Growing number of Democrats call for Palestinian speaker on final night of DNC

[onandup]

A growing number of elected Democrats and activists are calling on the Harris campaign and the Democratic National Committee to allow a Palestinian to speak on the final night of the DNC.

“We cannot ignore the Chicagoland Palestinian community as one of the largest in the country,” Rep. Chuy Garcia (D-Ill.) wrote in a statement. “They too deserve to be reflected on the national stage. It’s crucial to recognize the humanity of the Palestinian community tonight with a Palestinian speaker.”

A dozen congressional Democrats, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (D), Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D), the United Auto Workers, J Street, and a growing number of Democratic Party members have called on the DNC to allow a person of Palestinian heritage to speak during the convention.

The Uncommitted National Movement has been calling for a convention speaker for weeks, saying it would be a clear demonstration by Harris that she was shifting away from Biden’s stances on the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4842465-dnc-harris-democrats-palestinian-speaker/

[edisdead]

1. Nope.

Fuck no.

[PeaceWave]

31. They had their 15 minutes of infamy.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

2. NO!!!!

'Nuff said.

[nycbos]

3. No

[al bupp]

4. They should be allowed a voice

Let them make their case and say their piece. Not doing so makes the party look small and noninclusive.

[lees1975]

5. Get on board and support Harris' campaign first.

Otherwise, take your chances with the orange buffoon.

[al bupp]

13. I am onboard, motherlover!

What makes you think that I'm not! I am making recurring donations to her campaign and making cold calls for her, how about you? Now, explain why you think I'm wrong about the point of this thread.

[lees1975]

16. I'm doing all of that.

Any Palestinian speaker needs to be on board.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

18. When they come out and publicly endorse the Harris/Walz campaign, then they can have a seat at the table,

otherwise they can go pound sand.

[kansasobama]

20. Al Bupp, it is not you

Problem is the Palestinian speaker has to condemn Oct 2023 attack first. Speaker has to not equate Palestinian as Hamas. They have to support Harris. If the speaker can do that, yes, the speaker can talk about the plight in Gaza.

I am for peace and end of Netanyahu cruelty in Gaza. But whenever I do that, I see all these anti Biden protests that helps Trump. I cannot afford to lose democracy for the Gaza cause, especially since Hamas did attack Israel.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

6. No, they shouldn't, this is VP Harris's night and we don't need the distraction,

but I will support whatever the campaign chooses to do, which, hopefully, they'll not allow such a distraction.

[zipplewrath]

12. A few stipulations

They have to condemn the Oct. 7 attacks. They have to call for the immediate release of all hostages. And they have to implore Hamas to agree to a cease fire deal. In between all of that they can make their case for peace in Gaza.

[Politicub]

62. Do you understand how moronic it would be to bring someone up who is anti-Harris?

This convention is not for airing grievances against the Democratic Party. There is plenty of time for that.

[kansasobama]

7. It is a Dem convention

Calling Genocide Biden does not get rewarded

[FlyingPiggy]

8. ABSOLUTELY NOT!!

[LeftInTX]

9. This your second post in the last 5 minutes on this. The schedule is set.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

15. I was just getting ready to ask the OP how many threads were going to be started by him/her. nt

[Happy Hoosier]

10. Hell no.

They can’t piss all over us and then ask for a higher platform to piss all over us while the world watches.

If they wanted to be part of the conversation, they should have chosen a different approach.

[tritsofme]

11. No, they want to push some pro-Hamas bozo up on the stage to make a big scene. Luckily VP Harris is way too smart to be

fooled by this group of crackpots.

[LexVegas]

14. No. nt

[malaise]

17. Agree

Rec

[mzmolly]

19. F no.

Unless that speaker is endorsing the Democratic ticket they can speak elsewhere.

[Takket]

21. "growing number"

phrases like that crack me up. makes it sound like it is a majority opinion. growing number can technically mean one becoming two.

12 people is a pretty tiny minority.

Frankly after some of the vile things said about Biden by some of the "from the river to the sea" crowd, the only person I want to hear talk about what should be done to end the war is Harris. And in the end, she will be the one with the power try and broker a peace.

[stopdiggin]

42. +1. and well said

'growing number' - one of those weasel words meaning, "we don't really know - but probably lots and lots!" Or in other words, whatever the speaker wants it to mean - in order to augment their point.

[dalton99a]

59. +1

[Beringia]

22. Rep Chuy Garcia, Yay, my district representative in Berwyn Illinois

Born in a village in Durango, Mexico. My father came and got his residency established in about 1964. After he became a resident he was able to send for us. We came in 1965 when there was a growing Mexican immigrant community in Chicago.

https://southsideweekly.com/chuy-garcia-la-vida-de-la-villita/

[LiberalFighter]

23. An intern wrote it

[JCMach1]

24. Hell to the no...

Last edited Thu Aug 22, 2024, 09:45 PM - Edit history (1)

Unless they are helping Kamala get elected, no.

