r/lastweektonight • u/WallabyUpstairs1496 • Nov 04 '24
John Oliver with a heartfelt appeal to reluctant voters for Harris over Gaza
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u/SessileRaptor Nov 05 '24
It’s pretty simple really, Harris and the democrats are capable of listening and can be persuaded to alter their policies, trump has said that he’ll deport anyone who protests against him and his policies. Believe him.
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u/bouguerean Nov 05 '24
I mean, considering that a year of massive protests and an abysmal approval rating regarding Gaza has not led to any policy shifts, I wouldn't trot this line out too confidently. Not to mention the treatment of student protestors.
But is Trump worse? Yeah. Somehow, he's still worse. That's just always going to be true lol. But the problem here is that the dems have weakened their own position so terribly on this front, they can't make this argument about Trump in a way that's effective.
I'm not sure it's simple either to actual muslim/arab voters who have been facing the biggest uptick in discrimination and violence in 2023 in years (including the Trump years, ironically), or to Palestinian Americans who've actually lost family bc of our own party. It's not a simple thing to ask for their vote. Picture kicking someone down and then saying "vote for me, bc the other guy will punch you in the face."
I imagine it's an incredibly real, wrought, and thankless position they're in. A breezy "Trump is worse" argument is not going to be compelling to people who are in pain right now.
Honestly, the best, most effective thing John does here is appeal to the voters disaffected due to gaza with humility. It actually feels as though he's taking their pain into account, which the vast majority of media personalities and dem speakers have not managed. I honestly cannot understand why so many in the dem party think browbeating and condescension will be effective at mobilizing disaffected voters lol. That tone trickles down in the worst way online, and it's just blatant self-sabotage.
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u/chamanbuga Nov 05 '24
This is 100% in point. Muslims and Arab Americans are watching their homes, their families getting killed for the same party everyone is so compassionately asking us to vote. Many have reached a point where they just want to see the world burn, just like what the Americans are inflicting on their homes.
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u/ToTheLastParade Nov 06 '24
Kinda selfish to want your family to burn just to prove a point. Little bit narcissistic, some might say
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u/bouguerean Nov 06 '24
Their family already burned. Now they're disaffected by their gov't and staying home.
Anyway, this is why when you know you're in danger in MI bc of Gaza, you don't send in Ritchie Torres and Liz Cheney and Bill Clinton to rile people up more.
This was a winnable race by every account. Her margins three months ago were insane. They ran an awful campaign and now we have 2016 2.0. Literally nobody wanted this.
This is the point now where dems will blame each other, including the most vulnerable voters, and tear each other apart instead of focusing on where the campaign went so wrong. Again.
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u/chamanbuga Nov 06 '24
The Dems lost this race themselves. They can finger point all they want. So winnable. They made every possible mistake.
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u/florglespore Nov 05 '24
Don’t know why you are getting downvoted you described everything perfectly
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u/Homey1966 Nov 05 '24
Tuesday is a big day…it isn’t about being a Republican or Democrat or Independent…it’s about Democracy. No matter what your affiliation…if you want your voice heard, after November 5th Harris Walz is the only thing you can and must choose. If Trump gets into office, the future is uncertain for all of us, and not just in America…Look at what we have already Witnessed, Voter Suppression on an unprecedented scale…Threats against Public officials (Smith) Threats to point guns at people…Lies about The Election and officials involved…In effect the behavior of an authoritarian regime…and he hasn’t even been elected…This is 1932 and the barbarians are at the gate…
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u/OptimisticRealist__ Nov 05 '24
Paving the way for Trump over Palestine - a conflict half a world a way that most these people only know via TikTok - has got to be one of THE most moronic things ever
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u/WallabyUpstairs1496 Nov 05 '24 edited Nov 05 '24
Iraq war would have ended a lot sooner if civilians had a way to make their reality seen.
Instead, we relied on a media that was compliant with the Bush Cheney lies, and is compliant with the lies of the current state dept.
Edit:
oof, I have no idea how anyone could possibly think this means I want Trump win.
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u/bouguerean Nov 05 '24
I think just bc you're uninformed about the topic, you shouldn't assume everyone else is as well. For one, it's a conflict we're pretty directly involved in--we're pretty much as relevant to it as we are to the Iraq war. So pretending it's unrelated to us, just bc it's very far away is a bit...moronic. Most of our wars are very far away.
