Notably absent from Walz’s speech was any real substance on foreign policy — including discussion of the genocide happening against Palestinians in Gaza, which uncommitted delegates and their allies have been trying to discuss for days at DNC. Indeed, most of the night, if not the week, has ignored the issue, and where it has been mentioned, Israel’s role in the genocide has been glossed over.
Uncommitted delegates in support of Palestinian liberation and an end to the genocide have requested that the DNC allow a Palestinian speaker take the podium in the United Center, to discuss a permanent ceasefire and an embargo for weapons from the U.S. to Israel, which the U.S. is legally obligated to do.
“We are learning that Israeli hostages’ families will be speaking from the main stage. We strongly support that decision and also strongly hope that we will also be hearing from Palestinians who’ve endured the largest civilian death toll since 1948,” read a statement from the Uncommitted National Movement account on X. “Excluding a Palestinian speaker betrays the party’s commitment in our platform to valuing Israelis and Palestinian lives equally. Vice President Harris must unite this party with a vision that fights for everyone, including Palestinians.”
A group of uncommitted delegates, joined by interfaith leaders and their allies, staged a sit-in just outside the convention hall on Wednesday night, saying they wouldn’t remove themselves from that spot until their demands for a Palestinian speaker were met.
It’s not completely ignored. Several speakers have mentioned Gaza in their remarks, including high profile speakers like AOC.
It’s not important enough to get a speaker dedicated to the issue. The same is true of most other issues.
I turned it off last night when they had someone on talking about their son who was one of the hostages.
All this time to put a name and face to one victim but not to discuss the overall tragedy that has happened and is still happening to tens of thousands.
It was extremely tone-deaf, and if they were going to represent one side of the victims they really should have done so with the innocent Palestinians caught in the middle as well.
It IS important enough as Harris needs to win back the 13% uncommitted vote that couldn’t bring themselves to vote for Biden. If she wants to win in November she has to get them back and then some.
That cohort had Biden’s age and competency as their top reasons for not voting for him, not Gaza.
Citation needed. 13% of Democratic Michigan voters included a high percentage of Arab-Americans and Muslim-Americans and young voters who all cited Gaza as their reason for voting uncommitted, including calls by Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib. There’s no denying Gaza played a big role in the spike in uncommitted votes.
Biden’s Weakness With Young Voters Isn’t About Gaza
That’s an opinion piece. And it’s undermined by what the author concedes is a shift in votes between 2020 and 2024.
Those same young people also disapproved of Biden last summer, when basically nobody cared about Gaza. That’s why Gaza is not the cause of his political problems.
She is already leading in the polls. The only thing she has to do is keep doing what she is already doing.
Nationwide polls, not among the previously uncommitted vote. Downplay it all you like. She has to actually stake some policies out on Palestine. And you’re not helping; if I vote for Harris it will be in spite of you and your bad arguments and concern trolling.
Nationwide and statewide. She leads in a majority of swing states.
And you win the election by winning swing states, not necessarily the previously uncommitted.