On a Rainy Day

[Martin Eden]

3. "It is essential that we have a conversation on this complicated issue"

Last edited Sun May 10, 2026, 09:58 AM - Edit history (1)

I am not so sure that Democratic messaging should focus on this complicated issue in the context of winning elections.

It is extremely complicated with no easy solution, which most voters don't grasp very well. Also it does not directly affect them, except with the closing of the Hormuz Strait. THAT has become a major advantage to Democrats as the price of gas goes up and looming shortages of other commodities are likely to have an even greater economic impact.

The US policy of unconditional support for Israel has been essentially unchanged for generations. The atrocities in Gaza were going to hurt the party in the White House among muslim voters and idealistic young Americans. It was bad timing for the Democratic ticket.

Antisemitism in this country is a real problem, though it has often been used as a false accusation for political advantage. AIPAC has influence on US elections. Is there any solution to the I/P conflict which is fair to Palestinians but does not involve cutting off aid to Israel if it does not change its policies?

This is a double-edged sword in US politics, and a distraction from the key issues Democrats must hammer to overcome voter suppression, gerrymandering, and whatever gestapo/ICE actions Mango Mussolini has up his sleeve.

I am not at all happy in approaching the highly moral issue of atrocities in the Middle East as a political calculation for winning elections. My preference is always Do the right thing. In practical terms, this involves getting results. I understand that many voters could not in good conscience vote for Kamala because the Biden administration would not apply real pressure on Netanyahu in Gaza. Did those voters understand the US election is a binary choice, and Trump would be worse for everything they cared about?

I wholeheartedly agree that serious conversations are necessary regarding the horrible conflict that has raged for generations if not millennia, but not as a campaign strategy.

H2O Man,
To be fair, you did not advocate that. My next post will have my thoughts on this complicated issue, aside from US electoral politics.