For another, I'm by no means an expert, but I've been following and reading about this conflict for nearly ten years, and I was lowkey shocked at how fast TikTokers caught up on the issue. Like they're pretty comfortably making specific comparisons to previous iterations of the conflict in 2021 (obviously) but also 2014 and 2008, etc. There was one very specific Tiktok vid making the rounds that, when I saw it, I immediately knew which guardian article they'd read lol. So, say what you want, but most of them are not engaging in a shallow way. They're doing the work of informing themselves on it on their own first. They're not dumb or insincere just bc they're on tiktok.
Most of those ppl are better informed than about 80% of the over-30 adults I know who won't even know what protective edge was, or mowing the lawn, etc. Which is weird bc they're the ones that tend to be most dismissive of the tiktok crowd.
Anyway, I think it's super annoying when Americans pretend foreign policy is irrelevant. We're America lol. We're not little old switzerland. Our foreign policy has a massive impact on the world, and it's kind of our duty to pay attention. I get that those bombs will never hit us, but since they're literally our bombs, we maybe shouldn't be too blase about it.
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u/OptimisticRealist__ Nov 05 '24
Let me put it this way: whatever happens to Palestine wont save your abortion rights, wont save your democracy, wont get you public health care, wont get you gun control etc.
So yes, allowing Trump to get a second presidency over a - in the grand scheme of things insignificant - regional conflict and some virtue signalling is outright crazy.
I mean yall do what you want, just dont have the audacity to then spend 4 years crying over how Republicans are directly making your lives worse.
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u/bouguerean Nov 05 '24
You're talking to the wrong person, I'm afraid. I'm already voting for Kamala, however resignedly.
I'm just grossed out at how easily people mock anyone who cares about this issue. It's precisely what John didn't do in the video, which is what made it effective. And it's exactly what your comment did. It's careless, thoughtless, and frankly, reading it made me feel worse about having to go vote for her tomorrow.
I think dems would have a much better time getting votes from disaffected voters if they don't scold or talk down to them, particularly when the ones doing the talking down say things like "oh it's irrelevant, it's halfway around the world" as if nearness is the same as relevance in foreign fucking policy.
Anyway, I've canvassed for democrats, volunteered for state campaigns, still give money, etc. I think I'll complain if I like, either way. I also am not sure I'm going to weigh my reproductive rights higher than genocide. But luckily for Kamala, Trump is worse on foreign policy too.
The funny thing is, I'm not asking people to vote third or against Kamala lol. I'm asking for ppl from our own party to show some basic respect to people who care about this issue. It's actually not asking for a lot to ask people to take where our bombs go seriously and engage with our own country's foreign policy. If you don't have the patience to do that, fine. Just don't have the audacity to comment on those who do.
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u/OptimisticRealist__ Nov 05 '24
You're talking to the wrong person, I'm afraid. I'm already voting for Kamala, however resignedly.
Im talking to whoever it applies to.
I'm just grossed out at how easily people mock anyone who cares about this issue. It's precisely what John didn't do in the video, which is what made it effective. And it's exactly what your comment did. It's careless, thoughtless, and frankly, reading it made me feel worse about having to go vote for her tomorrow.
You can care about it, idc. But the reality is a) that a lot of people get 90% of their info off social media, TikTok in particular and have little to no knowledge about this conflict when actually pressed on, instead its a lot of empty plattitudes and b) again, whether you care about the conflict or not, paving the way for Trump over a regional conflict that doesnt affect you as an american one bit while Trump and his goons are ready to introduce legislation that WILL make your life worse
I think dems would have a much better time getting votes from disaffected voters if they don't scold or talk down to them, particularly when the ones doing the talking down say things like "oh it's irrelevant, it's halfway around the world" as if nearness is the same as relevance in foreign fucking policy.
I repeat, if you are willing to pave the way for a guy who is hostile towards democracy itself, wants to bring womens rights back to the dark ages (abortion ban, end of no fault divorce etc), is sketchy on lgbtq rights, terrible track record on corporate governance and the environment, tears down social security and universal health care and to top it all off, and most ironic, would be even worse for palestine, then yes, you stand to be mocked because it simply makes no sense.
Its akin to a toddler throwing a tantrum because youre achieving quite literally the opposite of what you claim to want while making your own life significantly worse in the process.
I also am not sure I'm going to weigh my reproductive rights higher than genocide
So am i correct to assume whats going on in Sudan is just as much of a factor for your voting decision, huh?
The funny thing is, I'm not asking people to vote third or against Kamala lol. I'm asking for ppl from our own party to show some basic respect to people who care about this issue. It's actually not asking for a lot to ask people to take where our bombs go seriously and engage with our own country's foreign policy. If you don't have the patience to do that, fine. Just don't have the audacity to comment on those who do.
