Gretchen Whitmer responds to calls by some Democrats to vote ā€˜uncommittedā€™ in Michiganā€™s primary on Tuesday

Gretchen Whitmer, the Michigan governor, pushed back on calls to not vote for Joe Biden over his handling of the Israel-Gaza conflict, saying on Sunday that could help Trump get re-elected.

ā€œItā€™s important not to lose sight of the fact that any vote thatā€™s not cast for Joe Biden supports a second Trump term,ā€ she said on Sunday during an interview on CNNā€™s State of the Union. ā€œA second Trump term would be devastating. Not just on fundamental rights, not just on our democracy here at home, but also when it comes to foreign policy. This was a man who promoted a Muslim ban.ā€

Whitmer, who is a co-chair of Bidenā€™s 2024 campaign, also said she wasnā€™t sure what to expect when it came to the protest vote.

Rashida Tlaib, a Democrat who is the only Palestinian-American serving in Congress, urged Democrats last week to vote ā€œuncommittedā€ in Michiganā€™s 27 February primary.

  • Hadriscus@lemm.ee
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    9 months ago

    Youā€™ll just be forfeiting your vote. The same reasoning can be heard in any country come election time, but in truth youā€™re only making a gesture and its effects are contained in your mind. If you donā€™t vote, even though all you said is true, this election system is a sham, etc. youā€™re still helping Trump in the short term and the harm he will do to women, foreigners, anybody whoā€™s not rich, and the american society at large. Gestures, symbols and statements are good, but not at this price. I live across the world but if I could vote in the american elections, I would, and Iā€™m not even part of any of these endangered demographics. I suppose you arenā€™t either ?

    • Clubbing4198@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      I am an intersection of multiple demographics you mentioned and if you were any of them, you would know that biden and the democratic party has not done anything meaningful for any of them. Roe couldā€™ve been codified, but he didnā€™t. biden couldā€™ve expand the court and add new justices, but he didnā€™t. biden couldā€™ve already secured a cease fire, but he hasnā€™t. biden spat on the rail workers asking for one week sick pay. said nope, fuck you. he also has done practically nothing about amazons union busting. biden didnā€™t give a shit about east palestine. flint michigan still doesnā€™t have clean water. he could be creating legislation to protect trans kids and adults, but doesnā€™t care. so what exactly is your argument about the oppressed demographics having better lives under democrats?

    • Clubbing4198@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      And furthermore, it is not just a gesture. Or at least its as much of a gesture as voting. Its effects are demonstrably not just ā€œcontained in my mindā€ because it is having an obvious effect on you and judging by the 16 upvotes on the comment, perhaps I have inspired or emboldened people to be just as critical as I am being. But you will say we are stupid or foolish or whatever you need to say. I say the fool is the one that continues to perform the same behaviour with no results and then tries to convince people to not do anything different. Look how worried they are of losing their power that they have to tell people that if you donā€™t vote for us, its back to the trump. what a lovely threat from the people that supposedly care about us more than trump. i know they donā€™t, i know trump doesnā€™t care. they donā€™t answer to us and you know it.