It would be pretty difficult to do that considering the US government has been giving Israel billions a year in aid a long time before Joe Biden was President, and the vast majority of other US politicians support Israel as well. But sure, blame it on Biden I guess, maybe we can elect Trump, who will probably be asking his staff “why can’t we just kill all the Palestinians with the nuclear?”
There’s a lot Biden could have done- and a fair amount that he could simply have not done.
Like, he could not vow unconditional support for genocidal maniacs. but, you know, details are unimportant. That other politicians also support Israel doesn’t mean it’s inappropriate to call Biden out for that.
It’s such a crappy situation that there’s no way he could win. Anything other than siding with Israel would lead to claims of anti-semitism and criticism from the very powerful Isreal lobby, not to mention Republicans. A more nuanced position would be better, sure, but I don’t know how politically feasible it is in the US. We can definitely criticize Biden but “Genocide Joe” always strikes as stupid especially since it’s bashing Biden at a time when making him less popular would give us Genocide Donald, who would clearly be so much worse.
Anything other than siding with Israel would lead to claims of anti-semitism and criticism from the very powerful Isreal lobby, not to mention Republicans.
I’m not sure of that actually.
By far not all American Jews are Israel supporters in this case.
Not all Republicans as well.
There needs to be some way to raise their voice for those who are heavily against what’s happening, which will give such a turn lots of supporters.
And, of course, I hope you do understand that people yelling about anti-semitism in this case are different from people yelling about “white genocide” in only one aspect - they are defending mass murder happening right now, while the latter are just relatively harmless racists.
Only if you assume his sole objective is to selfishly hold on to power by being re-elected, which is admittedly not necessarily inaccurate. If he cared about saving people instead of furthering his own interests, he could take the political L to actually fucking save people. He’s already president, there is no higher position he could go for next to enact even more change.
“It’s okay that your president supports genocide because like, it could be worse and like, people might say mean things.”
Is that even really an argument? I don’t think accusations of antisemitism hold much water when the accusers are using it to literally defend genocide. Biden decided to run for (and won,) the presidency. He can put his big boy pants on and serve Americans and our interests. Or… he could continue to serve the interests of foreign governments.
As you say, he’s gonna catch flak either way. Might as well be on the right side of history.
Where do you get “people might say mean things”? One of those reductions where someone acts like Trump being derogatory, inflammatory, thin skinned, insulting and lying is just silly little ‘mean things’? Obviously I mean that Trumps’ actions would be the same or worse, not ‘saying mean things’, though that is also significant. His inflammatory rhetoric and inconsistency does affect international relations.
Anyway, it’s hard to find a national politician in the US who doesn’t side with Israel. I agree it would be nice if Biden took a more neutral stance, but Congress are the ones who appropriate money for Israel, not the President.
Anything other than siding with Israel would lead to claims of anti-semitism and criticism from the very powerful Isreal lobby, not to mention Republicans
we all know that the accusations of antisemitism- in this case- are blatant bullshit.
Anyway, it’s hard to find a national politician in the US who doesn’t side with Israel. I agree it would be nice if Biden took a more neutral stance, but Congress are the ones who appropriate money for Israel, not the President.
As for appropriations, once again: that other people support genocidal behavior in a foreign goverment does not justify the president also supporting said genocidal behavior. We can hold everyone to higher standards. as for how hard it is to find politicians that don’t… it’s actually not that hard. There’s more out there than you seem to think. Cori Bush, André Carson, Jesús García, Raúl Grijalva, Marie Newman, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, and Rashida Tlaib, all voted against funding on the oct. 10th. Also Thomas Massie, though his explanation was that he’s opposed to all foreign aid…
There’s also growing calls by other politicans to not provide military support but continue other forms of aid (notably humanitarian aid).
I agree he can do more, but at this stage Israel is feeling so impudent and even if Biden tells them to stop, they will continue with what they are doing without a hitch.
Hey Bibi, I’ll be shutting down your supply of iron dome missiles, shutting your access to the US arms stockpiles in Israel and cutting off all US money going into the country unless you stop your bombing campaign against the Palestinians in Gaza.
Try that script in a phone call and see how long the bombing continues.
They can’t. Israel is very much dependent on US direct and indirect aid (See: the US going all over the place getting Arab countries to naturalize relations with them) to survive.
