Michigan Race: Sanders Criticizes GOP Attacks on El-Sayed
The Vermont independent argues that Republican surrogates are relying on fearmongering ads and religious identity to undermine the Democratic candidate's campaign.
By Gabriela Ivanov ·
Senator Bernie Sanders joined the Michigan Senate race to challenge the Republican narrative targeting Abdul El-Sayed.
Sanders characterized the recent comments from Republican surrogates as overt racism that should appall every decent American. He specifically named President Trump, Ted Cruz, and J.D. Vance as contributors to what he described as disgusting rhetoric. The campaign has accused El-Sayed of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood, a group certain chapters of which the Trump administration designated as terrorist organizations earlier this year.
El-Sayed, a medical doctor who would become the first Muslim senator if elected, has denied any connection to the Muslim Brotherhood. He has publicly condemned the attacks while Sanders praised his performance. Sanders stated that El-Sayed is running an extraordinary campaign and predicted a victory because voters will rebel against the ugliness of the opposition.
The Vermont independent also attacked the television advertisements currently airing in the state. He said he has never seen such fearmongering ads in his life. The commercials refer to El-Sayed as a terrorist and a jihadist. Sanders called it a disgrace for any Republican to stand behind such materials.
Internal Democratic tensions have emerged between El-Sayed and former primary opponent Representative Haley Stevens. Stevens asked El-Sayed last week to condemn an outside group's ad linking U.S. military aid to Israel with rising grocery prices. She labeled the ad antisemitic. El-Sayed responded by accusing her of relitigating a primary that ended three months ago. He reiterated on Saturday that he did not make the ad and disagrees with its contents.
Sanders acknowledged the rift but suggested that voters understand the bigger picture. He noted that Stevens lost a very close primary and that Michiganders can tolerate minor disagreements. He argued that residents are standing with El-Sayed to oppose Mike Rogers, whom Sanders described as a rubber stamp for the Trump administration.
Shortly after Sanders spoke, Stevens said she does not belong in El-Sayed's campaign. She stated that the ballot question is about who Michiganders are, asserting that the state is not defined by hate. On Sunday, El-Sayed did not name Stevens but said the state of 10 million people deserves better from their government. He added that he is focused on the 9,999,998 people who are not making headlines.
During an interview on Face the Nation, Sanders addressed the specific issue of Israel policy. He referenced his own Jewish heritage and his father's family, which was wiped out by Hitler. He stated that antisemitism is a dangerous ideology that has killed millions of lives. Sanders argued that criticizing a right-wing government in Israel is not the same as being antisemitic. He maintained that American taxpayers should not support that government and that this critique does not reflect the nature of the religion of the people in that country.