We know that's not their agenda.

[Ping Tung]

25. Good. That's what democracy is supposed to be about.

Cutting speakers out because of their ethnicity is bigotry.

[tritsofme]

27. Sure, but cutting speakers because they support terrible policies and possibly Hamas is just part of being a functional

party.

It’s a stark contrast to Republicans, who fully embrace their crackpots.

[mjvpi]

37. The Palestinian people are not Hamas.

[The Magistrate]

40. No, But the Demonstrators Deouncing 'Killer Kamala' Support Hamas

[mjvpi]

46. They are not who would be speaking. I outdone hope that with almost 100,000 pst........

…….you have faith that the DNC s run by grown ups.

[tritsofme]

47. Of course the DNC is run by grownups, that's why this nonsense isn't happening

[The Magistrate]

53. The Demonstrators' Excesses Make It Political Malpractice

It will be read as giving in to the strident, bizarre crew in the street, as giving in to the demonstrations of open support for Hamas which have flared for months. At this point, the fact that these idiots are attacking Democrats so openly makes the usual identification of left radicals with Democrats hard to pull off. Accommodate them, do something they demand, you own them.

It's too bad. If the 'uncommitted' bloc had done a better job of pressing their case, they would not meet this disdain.

Whiskey Grinder has put up one proposed speech here:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=19369462

It's a good speech.

[Nanjeanne]

63. Uncommitted are not the protestors you are referring to. Uncommitted delegates are Democrats

who were sent to the Convention representing the uncommitted Democratic voters. They sent lists of speakers, agreed to vetting of those speakers and, like all speakers would have the speech approved.

[thucythucy]

65. So are they still uncommitted?

Meaning they refuse to endorse Vice President Harris?

[Nanjeanne]

69. Delegates represent the voters in primaries who sent them there. They don't REFUSE anything.

Harris has won the nomination. She doesn’t need their delegate votes. They are Democrats. They can or cannot vote for her when they get in their private voting booth. They have already stated they want to support the Harris/Walz ticket. They aren’t supporting Trump. But they want engagement in this process. They want to hear more than platitudes. And they deserve it. Even the Israeli family that spoke understood the pain and spoke movingly of the Gazans who are suffering. What these Palestinian Americans are feeling, seeing the destruction of their families homes, the number of relatives dead and maimed, their stories should be told on the same stage.

You don’t have to agree with me. But I’ll stand for what I believe and alongside the many committed delegates, Congresspeople, UAW and more that expressed the same sentiment.

[thucythucy]

71. So these are "unpledged" delegates?

Meaning during the rollcall they did in fact not cast their vote for Vice President Harris?

Just wanting to be clear on this.

[LeftInTX]

66. All 30 of them. Less than 1% of all the delegates.

Maybe we should throw in Marianne Williamson supporters while we're at it.
They could do a crystal demonstration!

Or Dean Phillips supporters? They could create AI generated mock ups of Kamala!

[The Magistrate]

68. Giving The 'Uncommitted' Floor Time Would Be Read As Caving In To The Demonstrations In Support Of Hamas

Neither the inattentive populace or the press make much distinction between the demonstrators and the 'uncommitted' bloc. It is part of our political culture that mainline Democrats are called to answer for left extremists, in ways which Republicans are not called to account for the far right. So long as the demonstrators are so openly vituperative towards Democratic candidates, it's hard to stick this familiar trick. Look like you are accommodating them, you own them, and the familiar ploy will stick.

It is unfortunate the 'uncommitted' bloc played its hand so poorly. It started with threats to hand the Presidency to Trump, and made no attempt to separate itself from the demonstrations in support of Hamas. In fact, figures of the bloc expressed at times agreement with the demonstrators, welcomed them as allies. They could have done a lot better.

[Ping Tung]

44. Palestinian-Americans are an ethnic group not a political group.

I'm Irish American. Should Irish Americans be banned because some of them are gangsters or drunks?

[thucythucy]

64. self deleted

[LeftInTX]

67. Should they have an Irish-American speaker go up there and speak about Ireland?

Should they get up and speak about US/Ireland relations? Should they speak about long simmering tensions about the UK and Ireland?

I'm Armenian, should we get up there and air our grievances? We have plenty of them!!! Just lost a war over there. And there is lots of finger pointing at a certain Democrat over this.

Maybe we should have speakers about US-Japan relations, US-Philippines, US-Australian, US-East Indies, US China,........

I could go on and one, but does anyone want to hear it or do they want to hear Kamala???

They aren't banned, but they aren't going to be pre-empt Kamala's acceptance speech to air their grievances!

They've been airing their grievances for nine months and even put maggots in the delegates food yesterday.

