The concerns from the left are symptomatic of a movement that has grown understandably disillusioned with electoral politics. Some of the critics are likely worried that New Yorkers who turned out in droves to support Mamdani this summer have been hoodwinked by another Democrat voicing sympathy for the Palestinian cause when it’s politically convenient while trying at the same time to please his pro-Israel detractors.
Mamdani’s responses, though, have reinforced the frustrations of many pro-Palestine advocates on the left — that ceding ground on what constitutes acceptable speech on Palestine puts the entire campaign to end both Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land and its genocide in Gaza at risk.
The question of whether a rising star like Mamdani can effectively stake out a pro-Palestine stance while succeeding in mainstream electoral politics is high on many Democrats’ minds. A growing part of the party’s base is refusing to support candidates who cave to pro-Israel pressure campaigns. And a growing number of Democrats, including recipients of money from the country’s leading pro-Israel lobby, are calling on the U.S. to stop sending offensive weapons to Israel.
The debate over Mamdani’s candidacy highlights the ongoing identity crisis within the Democratic Party as he seeks to toe the line on Israel.
The DNC chair is all about him…
Random neoliberal dinosaurs clinging onto office don’t like Mamdani, but they won’t last many more primaries without the DNC extorting state parties to make them but thumbs on scales.
NY’s state party is one of the worst. But even they can’t stop Mamdani and other progressives on their own. They can’t even stop AOC when there was a corrupt DNC.
I’m just curious if Mamdani will able to live up to any of his campaign promises if elected.
The mayor of NYC is considered one of the most powerful mayoral positions in the world both because it’s NYC and because they actually have significant direct control, including the power of the purse.
We’ll see what happens but it’s not a situation that allows lame ducks in office… In theory.
I’m optimisticly pessimistic.
Last time I checked the left have been declared terrorists. This is literally McCarthyism 2.0 right now.
But sure, let’s purity test Mamdani and wring our hands about whether giving Palestinians some rights is politically viable.
I have a possible solution. Ban all political donations from foreign entities. Eliminate all the loop holes. It is disgusting they are allowed to funnel money to our politicians.
Indeed, because then we inevitably get stuck with more conservative Democrats whose allegiance to Israel (via AIPAC) supersedes allegiance to their own country.
that’s because the extreme left is just as crazy as the extreme right.
on both sides the only answer they seek is the total and complete extermination of anyone not “them”.
I mean, fuck conservatives but I’m not going to destroy my best chances at stability by trying to demonize everyone.