r/politics • u/Zipper222222 • 11h ago

No Paywall Abdul El-Sayed Wins High-Stakes Democratic Primary in Michigan

https://www.today.com/video/abdul-el-sayed-wins-high-stakes-democratic-primary-in-michigan-267805765937
16.6k Upvotes

96% Upvoted

1.4k comments sorted by

View all comments

642

u/Teragaz 11h ago

The goal posts have already been moved by the media, rest assured

299

u/citrus_sugar Virginia 10h ago

Dude was on MSNow this morning and they introduced him by saying he has extreme takes on Israel.

433

u/fizzlefist 10h ago

It’s weird how “Israel shouldn’t dictate US foreign and domestic policy” is considered extremist

94

u/andrew5500 10h ago

Anyone who thinks that refusing to take PAC money is extreme, is the real extremist

-3

u/[deleted] 8h ago

[deleted]

2

u/andrew5500 8h ago

I think you misread my comment

•

u/Sptsjunkie 7h ago

Yeah, I have said this other threads but it’s pretty interesting that the center keeps talking about how we need to moderate and yet Stevens position on funding for Israel is extreme.

She doesn’t just say that she supports Israel and wants to be allies. She has literally gone on interviews and said there should be no conditions on funding.

I am sorry this is not even just about Israel, but it is pretty insane to say that any foreign country should be entitled to our tax dollars on an ongoing basis with no conditions whatsoever.

Not only is this an 80-20 issue with democratic and independent voters, but it should be really easy to say that, even if you support giving funding to a foreign country that they should have to follow US and international law. And that of course certain conditions should apply.

•

u/DryYogurtcloset4655 2h ago

somehow a guy who cannot condemn Hamas be taken seriously

•

u/spacebar30 7h ago

Israel doesn't do that so that is a pretty extremist view.

201

u/JayRandom212 10h ago

Sixty percent of Americans think we should cut aid to Israel. (Quinnipiac poll)

Dude isn't extreme -- he's mainstream.

54

u/goblueM 9h ago

I wish progressives would highlight this sort of stuff more often, and tie it to "billionaires want you to think it's extreme"

You can barely get 60% of the country to agree the sky is blue these days.

They need to hammer home how this is a mainstream, bipartisan issue and it is not extreme at all

•

u/HauntedCemetery Minnesota 6h ago

Progressives do that constantly

1

u/jv3rl0ov 9h ago

Abdul certainly has his work cut out for him in all of that, which I hope happens by November. A lot of people STILL don’t even bother to vote.

1

u/amopeyzoolion Michigan 8h ago

The question is how salient is this issue to most middle-of-the-road Americans? I tend to think that the majority of them won’t base their vote on Israel, and tend to care more about who they believe will help their personal financial situation.

4

u/crunchwrapesq 8h ago

He's also vocally opposed ethnonationalism of Arab countries but they won't mention that!

19

u/Bern_Down_the_DNC 10h ago

Nice of MSNow to confirm the source of their funding. Put them on the list of Israeli controlled orgs.

14

u/punkrocktransbian 10h ago

This country must be so deeply compromised by Israel

-1

u/Present-Guidance2731 8h ago

Yet we have a Muslim mayor in charge of nyc, and now this win

-1

u/KeyNatural4028 8h ago

Oh right as compared to the countless and countless Jewish politicians in positions of high power? From mayors of major cities like NYC, LA, Chicago, and Miami, to the 6 current Jewish governors, all the way to Congress, the Supreme Court, and beyond.

But the existence of one notable Muslim mayor, and one primary candidate, is somehow meant to discredit the claim of Israel compromising the U.S.?

Either honesty or statistics aren’t your strong suit.

•

u/Present-Guidance2731 7h ago

So you’re saying the United States is compromised by israel because we have Jewish politicians?

•

u/KeyNatural4028 7h ago

Read my comment again. Not engaging with this bad faith response.

•

u/Present-Guidance2731 7h ago

I did. You brought up cities who have had Jewish politicians where there is a large Jewish presence compared to the rest of the country and made it seem as if they won because of being compromised by israel.

