Flywheel Press

So here are the most common responses to my argument that Jewish voters have a moral obligation to vote for Abdul, despite misgivings, to check MAGA and the danger it poses on a variety of fronts, including rising anti-semitism on the right: - Don't have to listen to you because you "backed" Platner, which is not actually true, despite being repeated on social media, but also just a way of avoiding the argument. - I'm a self-hating Jew. Yes! But not the Jewish part. Also beside the point. - You wouldn't argue "voters in Dearborn" have an "moral obligation" to vote for a pro-Israel candidate. Would and have! - You're ignoring anti-semitism on the left. But I've been pretty open and direct about this, including how some interpret or explain or downplay anti-Semitism on our side in ways that we wouldn't and shouldn't extend to the right. - Insults a plenty. Oh no my feelings. - How dare you, I don't have to do ANYTHING, you fuck. OK! But I'll also try here to characterize the rare but sincere response, something like: Abdul's comments after Temple Israel including "hurt people hurt people" are unforgivable, even if he has apologized. The apology is not enough or not sincere, and his outreach efforts to the Jewish community are insufficient. And what I'd say is Abdul has a responsibility in his words and actions to address this criticism over time, even as for many his opposition to military aid to Israel and his description of Israel's conduct in Gaza as a genocide mean he can never persuade many of these critics. And I would like him to do this continued outreach as a Senator in a Democratic majority. I say this as as a supporter of Abdul, someone I know and respect, and as someone who has been very critical of him when warranted, which I'd continue to do if he's in the Senate. That is because of the stakes for the country in this election, which include appointments to the Supreme Court, Trump's ability to appoint stooges to his cabinet, and given the virulent bigotry on display in Michigan by Trump and Rogers, the need to check MAGA because of the danger it poses to Muslims and to Jews, and anyone who is not in their view the right kind of American. A Republican Senator said YESTERDAY that Abdul shouldn't be in the Senate because he doesn't recognize Jesus as our savior. Anyone else fail that test? Now that I've gotten this off my chest, you may resume calling me a moron.

Abdul, born and raised Michigan, is not "attached" to America, corrupted, the same argument used for generations to cast Jews as a sinister outside force. The attempt to paint Muslims in this way, immigrants, trans people, comedians, the media, the colleges, the Democrats, etc, etc. - it is not JUST that this kind of politics will come for Jews. It's already here, in the alt-right staffers in congressional offices, in anti-Semitic conspiracy theories gaining increasing purchase on the right, podcasters just asking questions about the Holocaust, great replacement theory, goyslop, etc, etc, etc. And as Vance is making clear, it won't end with Trump. The more successful a movement based on dominance and hatred and protecting "real" Americans, the more I worry about the safety of Jews in this country. The midterms are a chance to check MAGA, halt this rise, and in Michigan prove it ineffective. Is there anti-semitism on the left? YES. Of course. We ought to call that out directly, and reject it as wrong and toxic and self-destructive, which I won't stop doing. But we cannot lose sight of what we are facing from the MAGA right. These are the stakes to me.