• Stovetop@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    Mainly just due to the recency and severity of the conflict in Gaza, and the fact that it’s an election year. Americans never cared when Israeli soldiers routinely dehumanized, murdered, and raped Palestinians in small numbers here and there, but the widespread media coverage of the conflict in Palestine has helped shape public opinion to recognize the incredibly disproportionate response on the part of Israel to the Oct. 7 attacks.

    Biden is reaffirming the US’s long-held stance on Israel, but it is a stance that is becoming less popular with many who disagree with what Israel is doing. Michigan in particular has a high population of Muslims who turned out in large numbers to oppose Biden, which is why this managed to become newsworthy.

    I would also wager a good chunk of this narrative (certainly not all or even the majority, but a good chunk) is likely promoted by Republican-aligned groups who are using this momentum to discourage people on the fence from voting for Biden in the general to help secure a Trump win. Notably a lot of news coverage I’ve seen lately featured people confirming their plan to vote for Trump, rather than vote for no one, because of Biden’s stance on Israel.

    Trump himself is remaining relatively tight-lipped about his stance on Israel during this election cycle, despite being a vocal ally of Netanyahu during his previous term, to try to keep the dialog focused on Biden. But it is expected he will continue support for Israel, or even escalate it, due to his previous amicable relationship with Israel and based on how much his voter base likes to dehumanize Muslims (blocking all Muslims from entering the US was an early campaign promise of his in 2016).

    • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      No. We cared. It’s just really hard to get anyone to look at the issue when the standard media line was, lol brown people terrorists.

      Progressives who pay attention to international politics have been yelling from the rooftops about Israel’s Apartheid tactics for at least 2 decades.

    • go_go_gadget@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      and the fact that it’s an election year

      It’s the only time moderate Democrats actually have to listen to progressives, leftists and anyone who isn’t a moderate. The discussions dying down after the elections isn’t by our choice, it’s just that the moderates stop engaging once they have what they need from us.

      • Stovetop@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        If only. No matter how much we shout, the only people that end up elected are moderates. But what is the alternative?

        • go_go_gadget@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          Personally I will be voting 3rd party or write in. Moderates can’t keep expecting me to vote for their trash candidates.

          • Stovetop@lemmy.world
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            9 months ago

            Just out of curiosity, since we know a third party candidate will never win, are you indifferent to the results of the election otherwise?

            • go_go_gadget@lemmy.world
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              9 months ago

              If my opinion on Biden’s policies isn’t relevant enough to warrant change then my opinion on who wins is just as irrelevant. It can’t be both ways.