Staff Reports
Minnesota’s Gov. Tim Walz is finding himself in hot water, not just because of the cold winters. As the Democratic vice presidential pick, he’s caught the attention of a group that has taken it upon themselves to hold his feet to the fire regarding foreign policy—and they’re not just playing around with garden-variety complaints. These Muslim and Arab-American leaders, who conveniently call themselves Abandon Biden, are worried that Walz won’t bring the heat required to secure a cease-fire in the chaotic Middle East.
It seems the group is a bit miffed, claiming that the Democratic Party is all flash and no substance, particularly regarding foreign dealings that also throw dominoes down onto the home front. They worry the party relies more on the superficial allure of change rather than a solid plan that actually addresses the complex issues—they’re essentially calling Walz a political mannequin, someone who looks the part but lacks the mojo to make real moves, especially concerning foreign policy that reverberates domestically.
This video has a potential of becoming so branded into the minds of Arab and Muslim Americans across Michigan that we will point back to it in history books.
In order to prevent that, @KamalaHarris had to somehow do something to completely negate it.
— Rafael Shimunov (@rafaelshimunov) August 8, 2024
Abandon Biden began their efforts after Hamas unleashed terror on Israel last October, which triggered a cascade reaction, including Israel’s counteroffensive in Gaza. This did not sit well with the group, which began shouting about humanitarian crises and accusing Biden of sitting on his hands while the clock ticked down on devastation. They seem to believe that if Walz was to become the vice president, he’d need to step up and demand peace faster than a kid who just ate too much candy.
Meanwhile, Walz’s cautious approach might not be winning him any fans in this new coalition. They’re hoping he will become their champion, pushing for peace and solutions but aren’t exactly holding their breath. This made for an awkward moment when Walz canceled a meeting intended for Palestinian groups after finding out they planned to make a racket about policy changes. Perhaps he realized he wasn’t ready to deal with the kind of demands that could end up on a 10 o’clock news segment.
Adding to the theatrics, during this year’s Democratic primary in Minnesota, a surprising 18% of voters opted for the “uncommitted” option rather than pledging loyalty to Biden. Walz warned against criticizing these voters, implying that their concerns were valid, yet when push came to shove, he wasn’t ready to wade into the deep end either. It appears that for all intents and purposes, if this vice presidential candidacy were a high school dance, Walz would be the one awkwardly shifting from foot to foot on the sidelines. So while Walz finds himself balancing on this political tightrope, the electorate continues to wonder if he will ever decide whether to take the leap.
