Tim Walz and the issue of Gaza.
Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee for president was a most serious problem for me.
I could not vote for him in the Illinois Democratic primary.
I wrote in “ceasefire” instead.
I detest the orange felon, of course.
But Gaza and Biden’s support for Israeli genocide were the defining issue for me (and many others) in this election.
Defining issue as in a fundamental point in dispute, a question crucial in making a decision, choosing a stance, or selecting a course of action.
When the leaders of the Democratic Party forced Biden out and moved to unify around Harris I remained undecided.
When it became conventional wisdom that Harris would select Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro as her running mate it seemed as though nothing had changed and I might have to sit this one out.
Shapiro was the nominee of the pro-Israel lobby, the American Israel Public Affairs Council (AIPAC) and the most ardent Zionists.
AIPAC has just chalked up two wins against anti-war Black members of Congress, Jamal Bowman and Cori Bush.
It seemed as if they were going to score another win with Shapiro, who not only supports Netanyahu and Israeli genocide, but was vitriolic in his attack on anti-war student encampments this past Spring.
As it turns out, Shapiro is not going to be on the ballot.
It also appears that our voices for peace and justice in Palestine might have had a role in the calculations of Team Harris.
How much of a calculation remains unknown.
But it seems that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is no Josh Shapiro.
He is the campaign’s antidote to that pompous, racist, opportunist, couch-humper that Trump picked. He checks almost all the boxes.
And sure, Walz is progressive on most domestic issues.
But what about Gaza?
James Zogby, founder and president of the Arab American Institute, contrasted Walz with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, has said, “What we have is somebody who will do no harm, who is not going to step on the fact that the vice president is trying to turn a corner,” Zogby told The Intercept. “This is not going to be the policy of Joe Biden — she’s made that clear in a number of ways, even though she can’t break from her boss. But we have every indication that she is going to turn a corner, and [Walz] does not impede that corner turn — Shapiro on the other hand would have become an issue.”
Walz has the support of Minnesota progressives and Muslims, Rep. Ilhan Omar and Attorney General Keith Ellison.
On this issue I listen to Omar.
Walz did not attack the students protests and in fact, applauded them for their concerns and was an early Democratic proponent of a ceasefire.
Still, according to Business Insider:
“Like most other Democrats, Walz has long been a supporter of Israel. When he served in the House from 2007-2019, he frequently took pro-Israel votes, including voting to condemn a United Nations resolution affirming that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal. 108 other House Democrats voted for it, while 76 voted against it. He has also met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Mark Mellman, the chairman of Democratic Majority for Israel's super PAC, praised Harris' selection of Walz in a statement, calling him a "proud pro-Israel Democrat with a strong record of supporting the U.S.-Israel relationship."
It seems Gaza will be contested territory for the Democrats.
That may actually be a step forward for a party that always marched in lock step support of Israel.