Pelosi criticizes Democrat's anti-Israel rhetoric and becomes the target of debate on Fox News

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi classified the rhetoric of part of the Democratic Party regarding Israel, amid Abdul El-Sayed's campaign for the Senate in Michigan, as "worrying". The topic was discussed on the Fox News program "The Five", in an episode hosted by Kellyanne Conway.

According to the program, Pelosi stated that saying that Israel does not have the right to be a Jewish state is anti-Semitic, in her opinion. Asked who would say this, she cited Zohran Mamdani and El-Sayed, according to the excerpt shown. The presenters said that the congresswoman avoided saying the candidate's name.

For Kellyanne Conway, the episode shows the former Speaker of the House sharpening her claws against a candidate seeking votes from Jewish and black voters. According to Conway, El-Sayed sees himself as a winner and positions himself as one of the party's next big names, saying that potential candidates for President in 2028 have started to mention him.

Division between commentators

Jesse Watters stated that the candidate never won an election, although he did win a primary, and said that he advocated reparations and the nationalization of the health care system. In the presenter's opinion, even if defeated, El-Sayed would not leave the scene, and a victory would give him permanent visibility. Watters also said the candidate is divisive and has split the party along religious and racial lines.

Commentator Jessica Tarlov, a Democrat, said she did not speak out in the primary and that the party now needs to win the seat. She cited a publication by Pelosi in which the parliamentarian states that Democrats are united, calls for support for the party's Senate nominees, including El-Sayed, and speaks of a "big blue wave." According to Tarlov, there is a real problem with some Jewish and black voters, and denying it would be "stupid."

Research and dispute for the black vote

Kellyanne Conway cited a recent Fox News poll that Republican Mike Rogers has 22% among black voters in Michigan. Two years ago, when he lost by a narrow margin, he had 11% of that electorate. Tarlov stated that El-Sayed's campaign has the support of names like Haley Stevens and Jim Clyburn to expand its presence among black voters.

Gillian Turner praised Pelosi for stating without reservation that it is wrong to deny Israel the right to exist as a Jewish state. At the same time, he considered the congresswoman's view that there is no relevant anti-Semitism in the Democratic field to be "outdated". Turner also said that Hakeem Jeffries is not the party's leading voice against anti-Semitism.

Greg Gutfeld argued that an eventual break between El-Sayed and the most radical sectors of his base would have a political cost, as these groups are at the core of his coalition. For him, the issue is purely political: if El-Sayed wins, the Democrats will expand their power in the Senate.

The debate takes place based on the assessment of Fox News commentators and reflects the dispute for control of the Senate. The outcome in Michigan will still depend on the polls.

Automatically translated from Portuguese.