Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan is moving against United States President Joe Biden by urging her fellow left-wing party members to vote "uncommitted" in the Michigan primary.
The development comes as the Democratic president is facing mounting pressure over his handling of the Israel-Hamas war in the Middle East. Tlaib, the first Palestinian American woman to serve in U.S. Congress, said that they feel entirely neglected and unseen by the government.
Voting Uncommitted in the Michigan Primary
Her remarks were made in a video posted on Saturday on X, formerly known as Twitter, by the group Listen to Michigan. The president is struggling with growing discontent within his party amid cries of "Genocide Joe" and "ceasefire now" follow him wherever he goes on his campaign trail.
Michigan is home to one of the country's largest populations of Arab Americans and Muslims. Furthermore, there is growing concern among Democratic lawmakers that alienating that key group could hurt the president in a battleground state considered crucial to his 2020 presidential victory, as per CNN.
Tlaib is a liberal firebrand representing parts of Detroit and the city's suburbs. She previously accused the president of supporting a Palestinian "genocide." She also warned Americans will be able to remember how Biden responded to the Israel-Hamas war when he runs for re-election.
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In a video posted in November, Tlaib told President Biden that the American people are not with him on this one, adding, "We will remember in 2024." The Listen to Michigan campaign currently has more than 30 Michigan officials who have already pledged to vote uncommitted in the state's presidential primary scheduled on Feb. 27, 2024, amid calls for Biden to support a ceasefire.
The Michigan representative also said in the video posted on Saturday that it is crucial to create a voting bloc. Administration officials recently met with Arab American leaders in the state earlier this month. They tried to quell uproar from critical parts of the president's coalition over his support for Israel in its war and his reluctance to call for a ceasefire publicly.
Joe Biden's Handling of the Israel-Hamas War
Thousands of Arab Americans feel personal pain and grief as the death toll in Gaza surpassed 28,000 Palestinians. According to USA Today, this is one reason why so many people in this demographic are vowing to see President Biden be defeated in the November general election.
While the president has described the Palestinian lives lost as a tragedy and condemned Israel's response last week as "over the top," he has further infuriated Arab Americans by resisting demands to call for an immediate ceasefire. Biden has also raised doubts about the Palestinian death toll in Gaza.
Michigan Rep. Tlaib's video criticism of Biden and call to other Democrats received mixed responses in the political world. Former Ohio Democratic state Sen. Nina Turney tweeted that Arab Americans do not want their tax dollars funding efforts to kill their family members.
On the other hand, the conservative group Republicans Against posted on X, asking who among Democrats would run against the congresswoman ahead of her running for re-election later this year, said The Guardian.
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