[tritsofme]

72. Huh? You are battling a field of straw men.

No one is saying “let’s ban Palestinian Americans” from speaking, it’s just that we understand that these “demands” are actually about getting the type of people who have been slandering President Biden and VP Harris as “Genocide Joe” and “Killer Kamala” on the stage to cause nonsense theatrics.

They’re not fooling anyone.

It’s more like deciding not to invite someone from the IRA to speak and advocate terrorism.

[stopdiggin]

32. don't be obtuse ...

this has about as much to do with ethnicity - as my grandma driving NASCAR ...

[Ping Tung]

51. Palestinian-Americans are an ethnic group. As far as I know, Granny NASCAR drivers aren't.

[stopdiggin]

54. I recant. Your perspicacity is of boggling dimensions!

( how could I have failed to see .. ? )

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[MarineCombatEngineer]

35. ....

Cutting speakers out because of their ethnicity is bigotry.

This is a bullshit sentence, nobody is cutting them out because of their ethnicity, they're being cut out because of their penchant for calling names like Killer Kamala and Genocide Joe.

Just stop trying to make it something it's not.

[mjvpi]

41. Thank you.

None of the speakers who are being considered are going to call names. Their vetted speeches have been available for a couple of days.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

50. Are these Palestinian speakers going to condemn the terrorist org, HAMAs for their attack on Israel?

Are they going to demand HAMAs release all the remaining hostages whether they're alive or dead?
Are they going to demand that HAMAs stop using civilians and civilian infrastructure for their terrorist ops?
If so, then I would support a Palestinian speaker, until then, no.

[Ping Tung]

49. The OP mentioned asking a Palestinian speaker. There was no mention of Hamas or terrorists.

Or, do you think that all Palestinians are terrorists?

[MarineCombatEngineer]

52. ....

Or, do you think that all Palestinians are terrorists?

Another bullshit sentence, I have never, nor will I ever equate all Palestinians as terrorists.

See post# 50.

[mjvpi]

39. WTF?

[stopdiggin]

26. Nope. Tonight is the night you stand up and say

"Harris is THE person for the job !"

NOT - "Harris is my person - providing she does this, this and this ... "

So - guess this is where you take your ball and go home ... Sorry!

[SocialDemocrat61]

28. Unless the speaker endorses Harris

they don’t get to speak.

[mjvpi]

29. Absolutely yes. Have read the vetted speeches that they are considering. Makes their point and says the only choice...

……is Harris/Walz

[OAITW r.2.0]

30. Tomorrow night would be OK. Give them an entire hour to tell us what we already know.

[NoRethugFriends]

33. 6-27-24. My bot that was a busy day for DU!

[LeftInTX]

34. I think "Dems for Life" should have a last minute speaking spot!

You know the ones who oppose abortion?

Or maybe the few Armenians? We aren't too happy. We have lots grievances to air! No matter who is in, it never goes good for us anyway. (Hmm...sounds like someone else)


Or....Democratic Cubans..or Ranchero Democrats...or Rural Democrats (forgot about the rural Dems) You guys forgot about the rural Dems. Get them a spot now!!!
(Rural Dems are a legit caucus...)

[harumph]

36. surrrrre.

[Cha]

38. NO... This is VP Kamala Harris' Night!

Not the ones who call her Ugly Gaslit names which I will Not mess up this post with.

[Nixie]

60. I agree, Cha. Who knows if this is really what they would say

once they get the mic and the stage. It might be a bait and switch. I wouldn't trust it.

This is a night to celebrate our party and Kamala. It's not a place for political angst. Good vibes only.

Aloha!

[Cha]

61. And it's Settled.. "The Answer is No"...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=19371243

Aloah, Nixie

[LeftInTX]

43. 'The answer is no': Pro-Palestinian delegates say their request for a speaker at DNC was shut down

https://apnews.com/article/uncommitted-palestinian-convention-harris-918812eb0e19b9669f8b9b9cd88c6360

[Cha]

57. Good.. It's Settled. We Need All Hands on Deck for

VP Harris & Gov Walz for their Nomination.

As was said.. this is Not a Platform Night.. it's their Night to be Nominated .

[Polybius]

45. Ok fine, here's the condition:

Have a Palestinian that hates Hamas speak, and make sure that he or she is a big fan of Israel and the IDF. Deal?

[mjvpi]

48. Yes, i agree

[LiberalFighter]

55. I believe the topic of Gaza and Hamas was covered a day or two ago

Those making the demand are ignoring that Biden has been working on the issue. Working to get a peace deal have the hostages released. But they don't care.

[BannonsLiver]

56. This convention isn't about Gaza.

[dalton99a]

58. +1

[ecstatic]

70. the time for that has come and gone. It would have needed to be Mon-Wed

Tonight is about future Madam President Harris and our country's future.

[ismnotwasm]

73. No.