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☆ 'Our community has never had this much power': How Dearborn became the epicenter of Biden's 2024 headaches over Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

"It might be the driving force behind the movement, but it's much bigger than Palestine," said Lexis Zeidan, another Uncommitted movement leader. Bryan MetzgerBut while the Arab American community is particularly concentrated in the Detroit area, with implications for 2024 in a closely-watched swing state, there are plenty of Arab American voters scattered in competitive states around the country. But the key to the movement's ongoing success has been coalition-building with other communities, including African American voters, young voters, and progressive Jewish voters. Organizers with the Listen to Michigan campaign following election results during a watch party in Dearborn, Michigan on February 27, 2024. After founding the Arab American Institute in Washington, DC in 1985, he and others worked in the intervening decades to build up Arab American power.

Persons: —, Abdullah Hammoud, Dearborn, it's, Joe Biden's, Bryan Metzger Layla Elabed, Abbas Alawieh, Ann Arbor, Layla, Alawieh, Biden, Nikki Haley, Donald Trump's, Trump, Rashida Tlaib, We've, Bryan Metzger, James Zogby, Andy Levin, who's, Jesse Jackson's, Jackson, Jeff Kowalsky, Hammoud, there's, – Organizations: Service, Business, Democratic, Israel . Movement, Israel, Dearborn, Muslim, Palestinian American, Arab American Institute, African American, Jewish, Arab, Getty, Arab American Institute in, what's, Michigan Muslim Locations: Dearborn , Michigan, United States, Gaza, Dearborn Heights, Hamtramck, Dearborn, Michigan, Ann, Palestine, America, Yemenis, Arab, Detroit, Florida, Virginia, Pennsylvania, AFP, Arab American Institute in Washington , DC

☆ AOC says there's an 'upside' to the anti-Biden movement over Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Uncommitted voters have been refusing to vote for Biden over his support for Israel's war in Gaza. AOC says she's voting for Biden this year — but also sees an "upside" to the uncommitted movement. AdvertisementRep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is not an uncommitted voter herself — but she wants Democrats to recognize the "upside" of the movement. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, who represents the majority-Arab Michigan city of Dearborn, endorsed the movement and cast an uncommitted ballot herself. Other progressives like Ocasio-Cortez have taken a slightly different approach, praising the movement for raising the issue while continuing to support Biden personally.

Persons: Biden, —, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Stephen Colbert, Joe Biden's, Rashida Tlaib, Layla Elabed Organizations: Service, New York Democrat, Democratic, Muslim American, Democratic Party Locations: Gaza, Alexandria, Israel, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arab Michigan, Dearborn, Cortez

☆ 'Uncommitted' Democrats may dump Biden over the war in Gaza. They say it's not their fault if Trump wins.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

AdvertisementFor the leading voices in the uncommitted movement, that's missing the point — and it's insulting. The "Listen to Michigan" campaign was originally conceived in a memo drafted by Waleed Shahid, a progressive strategist and former spokesman for the left-wing group Justice Democrats. "There is an entire menu of things that President Biden could do to move in the direction of discontinuing the funding of the killing," he said. What uncommitted voters are ultimately looking for is a sense of seriousness and clarity that they feel has been lacking from Biden. Uncommitted movement organizers do not seem to be taking glee in embarrassing Biden.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Layla Elabed, Abbas Alawieh, Donald Trump, Mitch Landrieu, uncommitted, Trump, Abdullah Hammoud, Waleed Shahid, Jeff Kowalsky, Rashida Tlaib, —, Cori Bush, Missouri —, Elabed, Mayor Hammoud, that's, Hammoud, haven't, I've, James Zogby, We're, Alawieh, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Andy Levin, Zogby, Ronald Reagan, Menachem Begin, Seth Meyers, he's, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: Service, Democratic, Democratic National Convention, United Nations Relief, Works Agency, Dearborn, Biden, Movement, Michigan, Democrats, Getty, Democratic Party, Trump, Arab American Institute and, Union, UN, Democrat, Israel Locations: Gaza, Detroit, Michigan, Israel, American, United States, Dearborn, AFP, Missouri, Dearborn Heights, Hamtramck, —, Biden's, Arab, Chicago, Paterson, Rafah, Beirut, New York