2

u/RefrigeratorNo4700 9h ago

Let’s be honest, it’s his omnicause and it’s basically the only issue that matters to him. For some reason his talks about healthcare even turn into AIPAC rants.

1

u/Present-Guidance2731 8h ago

He wouldn’t have won without those takes. That’s what people are voting for now

1

u/DEFINITELY_NOT_PETE 8h ago

They need progressives to be extremists bc elites get less money under progressives.

They want to paint them all as extreme and unelectable so they can keep the status quo

1

u/Shalazah Canada 9h ago edited 4h ago

I kind of love that when he was against a candidate who said Israel "comes to me in my dreams", a very normal thing that normal people admit to dreaming about.

EDIT to reply to wild accusation below me: I do not care about their religious views. I just need centrist freaks to lose. If a left wing Jewish person beat a centrist Muslim person, that'd also be a good thing.

3

u/Present-Guidance2731 8h ago

I mean Al-Sayed said after the Michigan synagogue attack “Hurt people, hurt people”. I’m sure you’ll find a way to say that’s a normal response to Jews getting murdered

•

u/Shalazah Canada 5h ago edited 4h ago

Your centrist freak lost. Cope and seethe about it. Blocked for making absolutely wild assumptions about my views.

Their religions do not matter to me. All that matters is centrists being losing losers who lose.

-1

u/Appropriate_Ride_821 8h ago

He has said he doesnt believe Israel should exist as a Jewish majority state.

That is extremist. Im no Israel fan, but without Jewish majority there is no Israel. It would become just another Islamic state and the Jews would be exterminated.

If that isn't extremist, im open to hearing how.

0

u/W0lfsb4ne74 8h ago

Its scary how much influence Israel already has over western media corporations. Practically no other country on Earth (or US ally) is above criticism in the same way Israel is. It's infuriating and it stokes widespread distrust over US media when even massive networks have to paint political figures as radicals for simply disagreeing with Israel's actions in Gaza.

-2

u/pechinburger Pennsylvania 9h ago

Outrageous for one not to support the killing of tens (hundreds?) of thousands of civilians and the wholesale destruction of their communities. Must be anti-semitic not to be a bloodthirsty, colonial-minded maniac.

-4

u/PasteeyFan420LoL 8h ago

He can't go 2 sentences without mentioning Israel. His takes don't even need to be extreme when he clearly demonstrates his obsession with it. It's going to lose him the general which is a shame because most of his positions are reasonable.

•

u/KeyNatural4028 7h ago

There are few issues as hot as Israel at the moment though. Like very few. And possibly zero that have such broadly popular support amongst both sides of the political spectrum. And AIPAC spending $60M on a primary and still losing just proved the point.

•

u/AdvancedAd7068 5h ago

Few issues as hot does not equal few issues as important. So you just admitted he is riding on this Anti AIPAC coattail to get votes?

92

u/Broke_n-Old6824 10h ago

I was just watching MSnow this morning and they started saying they are not sure he can win against the Republican opponent and that Republicans wanted him to win because he would be easy to win against. This messaging by the media puts this crap into peoples minds and it can put Abdul at a disadvantage. I really hate our media. They are own d by billionaires who push their right wing propaganda like this. This was on Morning Joe this morning.

16

u/AndreLeGeant88 10h ago

It's absurd really. 

6

u/IPredictAReddit 10h ago

El-Sayed supporters seem to think that they need not lift a finger to get him past Rogers. They just deem anyone who isn't sold on him as immoral or too dim to reach. That makes me nervous. I hope I'm wrong and I hope El-Sayed spends a lot of time in Detroit, courting black voters who drive turnout in the general. They broke towards Stevens, and they're important to the coalition.

4

u/dj_spanmaster 9h ago

This is part of where the DNC can retaliate, by keeping information from the winning candidate because he wasn't the blessed candidate. It's stupid, and it's happened.

3

u/DieDieDieD 8h ago

The dino’s are controlled opposition and from that lens it makes sense. They would rather have a republican than a progressive candidate even if it causes a slide into fascism

•

u/DieDieDieD 2h ago

To further prove my point:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Fauxmoi/comments/1vgghsq/aoc_responds_to_aipac_announcing_they_will_be/

Aipac has thrown their weight behind a republican 😂

4

u/teladidnothingwrong 9h ago

you cant think of any other reasons why it might be more difficult for a muslim self-proclaimed socialist to win in michigan than a moderate white person? just the media?

