Paul Cantrell
Proud to have her as my rep.
For the record, I think the idea that the US could just unilaterally end the Gaza genocide at any moment by withholding arms is pure fantasy. But I do think the US government has grossly underutilized what leverage it has.
From @DrALJONES :
https://mastodon.social/@DrALJONES/113011668258349013
Paul Cantrell
When I talk about that “pure fantasy,” I’m talking about social media posts I read. Ilhan Omar herself, much to her credit, maintains a clear view of the constraints and political realities while still keep a laser focus on the unerlying moral imperative. What I wrote above echos what she said in the OP interview: the US should use what leverage it has.
Paul Cantrell
For those wondering “Why can’t •my• rep be more like Ilhan Omar?,” yeah, that’s a fair question, and it has a fair answer:
https://hachyderm.io/@inthehands/113007433707353356
Keep in mind that even Ilhan has twice now faced tough primary challenges from a local creepazoid running a right-wring-funded-Dem “police and Israel oogity boogity!” campaign. She defeated him narrowly in 2022, soundly in 2024. Point is, every politician only has so much leeway. It's activists swaying public opinion who can buy them more.
Paul Cantrell
For those who hate slogging through videos as much as I do, so of Ilhan Omar’s remarks as text:
Is Harris diff from Biden on Gaza? OMAR: “She has certainly been more forceful in talking about how this war and its devastation is unconscionable.” Wants more policy specifics.
Paul Cantrell
“My message is: this is not just about winning votes. It’s about living up to the words that we say about caring for our neighbors, for having a heart, for being compassionate. If that is who we are, as Democrats, there is no compassion in continuing to fund this genocidal war.”
“There •is• compassion is saying we know that a ceasefire is only possible if we use every leverage that we have, and the biggest leverage that we have is to stop sending bombs.”
Paul Cantrell
@janisf
I think that’s exactly right. I also think it’s her job, as someone who’s elected to push boundaries and apply positive pressure, to demand action and demands details even in moments when that’s not possible yet. She’s no fool; she knows the process. She also now that results later require pressure now.
Janis
@inthehands The message we send when we elect a peace broker vs. an autocrat-wannabe salesman surpasses policy specifics... that will likely have to change to accommodate a volatile situation.
We as a public have a chance with Democrats to speak to what it means to model democracy, allyship, collaboration, clear & proven methods to peace. There comes a point where demanding methodology details is counterproductive to the decision process at hand.
Paul Cantrell
@janisf
I hear you. I think the far larger danger here is that many people with eyes on Gaza (rightly!) are already saying this and already not hearing an answer. For somebody within the party to give those concerns voice is the sort of thing that holds a coalition together in the present •and• that speeds progress in the future. Ilhan has always been pretty good at bridging this gap, and after a few early missteps got good at threading the needles involved.
Janis
@inthehands My fear is that if she's putting this question out there and doesn't get an answer, it could make the Harris campaign appear insensitive or worse. If she sits with no answer, it could make Omar appear complacent. I'm convinced neither is the case, but I'm not sure everyone is.
The problem, IMHO, is that the delays are *necessarily* coming from the situation on the ground in the posh embassies and such, where all the press gives us is Gaza footage.
GNU social JP is a social network, courtesy of GNU social JP管理人. It runs on GNU social, version 2.0.2-dev, available under the GNU Affero General Public License.
All GNU social JP content and data are available under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license.