Layla Elabed, campaign manager for Listen to Michigan, which spearheaded the protest vote against President Biden last week in Michigan. “Elections have a certain amount of momentum,” said Keith Ellison, Minnesota’s Democratic attorney general, who voted for Mr. Biden. Uncommitted Minnesota said it spent about $20,000 on the campaign since beginning last Monday. In Washington, organizers are pushing similar efforts to vote “uncommitted” in the state’s primary next week. It was not our first choice, but we have to let President Biden know that our votes are not to be taken for granted.”Nicholas Nehamas contributed reporting from Minneapolis.

Persons: Layla Elabed, Biden, Israel —, Mr, Uncommitted, Rashida Tlaib, Donald J, Donald Trump, ”, Elianne Farhat, Kamala Harris, “, Lauren Hitt, Cole Harrison, Trump, Keith Ellison, Ellison, Biden’s, Joe Biden, Abdullah Elagha, Harrison, Ilhan Omar, Rania Masri, —, uncommitted, Rami Al, ” Nicholas Nehamas Organizations: Democratic, Democratic National Convention, Somali, Trump, Uncommitted Minnesota, Hamas, Massachusetts Peace, Mr, “, Democratic Party, Colorado Palestine Coalition, Abandon Biden, Republican Party Locations: Michigan, Israel, Gaza, Colorado, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Cambridge, Colorado , Massachusetts, North Carolina, United States, American, Uncommitted Minnesota, In Minnesota, Georgia, Washington, Bothell, Minneapolis

☆ 'Uncommitted' Voters Rebuke Biden Over Israel in Michigan Primary
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewPresident Joe Biden may have handily won the Michigan Democratic primary on Tuesday, but the results came with a significant warning sign for his continued support for Israel. Thousands of voters cast "uncommitted" ballots on Tuesday, opting to essentially leave their ballots blank rather than vote for Biden or his long-shot primary challenger, Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota. It's largely the result of the "Listen to Michigan" campaign, an effort to get voters to withhold support for Biden until Israel enacts a permanent cease-fire in Gaza. Ahead of the Tuesday primary, officials with the Biden campaign had pointed out that around 20,000 voters have opted to select "uncommitted" in recent presidential primary elections — though the circumstances have varied. "Uncommitted" accounted for less than 2% of the vote in recent competitive primaries, including 19,106 uncommitted voters in 2020, and 21,601 in 2016.

Persons: —, Joe Biden, Biden, Dean Phillips, It's, Layla Elabed, Rashida Tlaib, Tlaib, Elabed, it's, Donald Trump, Abbas Alawieh, Barack Obama, Obama, Hillary Clinton Organizations: Service, Michigan Democratic, Israel, Dean Phillips of, Business, Biden, Democratic Rep, Democratic, Michigan Democrats, Trump, Democratic Party Locations: Dean Phillips of Minnesota, Michigan, Israel, Gaza, Dearborn, Detroit

☆ Over 100,000 voters rejected Biden and chose 'uncommitted' in Michigan. Here's how that stacks up against recent Democratic primaries.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewOver 100,000 Michigan voters marked "uncommitted" on their ballots in Tuesday's Democratic primary. AdvertisementTo put Tuesday's results into perspective, it's worth considering recent Democratic primaries in the state. 2012: As President Barack Obama sought reelection, 20,833 voters chose "uncommitted," accounting for 10.7% of the vote. Officials with the Biden campaign have pointed toward this result, given that it's the last time a Democratic president faced an uncompetitive reelection. 2008: The "uncommitted" vote share was far higher this year — 238,168 votes, or 40% overall — because Obama did not appear on the ballot amid a competitive race against Hillary Clinton.

