Michigan governor says not voting for Biden over Gaza war ‘supports second Trump term’
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.
Objectively correct take.
You can validly hate Biden for the handling of Gaza. But not voting for him is just helping the Fascists win.
Swallow your pride. Do your duty at the ballot and then make the real changes by organising and protests.
No. It's not on the voters to show up no matter what. It's on the politicians to be someone we want to vote for. We already did "vote blue no matter who and pressure them for change later." And now we're funding a genocide. That's over. Now it's pressure time.
Zionism can be equated to fascism. Biden has stated multiple times that he is a Zionist. Neo-liberal fascists are already in power and they are destroying the left. you are saying do your duty at the ballot by saying vote this way or you are wasting a vote (that doesn't actually count anyway because the pop vote doesn't decide the presidency). I will do my duty by not partaking in sham elections for a two party state that I don't have any faith in whatsoever to deliver anything they promise. Because they have no obligation to fulfill anything they say they will do to get into office. That in itself is protest so I am doing the real changes, as you say.
You'll just be forfeiting your vote. The same reasoning can be heard in any country come election time, but in truth you're only making a gesture and its effects are contained in your mind. If you don't vote, even though all you said is true, this election system is a sham, etc. you're still helping Trump in the short term and the harm he will do to women, foreigners, anybody who's not rich, and the american society at large. Gestures, symbols and statements are good, but not at this price. I live across the world but if I could vote in the american elections, I would, and I'm not even part of any of these endangered demographics. I suppose you aren't either ?
They aren't destroying the left, there just has never been a meaningful left in America.
Sure that's why FDR never won in an absolute landslide.
It's why none of the last successful Democrat presidency runs over the last 2+ decades have been based on progressive reform and no Democrat would run with a slogan like "Change we can believe in" with only one outlier being the most recent election based on a distinct aversion to fascism.
America has never created national parks, new deals for farmers, or held up a man who was against war during the Cold war.
Nah. Left just doesn't exist.
More objectively correct take:
Thanks to the political-parties highjacking governing-the-country,
they can commit any crime or abomination, whatsoever, and you only can choose between them, because the rigged-system won't permit anyone to have any alternative to what the incumbent political-parties offer.
There: fixed it for you.
You know 3rd parties run all the time right? We even have multiple senators right now that are independents
Okay, so then, do your duty, vote for biden, then work to support ranked choice voting?
Why do you think the neoliberals running the DNC will let ranked choice happen?
FPTP is the only reason neoliberals and Republicans can get elected, while they control both parties, we'll never get rid of it.
To get ranked choice, progressives first have to replace neoliberals, and then win so many elections it doesn't matter what Republicans want.
RCC isn't the cure, it's what we do after we win. Because it's not going to happen until after we win.
For anyone confused or refuting this in their mind, look up the DNC's history on ranked choice and the efforts they've used to stop it. The only effective legislation passed in a few states was done by citizens with outside state help.
Any reason it can't be done by referendums brought forward by the voters. Just need so rich Hollywood types to put up money and support.
It's complicated and I could go into details about every nuanced situation for a few hours. A few highlights,
Alaska for some reason is my favorite example
So its slightly possible, with millions of dollars from outside state support, years to campaign, and catching the main political parties unaware of your movements.