Instead of pivoting to the people and issues that will determine the outcome of the election, Abdul El-Sayed still seems to be running a primary campaign.
I agree with others here, Thomas. You missed the mark with this one. Not only should politicians be pushed to handle hostile news coverage, but it should be a requirement. Abdul not only embarrassed Jesse Watters, but brought a simple message to the Fox News audience: money out of politics, money in your pockets, and Medicare for all.
Tom, You call it performative, maybe so. But there’s another side. He walked into the enemy’s camp to show he could stand his ground. Politics is national by nature. What hits the party anywhere hits all of us, sooner or later.
I think you are right on this. Watters et al. had been working to frame him as a scary monster that must be fought at all costs. By going on Fox News and standing his ground without freaking out he disarms that charge. It also gives him a chance to reach people who would otherwise not hear from him only about him. While I agree there is a risk in making it all about him I think that showing he can go into the Lion's den and be clear and engaging is actually quite beneficial.
Oddly enough many people laud Pete Buttigeg for doing the exact same thing.
Your advice is sensible, Thomas. My best friend from high school, NC native, lives in Michigan. He usually votes Democratic, but is undecided in the Michigan Senate race. El-Sayed strikes him as an egotist, more interested in his own voice than in listening to the needs of the people. It really isnt about democratic socialism as my friend voted for Bernie Sanders in 2016 against HRC. If El-Sayed doesn't earn my friend's vote, my take is he loses.
Abdul is the real thing…he’s run a great campaign.. to take it to Fox was a no fear move…the young voters love it…Watters is still talking about it today…Labor Day is the traditional start of election season…just wait you will eat your words…
Frankly, I like the man and see no reason for anyone to criticize the campaign he’s running. It’s Michigan; not North Carolina so why is anyone here bothered? I also like many of the more progressive ideas that he’s running on. That doesn’t mean I’m going to not vote for Roy Cooper who is more traditional. Let’s mind our own business and do all we can to get as many Democrats in North Carolina elected as possible.
Stop being a wet blanket. He is not a candidate in NC because he can’t get elected in our state. He is a well qualified, articulate candidate from Wisconsin. Going on Fox gave him wide exposure. He represented himself well and the interviewer didn’t get a gotcha quote.
Give your attention to helping NC Democrat candidates win.
I disagree. It's the press who can't get enough of El-Sayed, fearful he is going to blow it for Democrats. The press picks which issues to write about it and ignore his kitchen-table solutions.
Fox News is on in the waiting rooms of a lot of car shops, gyms and other working-class operations, reaching people who don't normally watch the news.
Democrats are looking for attack dogs, not great debaters like Obama or Schumer. At least I am. I was impressed with El-Sayed's not taking Jesse Waters' bait of cultural issues or foreign affairs, and instead chastised him for not asking about the issues you stated.
Pete Buttigieg got a lot of kudos for going on Fox News during the Biden years and challenging the caricature conservatives paint of Democrats, and I think El-Sayed is doing the same.
Thomas, you missed the point big time the number one issue dealing with affordability on voters minds not just in America but in Michigan is Healthcare. Healthcare. Healthcare access to affordability of and high-quality healthcare. That’s a kitchen table issue over and over and over. And the issue isn’t more money for Healthcare but more Healthcare for the amount of money we’re spending finally we have a politician or shall I say a real Democrat who’s willing to talk about universal healthcare Medicare for all.
Strong disagree (about your first sentence), Thomas spent his career working for and helping elect Democrats all over the state. I think it's unfair to say he's "Republican lite". I'm a proud progressive, and I certainly disagree with lots of Thomas's takes, but he's no damn Republican. He's done a tremendous amount to help our party here in NC and he's a true blue Democrat, even if he's too cautious and moderate for my own tastes.
He detests Republicans! Thomas has spent his political career in the trenches fighting the GOP. No, he’s not a progressive in the DSA sense- more of a neoliberal or traditional southern Democrat- but I know Thomas would vote for El-Sayed if he lived in Michigan, and he’d work on his campaign if asked. Though I don’t completely agree with his criticism of El-Sayed, I understand the concerns he raises. I imagine that Thomas is so engaged in the Michigan race because he wants a Democrat to win, badly. And having known him for 20 years I can assure you that Thomas Mills is ANYTHING but Republican-lite.
About 15 years or so ago Thomas was working at home in his office which at the time was separate from his residence. He happened upon a burglar who was heisting some silver from his home. What did Thomas do? He chased the guy down the street on foot until he caught him- and got his silver back.
I am in Mecklenburg County and getting Democrats to turn out here is key to success in the state IMO. If I am not mistaken, Carolina Federation and Advance Carolina have a proven track record of boosting the turnout in other big blue counties in NC. IMO having authentic canvassers from the community is very important to turning out black and brown voters, so I am happy to support this effort.
Ah, give it a rest. Everyone knows you don't like Abdul, but this is starting to get ridiculous. I thought this blog was supposed to be about North Carolina politics and here you are writing about a politician in Michigan. If Mike Rodgers wins, you can write a big "I told you so" piece, but if Abdul wins, I hope you have the guts to write a "I was wrong" post. Until then, just lay off.
I initially thought El-Sayed might campaign like a grownup and address the issues people outside his base care about. If instead he's just pandering to his followers (and not even potential voters!), then you've nailed it, Thomas. He's a slick troll.
Sorry, I have been calling him TOM, for at least 10 years - in emails etc. -
I agree with others here, Thomas. You missed the mark with this one. Not only should politicians be pushed to handle hostile news coverage, but it should be a requirement. Abdul not only embarrassed Jesse Watters, but brought a simple message to the Fox News audience: money out of politics, money in your pockets, and Medicare for all.