Persons: —, Joe Biden's, Marianne Williamson, Dean Phillips, Biden, Israel —, Donald Trump's, Barack Obama, uncommitted, Obama, Hillary Clinton, it's, Layla Elabed —, Rashida Tlaib — Organizations: Service, Democratic, Dean Phillips of Minnesota, Biden, Israel, Business, Democratic National Committee, Nevada and, Trump, Clinton, Democratic National Convention, Michigan Locations: Michigan, Nevada, Nevada and South Carolina, Clinton . Michigan, Israel, Chicago, Dearborn, Gaza

☆ Biden and Trump win Michigan primaries
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Eric Bradner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump won their respective parties’ primaries in Michigan on Tuesday. “We demand President Biden to take action now – bring a permanent ceasefire,” said Layla Elabed, the campaign manager for the group. The Michigan primary was moved up near the front of the Democratic presidential nominating calendar this year. Biden defeated Trump in Michigan by about 150,000 votes four years later. After Democrats, who control the state Legislature and the governor’s office, moved the Michigan primary to February 27 despite the Republican opposition, the RNC and Michigan GOP came up with the hybrid model.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, Trump’s, Nikki Haley’s, “, ”, Rashida Tlaib, Andy Levin, Vermont Sen, Bernie Sanders ’, Sanders, Layla Elabed, ” Biden, ” Elabed, It’s, Gretchen Whitmer, you’ve, Trump, —, Pete Hoekstra, Kristina Karamo, Hoekstra, CNN’s Arit John, Dianne Gallagher, Jeff Zeleny Organizations: CNN, Democratic, South Carolina Gov, Muslim, Michigan Rep, America, Trump, Michigan, White House, Biden, Israel, Michigan —, United Auto Workers, UAW, Michigan GOP, Michigan Republicans, Republican, Committee, RNC Locations: Michigan, Gaza, Vermont, Iowa, New Hampshire, Dearborn, United States, Palestinian American, — demoting Iowa, South Carolina, Nevada, Netherlands, Grand Rapids, Detroit

Michigan is home to the largest percentage of Arab American voters of any state. On Tuesday, Democratic voters there are heading to the polls for the primary — and the Listen to Michigan movement is encouraging them to vote “uncommitted” rather than for President Biden. The movement’s activists want Biden to call for a cease-fire and end military funding to Israel. The columnist Michelle Goldberg traveled to Dearborn, Mich., and in this audio essay meets with Layla Elabed, Listen to Michigan’s campaign manager, hoping to understand the activists’ aims and what Democrats need to do to win back their support. (A full transcript of this audio essay will be available within 24 hours of publication in the audio player above.)

Persons: uncommitted, Biden, Michelle Goldberg, Layla Elabed Organizations: Michigan, Arab, Democratic Locations: Michigan, Israel, Dearborn, Mich

☆ What to watch for in the Michigan presidential primaries
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Gregory Krieg | Eric Bradner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

“This is not an anti-Biden campaign,” Layla Elabed, a leader of the Listen to Michigan campaign, told CNN. Here’s what to watch for in Michigan:The first ballot test of Biden’s Israel strategyJust how committed are Michigan Democrats to Biden? Republicans opposed an earlier Michigan primary, and it violated Republican National Committee rules limiting which states can hold contests before March 1. After Democrats who control the legislature and the governor’s office moved the Michigan primary to February 27 despite GOP opposition, the RNC and Michigan GOP came up with the hybrid model. Tests for Biden, Trump in key stateThe drama within both the Democratic and Republican contests is playing out in one of the nation’s most important presidential swing states.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Israel –, Health –, Israel, Biden, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, uncommitted, ” Layla Elabed, “, It’s, ”, Nikki Haley, Trump, –, Haley, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Netanyahu, Abdullah Hammoud, Joe Biden, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, ” Hammoud, Biden –, ” Biden, Seth Meyers, “ We’re, it’s, —, Pete Hoekstra, Kristina Karamo, Hoekstra, Gretchen Whitmer Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Health, Biden, Republican, Trump, South Carolina Gov, Republicans ’, GOP, Michigan Democrats, Gaza’s Ministry of Health, United Nations, White, Dearborn, New York Times, ” Movement, ” CNN, Michigan Republican, Michigan, Republicans, Committee, RNC, Michigan GOP, Democratic, United Auto Workers, Black Locations: Michigan, Gaza, Dearborn, South Carolina, Israel, United States, Trump, — demoting Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin

☆ Arab American Democrats push for ‘uncommitted’ vote in Michigan primary to send message to Biden about Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Arit John | Dianne Gallagher | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

They drew inspiration from the state’s 2008 Democratic primary, when “uncommitted” came in second place to Hillary Clinton with more than 40% of the vote. “The President is working hard to earn every vote in Michigan,” a Biden campaign spokesperson said in a statement. In recent weeks, the Biden administration has stressed its efforts to get humanitarian aid into Gaza and sharpened its tone toward Israel. Feelings of betrayal and guiltFor many Arab and Muslim Americans in Michigan, the push to vote uncommitted and promote a ceasefire is deeply personal. As she closed her remarks, Seikaly criticized the Biden administration for vetoing the recent UN Security Council ceasefire resolution.

Persons: Michigan CNN — Layla Elabed isn’t, Joe Biden, Biden, she’s, “, Elabed, ”, Rashida Tlaib, ” Elabed, It’s, Andy Levin, Donald Trump, “ uncommitted ”, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards, Rebecca Cook, ” Lavora Barnes, what’s, ” Barnes, it’s, Abbas Alawieh, Benjamin ] Netanyahu’s, ” Levin, there’s, Netanyahu, Israel, Seikaly, Sylvie Yaacoub, she’d, ” CNN’s Jade Gordon Organizations: Michigan CNN, Palestinian American, Michigan Democrat, Democratic, Wolverine State, Democratic Party, Michigan Rep, Palestinian, Biden, US, Volunteers, Democratic National Committee, Reuters, Michigan Democrats, Trump, Michigan Democratic Party, American, Israel, The New York Times, UN, Muslim, Detroit’s Wayne State University, UN Security, Michigan Locations: Dearborn, Michigan, Gaza, Israel, Wolverine, It’s, Palestinian American, Hamtramck , Michigan, Rafah

☆ Opinion | Will Gaza Cost Biden Re-election?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Michelle Goldberg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

As infuriated as she is by Joe Biden’s stalwart support for Israel, Layla Elabed has not ruled out voting for him in November. A progressive Palestinian American community organizer in Dearborn, Mich., a majority Arab American city near Detroit, she doesn’t want to see Donald Trump back in office. “Donald Trump has never been a friend to our community,” she told me as we sat in an airy, modern Yemeni coffee shop. “We’re looking at unprecedented times where we are watching a genocide unfold in front of our eyes,” said Elabed. That’s why Elabed is managing the Listen to Michigan campaign, which is organizing to get people to protest Biden’s handling of the war by voting “uncommitted” in Tuesday’s Democratic primary.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Layla Elabed, Donald Trump, “ Donald Trump, ”, Biden, Rashida Tlaib, it’s, Elabed, uncommitted Organizations: Israel, Democratic, Republican Locations: Israel, American, Dearborn, Mich, Detroit, Gaza, Michigan