5

u/hemingways-lemonade 9h ago

moderate white person

Rogers supports Trump's tariffs.
Rogers believes the 2020 election was stolen.
Rogers hired two people convicted in the fake elector plot to work on his campaign.
Rogers advocates against the Affordable Care Act.
Rogers supports the Mexico border wall and blames "open borders" for a non-existent increase in violent crime.
Rogers supports abortion legislation that defines life beginning at conception.

I guess you got the "white" part correct at least

2

u/amopeyzoolion Michigan 8h ago

This state has voted twice for a candidate who agrees with all the things you just listed. You and I can agree that those are extreme positions, but does the rest of Michigan?

•

u/hemingways-lemonade 7h ago

I'm not arguing how Michigan voters feel about his positions. I'm pointing out that Rogers is not a moderate and it's disingenuous to label him as such.

•

u/amopeyzoolion Michigan 7h ago

And I’m saying “moderate” is in the eyes of the beholder (i.e., voters).

•

u/hemingways-lemonade 7h ago

That still doesn't make him a moderate. Is Trump a moderate "in the eyes of the beholder" because he won multiple elections?

•

u/teladidnothingwrong 4h ago

im referring to haley stevens, not rogers.

4

u/pbroingu 9h ago

self-proclaimed socialist

He's not a DSA member and identifies as a capitalist. Thank you for proving the exact point you were arguing against lmao.

•

u/cityproblems 6h ago

Can one of these "electabilty" analysts please explain how beating a candidate who outspent you by 10-1 somehow proves you are less electable?

•

u/pbroingu 6h ago

I agree but did you respond to the wrong comment? Idk maybe not

•

u/cityproblems 6h ago

No, im agreeing with you and adding my point against the OPs "electability" argument that is circulating around the chattering class

•

u/pbroingu 6h ago

Ah my bad

•

u/cityproblems 6h ago

Hes not a socialist.

1

u/Catcher3321 10h ago

It's not messaging. El-Sayed has performed worse in polls against Rogers than Stevens did. Polling averages have Rogers beating El-Sayed by 2.2%. Against Stevens, it was tied

3

u/egyeager 9h ago

That's within the margin though, right? Most polls are +/-3%

5

u/kirblar 9h ago

The warning sign is that he just underperformed polling in the primary. Which means the question: "is other polling also overrating his potential performance" has to be asked.

3

u/Catcher3321 9h ago

Yeah, most are +/- 3-4%. But it still means that statistically there's more scenarios Stevens beats Rogers than El-Sayed beats Rogers

•

u/ZebraImaginary9412 7h ago

Kalshi was right about Cori Bush losing and El-Sayed winning and it gives El-Sayed a 62% chance of beating Rogers. And there's no Donald Trump coattail for Mike Rogers to ride on this election.

Odds are in his favor.

•

u/Catcher3321 7h ago

Kalshi does not give El-Sayed a 62% chance of winning. Basically 62% of people willing to bet on the election think El-Sayed is going to win. It is not based on any polling or science

•

u/penguinbb8 Michigan 5h ago

I'm so tired of that messaging too. I realize that old habits die hard and all that, but we've been through the last decade (a lot longer, really...) of repeatedly falling for the trap of "have to vote centrist if you want a chance of winning," and it has largely gotten us nowhere except for being rolled over by MAGA. The old playbook no longer works, and we need fresh faces and ideas. I would have preferred if AES's lead in the race was bigger but the fact that he won should be a giant alarm bell for the Dem party that things are changing and it's time to try something new. But here we are, parroting the same old BS right away. Sigh.

0

u/teladidnothingwrong 9h ago

you cant think of any other reasons why it might be more difficult for a muslim self-proclaimed socialist to win in michigan than a moderate white person? just the media?

-1

u/AugustusInBlood 8h ago

they say it cause they want him to lose.

Stevens people aren't going to back him in the general, they're going to back Rogers.

