Democratic Leaders Ignore Voter Sentiment on Israel, Sparking Party Disconnect
When the Democratic National Committee concluded its recent meeting in New Orleans, supporters of Palestine and advocates for ending the conflict in Gaza found little to celebrate. The party's governing body refused to acknowledge the overwhelming majority of Democratic voters who hold negative views of Israel, emphasizing a stark disconnect between leadership and the base.
Polling Data Reveals Deep Divisions
Recent surveys underscore this gap. A Quinnipiac Poll from last summer revealed that 77% of Democrats believe Israel is committing genocide. Similarly, an NBC poll last month showed registered Democrats sympathize more with Palestinians than Israelis by a margin of 67-17%. Despite these clear trends, the DNC operates as if insulated from its own voters.
During the national meeting, the party's resolutions committee swiftly dismissed two resolutions critical of Israel. One called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, along with pausing or conditioning U.S. weapons transfers to units implicated in humanitarian violations. Another opposed military actions endangering civilians in Iran. Both were sidelined to a slow-moving Middle East working group, established by DNC Chair Ken Martin last August.
Working Group Stalls Progress
This panel, with only a minority supporting Palestinian rights and several fervent Zionists, appears designed for stalemate. Halie Soifer, CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, praised the DNC's rejection of the resolutions, calling them "out of step with the policies of the Democratic party." This assessment highlights how the resolutions, which supported Palestinian human rights and opposed assaults on Gaza, clash with leadership priorities.
Soifer's gratitude for the working group suggests it serves as a stalling mechanism, deflecting efforts to challenge U.S. support for Israel. Outside the leadership bubble, this disconnect from polled opinions seems puzzling, yet party leaders remain in an anachronistic time warp, out of touch with or contemptuous of Democratic beliefs on Israel.
Leadership Denial and Political Consequences
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's claim last September that "nine out of 10 Democrats are pro-Israel" reflects a determined unwillingness to face reality. This political malpractice alienates the party's base, similar to how Kamala Harris's alignment with Biden's arming of Israel harmed her 2024 efforts against Donald Trump.
Ignoring voter views erodes the Democratic base, with leaders acting as if moral concerns are trivial. Ben Rhodes, former deputy national security adviser to Barack Obama, identified a "fatal blind spot within American liberalism," describing a devaluation of human life among those managing empire while posing as democrats. This mentality is evident in DNC decisions.
Silence and Complicity
Despite Martin's progressive commitments, he has worked to ensure no DNC resolution criticizes the Israeli government, which groups like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have judged guilty of genocide in Gaza. The DNC models what ails party leadership as the U.S.-Israel alliance causes devastation in the Middle East.
Daniel Ellsberg's words from the Gulf war era resonate: silence can be complicity. Yet, DNC members rarely break from the power structure, aspiring to rise within it. This aligns with continued U.S. weapons supplies to Israel, even as the DNC fails to object. Norman Solomon, director of RootsAction, notes this dynamic in his latest book, "The Blue Road to Trump Hell," critiquing corporate Democrats' role in enabling autocracy.