☆ Rashida Tlaib endorses campaign to vote against Joe Biden in the Michigan Democratic primary
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Alex Nicoll | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A campaign to get Michigan Democrats to vote against incumbent President Joe Biden in the state's February 27 primary has just gained a new supporter, Rep. Rashida Tlaib. Now, she's joining a campaign led by her sister to turn that disappointment in the Biden administration into an "uncommitted" vote in the upcoming Michigan primary, Tlaib said in a video posted to the X account of the campaign Listen To Michigan on February 17. The campaign, Listen to Michigan, is an effort to earn Biden's backing for a cease-fire in Israel's war in Gaza by having Democrats vote "uncommitted" in the Michigan primary. Now, speaking from an early voting site in Michigan, she's telling her constituents to vote against the president directly. "If you want us to be louder then come here and vote uncommitted," Tlaib said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Rashida Tlaib, Tlaib, she's, Biden, hasn't, Layla Elabed, Hillary Clinton, Dean Phillips, Tlaib's Organizations: Michigan Democrats, Israel, Biden's, Biden White House, Michigan, Trump, Biden, AP, Minnesota Rep, UAW Locations: Michigan, Gaza, Dearborn, Detroit, Biden's Michigan, Eastern, Israel

☆ Why Rashida Tlaib's sister is trying to get voters to choose 'uncommitted' over Biden in the Michigan Democratic primary
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewAs President Joe Biden faces fresh questions related to his age and memory , another point of pressure is brewing in the battleground state of Michigan. Elabed is Tlaib’s younger sister, while Alawieh was once a top staffer to the Michigan congresswoman. Today, I’m joining 30+ of my elected colleagues from across SE Michigan in pledging to cast an “Uncommitted” vote in the upcoming presidential primary election. Uncommitted Michigan Democrats opposed to Biden’s policy in Gaza can demonstrate that we hold his margin of victory for re-election,” reads the group’s website . “Senior Biden officials were talking about the mistakes as more of a messaging problem,” said Alawieh.

Persons: —, Joe Biden, Biden, ”, Layla Elabed, Abbas Alawieh, Alawieh, “, Rashida Tlaib, Elabed, Tlaib, Tlaib’s, I’m, — Abdullah H, “ Trump, “ Biden, Robert Hur’s Organizations: Service, Business, Michigan Democrats, Democratic Rep, American, Democratic, Muslim, Michigan, Uncommitted Michigan, Biden White, Biden, United Locations: Michigan, Gaza, Israel, “, Dearborn, Detroit, Palestinian, Lebanon, Dearborn Heights, Hamtramck, United States

☆ Biden's biggest problem in 2024 isn't age or a shaky memory. It's the war in Israel.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementBut among rank-and-file Democratic voters, the situation is far more dire and could threaten Biden's chances of being reelected next November. According to one recent poll, 50% of Democrats believe Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. While many Democrats who believe that may be willing to support Biden anyway, there's a sizeable portion who may decline to support Biden's reelection. In contrast to questions about Israel, top Democrats have quickly moved to dismiss questions about the special counsel report.

Persons: —, Joe Biden, Biden, Abdel Fattah el, he's, Israel, Donald Trump, Trump, Layla Elabed, Rashida, Abbas Alawieh, James Comey, Hillary Clinton's Organizations: Service, Business, Democratic, Biden, Democratic Rep, Israel Locations: Gaza, Mexico, Israel, Michigan, Israel . Michigan

☆ Group in Michigan Urges Protest Vote Against Biden Over Israel-Gaza War
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Reid J. Epstein | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The effort, called Listen to Michigan, is set to be formally announced on Tuesday. The campaign’s budget will be $250,000 and will include digital advertising, direct mail and phone and text banking to contact supporters, Ms. Elabed said. There is a history of Michigan Democrats using Uncommitted as a protest vote. In 2008, when Michigan defied Democratic National Committee rules by moving its primary up in the nominating calendar, Barack Obama’s campaign urged supporters to vote for Uncommitted against Hillary Clinton. In that contest, 40 percent of Democratic primary voters chose Uncommitted against Mrs. Clinton and three other candidates.

Persons: Biden’s, Biden, Layla Elabed, Rashida Tlaib, Elabed, “, ”, “ Tell Biden, Barack Obama’s, Hillary Clinton, Clinton Organizations: Uncommitted, Michigan Democrats, Michigan, Democratic Locations: Michigan, Israel, Dearborn, Mich

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