If youve voted D, complain, yell and cry all you want, i really dont care. I am calling out the helmets that dont vote or even vote R/third party because of Palestine.
Single issue voting is already pretty dumb - single issue voting that doesnt even have anything to do with whats going on in the US is impressively dumb.
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u/OfficialHaethus Nov 05 '24
It’s much easier to actually get the voters that want to participate in the process, instead of those protesting and shitting their pants like immature children while letting fascism creep into our democracy.
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u/bouguerean Nov 05 '24
You sound deeply mature.
Those protesting are very likely those participating in the process. Civic engagement is generally seen as a bulwark of democracy. Uncritical support of a single party however is generally seen as a hallmark of something else.
If you'd ever made any effort to engage in conversation with disaffected dem/ex-dem voters, you'll know it's easier than you think to get them reactivated. Even if they remain unhappy or begrudging. Anyone who's done a day of canvassing can tell you that. It usually just involves listening. That's all. What's actually hard is activating a consistent nonvoter. People who protest, and protests in general, actually have a mobilizing effect for voters.
But the way you talk to them matters. What's immature is lashing out at people expressing a genuine grievance, rather than engaging with them on it.
If you believe so profoundly that our democracy is at stake in this election, then put your money where your mouth is, and shut up and listen to them. That's how you get them to vote democrat again, despite their disappointments with the party. Why you'd rather antagonize them is beyond me, unless you don't actually care about the outcome.
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u/BaylinerVR5 Nov 05 '24
You people have absolutely no capacity for self-reflection. You’re yapping about fascism while actively supporting fascists committing an actual genocide.
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u/ToTheLastParade Nov 06 '24
Too late after he raked the Biden admin across the coals for so long. Now we get another Trump presidency and he’ll end the Israel-Palestine question once and for all.
Answer: no more Palestine.
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u/WallabyUpstairs1496 Nov 06 '24
Are you implying that people who are honest about what Biden and saying and doing the cause of the loss?
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u/OfficialHaethus Nov 05 '24
Why not just post the clip instead of linking to a quite biased sub?
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u/WallabyUpstairs1496 Nov 05 '24
huh? This wasn't crossposted, this sub doesn't allow it .
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u/OfficialHaethus Nov 05 '24
Whenever I tap on this, it takes me to r/worldnewsvideo. Here specifically: https://www.reddit.com/r/worldnewsvideo/s/QT1uzX9kRO
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u/WallabyUpstairs1496 Nov 05 '24
Oh interesting, I didn't know it did that. I usually just hit play and it expands out and plays the video. Why are you clicking on it and not just letting it play?
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u/toxictoastrecords Nov 05 '24
Kamala is not going to end the genocide in Israel, I can't have that blood on my hands or my conscious. If we all agreed, there wouldn't be an argument of "but if you don't vote for X then Y will win". Plus thanks to the electoral college, my vote means absolutely nothing. As a blue state, I could vote "Mickey Mouse" and Kamala will still get all the delegates.
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u/WallabyUpstairs1496 Nov 05 '24
what should we do after the electoin?
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u/toxictoastrecords Nov 05 '24
Remember "we can push her to the left of 2016". That didn't happen, then 2020, we didn't push Biden "left", and despite DNC voters asking to stop supporting the genocide, nothing is being done. Watch the current press conferences, who do you think will be running them, and what do you think will be said under Kamala? The same. Am I supporting Trump? Absolutely not, he will offer exactly the same.
As for at home, one side is "worse", but the other side allows them to exist. Look at Kamala on her response about transgender access to surgery. Oh boy, that was the worst deflection to date (for people who don't care about brown children being murdered). The GOP is trying to make laws to oppress queer minorities, but the DNC won't make laws to protect us; hence the DNC allows the GOP to continue their reign of terror. When and how will this all stop?
If the DNC was going to save us from the evil GOP, we would have won after Obama, and Biden, but we are still fighting, because the DNC doesn't actively put in protections to protect us from fascism. They are more concerned about getting voters from right of center than leftists.
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u/iTzJdogxD Nov 05 '24
The reason we’re still fighting is because this shits a full time job. You don’t go to the polls once every four years and every thing is magically fixed. Our democracy is a slow inchworm process, but progress IS POSSIBLE.
