Jonathan Jesse

Please don’t blame @HaleyforMI for appearing with @MikeRogersForMI this morning. This is all on El Sayed. Period. He has had chance after chance to do what’s right. He did not. I don’t know who is running his campaign, but WOW that person and El Sayed sure failed. They possibly cost us @TheDemocrats the Senate.

Ha! To all the antisemites and anti-Zionists flooding the replies to my tweet about El-Sayed, and to those who think they can lecture me about what it means to be a Democrat, I’ve got news for you. First, let’s get something straight and understand the situation here because you all are missing the point. I never said anyone should vote for Mike Rogers. My point was that El-Sayed’s own actions and his campaign have created an unnecessary controversy that could cost Democrats a critical Senate seat. Holding a candidate accountable for his political judgment is not the same as supporting his Republican opponent. And many of you attacking me have never knocked on a door, volunteered for a campaign, made a campaign contribution, or done anything to elect Democrats. So spare me the tweets and lectures. I’ve raised millions of dollars to elect Democrats. I’ve made thousands of campaign stops, traveled across this country, and spent decades fighting for the ideals and principles of the Democratic Party. I know what this party stands for because I’ve dedicated a significant part of my life to fighting for it. I am an American first. But I am also a proud Jew and a proud Zionist. And when I see hatred directed at my people, I will stand up, speak out, and refuse to be intimidated into silence. I’ve marched with Black Lives Matter. I’ve sat in intersections protesting for women’s rights and reproductive freedom. I’ve supported LGBTQ+ organizations and fought for their equality. I’ve participated in Jewish-Muslim gatherings to build bridges and understanding between communities. I’ve stood alongside people of different races, religions, backgrounds, and sexual orientations because I believe that fighting discrimination against one group means standing up against discrimination against ALL groups. And that includes Jews. No exceptions. No double standards. No excuses. Please don’t ask for my solidarity when your community faces hatred (which I do without asking) and then tell me to shut up when mine does. My original tweet was about political judgment, accountability, and the consequences of El-Sayed’s actions. I believe his decisions could cost Democrats a critical United States Senate seat, undermine our efforts to win control of the Senate, and make it harder to achieve another goal I’ve spent years fighting for: electing a Democratic House majority and making Hakeem Jeffries Speaker of the House. You are free to disagree with me. That’s democracy. But attacking my Jewish identity or my Zionism doesn’t make your argument stronger. It actually makes you weaker and a Jew hater. I will not be bullied out of my party. I will not apologize for being Jewish. I will not apologize for believing in Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state. The Democratic Party I have spent decades fighting for stands for civil rights, equality, tolerance, and standing up against hatred. Those principles aren’t negotiable depending on who is being targeted. And by G-d, I will continue fighting for those values, for my country, for my community, and for the Democratic Party I believe in. You can try and push me down and out, but so sorry to say