It would be pretty difficult to do that considering the US government has been giving Israel billions a year in aid a long time before Joe Biden was President, and the vast majority of other US politicians support Israel as well. But sure, blame it on Biden I guess, maybe we can elect Trump, who will probably be asking his staff “why can’t we just kill all the Palestinians with the nuclear?”
There’s a lot Biden could have done- and a fair amount that he could simply have not done.
Like, he could not vow unconditional support for genocidal maniacs. but, you know, details are unimportant. That other politicians also support Israel doesn’t mean it’s inappropriate to call Biden out for that.
It’s such a crappy situation that there’s no way he could win. Anything other than siding with Israel would lead to claims of anti-semitism and criticism from the very powerful Isreal lobby, not to mention Republicans. A more nuanced position would be better, sure, but I don’t know how politically feasible it is in the US. We can definitely criticize Biden but “Genocide Joe” always strikes as stupid especially since it’s bashing Biden at a time when making him less popular would give us Genocide Donald, who would clearly be so much worse.
I’m not sure of that actually.
By far not all American Jews are Israel supporters in this case.
Not all Republicans as well.
There needs to be some way to raise their voice for those who are heavily against what’s happening, which will give such a turn lots of supporters.
And, of course, I hope you do understand that people yelling about anti-semitism in this case are different from people yelling about “white genocide” in only one aspect - they are defending mass murder happening right now, while the latter are just relatively harmless racists.
Only if you assume his sole objective is to selfishly hold on to power by being re-elected, which is admittedly not necessarily inaccurate. If he cared about saving people instead of furthering his own interests, he could take the political L to actually fucking save people. He’s already president, there is no higher position he could go for next to enact even more change.
“It’s okay that your president supports genocide because like, it could be worse and like, people might say mean things.”
Is that even really an argument? I don’t think accusations of antisemitism hold much water when the accusers are using it to literally defend genocide. Biden decided to run for (and won,) the presidency. He can put his big boy pants on and serve Americans and our interests. Or… he could continue to serve the interests of foreign governments.
As you say, he’s gonna catch flak either way. Might as well be on the right side of history.
Where do you get “people might say mean things”? One of those reductions where someone acts like Trump being derogatory, inflammatory, thin skinned, insulting and lying is just silly little ‘mean things’? Obviously I mean that Trumps’ actions would be the same or worse, not ‘saying mean things’, though that is also significant. His inflammatory rhetoric and inconsistency does affect international relations.
Anyway, it’s hard to find a national politician in the US who doesn’t side with Israel. I agree it would be nice if Biden took a more neutral stance, but Congress are the ones who appropriate money for Israel, not the President.
we all know that the accusations of antisemitism- in this case- are blatant bullshit.
As for appropriations, once again: that other people support genocidal behavior in a foreign goverment does not justify the president also supporting said genocidal behavior. We can hold everyone to higher standards. as for how hard it is to find politicians that don’t… it’s actually not that hard. There’s more out there than you seem to think. Cori Bush, André Carson, Jesús García, Raúl Grijalva, Marie Newman, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, and Rashida Tlaib, all voted against funding on the oct. 10th. Also Thomas Massie, though his explanation was that he’s opposed to all foreign aid…
There’s also growing calls by other politicans to not provide military support but continue other forms of aid (notably humanitarian aid).
Reagan stopped the bombing of West Beirut with a phone call.
The situation reaching this stage is uniquely Biden’s fault.
People often give that Reagan example but it doesn’t even remotely prove that Biden could stop it, in a different situation 40 years later.
It means he could’ve done more than what he’s doing right now. A lot more. He’s not obligated by anything to support Israel’s genocide.
I agree he can do more, but at this stage Israel is feeling so impudent and even if Biden tells them to stop, they will continue with what they are doing without a hitch.
Hey Bibi, I’ll be shutting down your supply of iron dome missiles, shutting your access to the US arms stockpiles in Israel and cutting off all US money going into the country unless you stop your bombing campaign against the Palestinians in Gaza.
Try that script in a phone call and see how long the bombing continues.
They can’t. Israel is very much dependent on US direct and indirect aid (See: the US going all over the place getting Arab countries to naturalize relations with them) to survive.