Nancy Pelosi, the former speaker of the House, recently made comments on CNN’s State of the Union that insulted millions of Democratic voters and revealed the ignorance of top Democrats regarding the opposition to Israel’s war on Gaza. Pelosi suggested that critics of the Biden administration’s support for Israel’s assault on Gaza are Russian dupes, and even called for the FBI to investigate anti-war protesters. Her comments were met with criticism and were seen as baseless smears without evidence.
Opposition to the administration’s support for Netanyahu and the war in Gaza is growing among Democrats, as well as among voters that the party needs to attract in the upcoming elections. Many prominent Democrats have argued that the Israeli assault on Gaza has been disproportional and must stop, and over 65 congressional Democrats have called for a cease-fire. There is concern among Democratic strategists that Biden’s stance on the issue could cost him critical support in swing states.
Pelosi’s remarks were criticized by organizations like the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), who called them unsubstantiated smears and authoritarian. The Democratic Party’s leadership is seen as being in disarray, with Mayor Abdullah Hammoud of Dearborn, Michigan, pointing to Pelosi’s comments as evidence.
Overall, Pelosi’s comments have not helped Biden rally the Democratic base and may further estrange voters, especially young people and Arab-Americans, whom the party needs to attract in order to win in November. The ongoing opposition to the administration’s support for Israel’s war on Gaza is a significant issue that could impact the outcome of the upcoming elections.
