago

        Yeah, when she first started running, I figured she was trying not to undermine Biden’s ceasefire negotiations, but I assumed she would find some way to reach out to the Arab communities she needs for Michigan and Wisconsin. Now It’s the 11th hour, and she hasn’t done anything. I just don’t understand why they’re completely ignoring this demographic.

      • HomerianSymphony@lemmy.world
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        10 hours ago

        They cannot deviate from the official position, tone, language, admission of guilt, etc.

        Just have her hug an Arab child or something.

        Why are they so bad at this?

        • GBU_28@lemm.ee
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          10 hours ago

          Imo the Arab/Palestinian community would see that for the pandering that it is

          • HomerianSymphony@lemmy.world
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            9 hours ago

            Yeah, probably. She should still do it.

            Her problem isn’t just with the Palestinian community.

            There was a surge of enthusiasm among Democrats when Kamala was first elected because people thought she might take action on Gaza. That enthusiasm soon evaporated when it became apparent that she wouldn’t.

            People are desperate for anything and she’s giving them nothing.

            • Chapelgentry@lemmynsfw.com
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              9 hours ago

              Yeah let’s downplay EVERYTHING ELSE she’s campaigned on and redefine democratic excitement to be focused solely on Palestine, and yeah you’re right.

              • HomerianSymphony@lemmy.world
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                3 hours ago

                and redefine democratic excitement to be focused solely on Palestine

                I’m not redefining anything. I’m telling you: Democrats are not excited about Harris.

                “Sure, she supports genocide, but logically you should still vote for her for these other reasons” is not how you win an election.

                If people aren’t excited to vote for your candidate, they stay home.