I don’t agree with you
Tom, You call it performative, maybe so. But there’s another side. He walked into the enemy’s camp to show he could stand his ground. Politics is national by nature. What hits the party anywhere hits all of us, sooner or later.
FYI, he goes by Thomas, not Tom.
Bill, What is in a name ???
I think you are right on this. Watters et al. had been working to frame him as a scary monster that must be fought at all costs. By going on Fox News and standing his ground without freaking out he disarms that charge. It also gives him a chance to reach people who would otherwise not hear from him only about him. While I agree there is a risk in making it all about him I think that showing he can go into the Lion's den and be clear and engaging is actually quite beneficial.
Oddly enough many people laud Pete Buttigeg for doing the exact same thing.
Your advice is sensible, Thomas. My best friend from high school, NC native, lives in Michigan. He usually votes Democratic, but is undecided in the Michigan Senate race. El-Sayed strikes him as an egotist, more interested in his own voice than in listening to the needs of the people. It really isnt about democratic socialism as my friend voted for Bernie Sanders in 2016 against HRC. If El-Sayed doesn't earn my friend's vote, my take is he loses.
Abdul is the real thing…he’s run a great campaign.. to take it to Fox was a no fear move…the young voters love it…Watters is still talking about it today…Labor Day is the traditional start of election season…just wait you will eat your words…
Frankly, I like the man and see no reason for anyone to criticize the campaign he’s running. It’s Michigan; not North Carolina so why is anyone here bothered? I also like many of the more progressive ideas that he’s running on. That doesn’t mean I’m going to not vote for Roy Cooper who is more traditional. Let’s mind our own business and do all we can to get as many Democrats in North Carolina elected as possible.
Stop being a wet blanket. He is not a candidate in NC because he can’t get elected in our state. He is a well qualified, articulate candidate from Wisconsin. Going on Fox gave him wide exposure. He represented himself well and the interviewer didn’t get a gotcha quote.
Give your attention to helping NC Democrat candidates win.
Sorry, Michigan!
I disagree. It's the press who can't get enough of El-Sayed, fearful he is going to blow it for Democrats. The press picks which issues to write about it and ignore his kitchen-table solutions.
Fox News is on in the waiting rooms of a lot of car shops, gyms and other working-class operations, reaching people who don't normally watch the news.
Democrats are looking for attack dogs, not great debaters like Obama or Schumer. At least I am. I was impressed with El-Sayed's not taking Jesse Waters' bait of cultural issues or foreign affairs, and instead chastised him for not asking about the issues you stated.
Pete Buttigieg got a lot of kudos for going on Fox News during the Biden years and challenging the caricature conservatives paint of Democrats, and I think El-Sayed is doing the same.
Yes, we know you did not like him from the git go, I hope you don't have a heart attack when one of these democratic socialist wins
Thomas, you missed the point big time the number one issue dealing with affordability on voters minds not just in America but in Michigan is Healthcare. Healthcare. Healthcare access to affordability of and high-quality healthcare. That’s a kitchen table issue over and over and over. And the issue isn’t more money for Healthcare but more Healthcare for the amount of money we’re spending finally we have a politician or shall I say a real Democrat who’s willing to talk about universal healthcare Medicare for all.
Yes, we all know you’re republican-lite, but they’re all gone now. At least stick to writing about NC. Michigan voters will decide in the election.
Strong disagree (about your first sentence), Thomas spent his career working for and helping elect Democrats all over the state. I think it's unfair to say he's "Republican lite". I'm a proud progressive, and I certainly disagree with lots of Thomas's takes, but he's no damn Republican. He's done a tremendous amount to help our party here in NC and he's a true blue Democrat, even if he's too cautious and moderate for my own tastes.
He detests Republicans! Thomas has spent his political career in the trenches fighting the GOP. No, he’s not a progressive in the DSA sense- more of a neoliberal or traditional southern Democrat- but I know Thomas would vote for El-Sayed if he lived in Michigan, and he’d work on his campaign if asked. Though I don’t completely agree with his criticism of El-Sayed, I understand the concerns he raises. I imagine that Thomas is so engaged in the Michigan race because he wants a Democrat to win, badly. And having known him for 20 years I can assure you that Thomas Mills is ANYTHING but Republican-lite.
About 15 years or so ago Thomas was working at home in his office which at the time was separate from his residence. He happened upon a burglar who was heisting some silver from his home. What did Thomas do? He chased the guy down the street on foot until he caught him- and got his silver back.
God forbid if the burglar had been a Republican.
I thought this might be of interest to readers of this substack:
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/urban-meck-county
I am in Mecklenburg County and getting Democrats to turn out here is key to success in the state IMO. If I am not mistaken, Carolina Federation and Advance Carolina have a proven track record of boosting the turnout in other big blue counties in NC. IMO having authentic canvassers from the community is very important to turning out black and brown voters, so I am happy to support this effort.
Ah, give it a rest. Everyone knows you don't like Abdul, but this is starting to get ridiculous. I thought this blog was supposed to be about North Carolina politics and here you are writing about a politician in Michigan. If Mike Rodgers wins, you can write a big "I told you so" piece, but if Abdul wins, I hope you have the guts to write a "I was wrong" post. Until then, just lay off.
Is there anyone else on Substack writing about NC politics? There must be. The constant jabs against progressives gets tiresome.
You might enjoy the New Branchhead. https://newbranchhead.substack.com/
Totally agree!
I initially thought El-Sayed might campaign like a grownup and address the issues people outside his base care about. If instead he's just pandering to his followers (and not even potential voters!), then you've nailed it, Thomas. He's a slick troll.
Anyone who knows anybody in Michigan, please send this to them asap!!!