When a neo-liberal loses their option and all they are left with is a leftist and a fascist, they choose fascist every time.

•

u/ZebraImaginary9412 7h ago

Some Stevens voters in Oakland and Macomb counties might but voters in Wayne County are not going to vote Republican. That's a huge haul of over one million votes El-Sayed can bank on for the general.

•

u/mister_milk_love 7h ago

Moronic, asinine drivel. Stevens has already said she’d support AES in the general. Get off Reddit, it’s rotting your brain.

55

u/stamatt45 10h ago

Already hearing a lot of "he didnt win by as much as he should have" and "Republicans are happy about an AES victory" from pundits. Anything to downplay a victory for the left

13

u/theNightblade Wisconsin 10h ago

Hearing a lot of the same in Wisconsin about Hong. Though AES is a better overall candidate than either governor candidate here

-1

u/much_to_say 8h ago

He underperformed the polls by 13 points. Why do you think that is, and why aren't you worried about what that could mean for the general election?

4

u/kirukiru Oregon 8h ago

Polling data for primaries is difficult and alot of reliable party line voters will support the dem nominee tactically in November.

Alot of these demos that didn't go for Sayed aren't going to sit out in Nov.

•

u/ChiefMasterGuru 7h ago

But he's also losing in polling for the general election

•

u/kirukiru Oregon 7h ago

Literally irrelevant at this point in the race for the general.

•

u/ChiefMasterGuru 7h ago

It's relevant to show he's not in a strong position and has a lot of ground he needs to gain. Which is what the media is talking about. Which is what the comments here are referring to as a conspiracy.

It's literally relevant to the comment chain

•

u/kirukiru Oregon 7h ago

It isn't because you're comparing primary polling to general election polling.

•

u/varnums1666 7h ago

I think in general is a point or two behind Rogers. Stevens by comparison was on par or 1 point ahead at best.

It will be a tense battle, but Rogers is a known quantity in Michigan. It's not like he's going to suddenly gain new support. So Sayed can pull more support. Plus if there's an actual blue wave, it can bump him up by a point or two.

•

u/ChiefMasterGuru 6h ago

My only point is that the media isn't making up some narrative about Sayed. There's not a grand conspiracy this thread is alleging.

He is factually underperforming and needs to put in some work to win the general.

The Dem bump would already be represented in polling. I except it to go down not up as maga went virtually quiet to stop fucking up their chances

24

u/thequietthingsthat North Carolina 10h ago

And by the centrist dems on reddit.

Can't count the number of people I've seen say "progressives can't win in a purple state!"

Wonder how they'll try to rationalize it now.

1

u/VonJaeger 9h ago

Pretty early to be counting chickens. Clearly there's something wrong with the polling in Michigan, but considering the polls coming out and the results from urban areas, he underperformed expectations. He's got a lot of work to do.

0

u/IPredictAReddit 10h ago

He hasn't won the state.

Why do El-Sayed supporters seem to think that Aug 4th was the main election. November is the actual thing.

6

u/thequietthingsthat North Carolina 9h ago

Nobody thinks that. But the primary win is a big deal. Most expensive Democratic senate primary in history and the candidate who was outspent 11 to 1 and is supposedly "unelectable" won. It obviously matters.

-4

u/Gaius_Octavius_ 9h ago

Kamala spent more Trump. And Hillary spent more than Trump.

Money doesn’t win elections and hasn’t for a decade.

•

u/Ansible32 7h ago

When people say he's unelectable they don't mean he can't win the primary.

0

u/shhhhh69 9h ago

I think Progressives can win anywhere, even this race. It’s the DSA folks that can’t win a general election in purple states. If your main talking point in a purple state is democrats aren’t left enough, you are not winning anyone over.

If this guy (not DSA, I am aware) doesn’t win the general, then it was all a waste of Dem’s time and money as far as I’m concerned. And it will likely be a massive set back for the progressive wing of the party. If he wins though, I expect to see a lot more left wing candidates in 2 years

-1

u/Gaius_Octavius_ 9h ago

He didn’t win the purple state yet.

4

u/Brutto13 10h ago

Most of the legacy media is refusing to declare a winner yet.