Get engaged in your local community, volunteer your time, and help those around you. I’m glad that you have the privilege to be a single issue voter this election, but there are millions that don’t have that luxury. It’s fine though, I’m sure the woman dying in ER parking lots understand where you’re coming from
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u/MSeanF Nov 05 '24
People like you are the reason we can't get real advancement of progressive causes in this country. Every fucking time push comes to shove, and we need everyone working together, you dipshits pull this purity of thought crap. You are the problem.
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u/Mikaeus_Thelunarch Nov 05 '24
I'm confused. So you're not voting Democrat bc they're not good enough, which leads you to what? Not voting/wasting your vote on a 3rd party? Sounds like a lot of virtue signaling and not being in reality
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u/Ansoni Nov 05 '24
You know what might push politics to the left? A big voter mandate to do so. You know what will guarantee dems keep reaching for the center? What you're doing right now.
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u/toxictoastrecords Nov 05 '24
Calling out the bad policies of the DNC will push them further right? GOOD. Then eventually we can get an actual left of center party.
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u/strawberrymacaroni Nov 05 '24
So how does not voting help the Palestinians. I missed that part in your little rant.
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u/Seductive_pickle Nov 05 '24
Guys let him are the ones that don’t pull the lever during the trolly experiment.
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u/bluehawk232 Nov 05 '24
Thanks to globalism you are most likely participating in some unethical practice and if you've watch any of John Oliver you should be aware of it. Just buying a candy bar could mean you are financing child slavery in Africa. There are only a handful of companies that run a lot of products in the world and some might support Israel anyway. So you can be all I won't support Kamala because I don't want blood on my hands but then the soap you wash your hands with is part of a Unilever subsidiary that supports Israel
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u/toxictoastrecords Nov 05 '24
I've been vegan for over 20 years. I've been boycotting with my wallet since I was in High School in the 90s. Things change and our world is more globalized, but I am not voting for someone that is using the taxes I pay for genocide. End of story. In the end, it's not me making the decision, it's the politicians. If my vote is so important that 100's of thousands of people like me might "lose" the DNC the election, then shouldn't they listen to the voters they NEED!? It's not my decision or my fault.
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u/Akiranar Nov 05 '24
So, you don't want blood on your hands, so you don't vote for Kamala.
Trump wins, Palestine gets glassed because he fully supports Bibi doing whatever the hell he wants.
Women in America die even more because of a complete abortion ban.
LGBTQA+ people are killed because Trump makes it so no one will care for them on any level.
Non-Christians are deported and killed because Project 2025.
You claim you don't want blood on your hands, but as a vegan, you support rodents and other small animals being killed to keep your crops cared for. Not to mention the people who most likely suffer for it.
People like you have your heads so far in the sand that termites are crawling up your nose.
And this is coming from a Pro-Israel needs to keep existing, 2 state solution is the only way to go. American Jew who knows that Palestine is going to be worse off with Trump.
So yes. You DO and will have blood on your hands. Good job.
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u/Mikaeus_Thelunarch Nov 05 '24 edited Nov 05 '24
Not a single thought in that other person's brain. I'm so tired of this "bOtH sIdEs BaD" nonsense. Yeah maybe the democratic party isn't 100% aligned with what i want, but that doesn't even compare to the damage trump will do. I get that it can suck just voting for the "lesser evil" but alternative is a greater evil. It's really not that hard
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u/Praxxer1 Nov 05 '24
I know you said you're in a blue state, so you feel as though your vote doesn't matter, but your inaction IS your decision and is the fault of those with your same perspective. Also, your tax dollars are going to be used in the genocide whether you like it or not regardless of who's in office. By voting for Harris you'll at least know it's plausible to push your politicians in the right direction so that your tax dollars may send one less missle to the Israelis, which has the potential of even saving a single life. Inaction is essentially a vote for Trump and he will all but guarantee fuel is thrown on the genocide you're so concerned about. Your inaction does not equate to having clean hands here.
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u/Spew120 Nov 05 '24
Don’t waste your breath dude. This guy is a rw troll. Nobody who is actually invested in this election or its outcome is so tied to a single issue like this that they’d be so childish to toss the country to the wolves over petulance.
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u/levi_the_2nd Nov 05 '24
I am not voting for someone that is using the taxes I pay for genocide. End of story.
To be clear here. You are actively choosing to make the genocide worse. The reality is there are only 2 outcomes: Harris becomes president, or Trump becomes president. If Harris is president, there's at least a chance that we could pressure her into a better position on Gaza, but if Trump is president, gaza is being eviscerated immediately. And again, you are actively choosing to support the option that is worse for gazans. That is the choice you are making. You're working to gather more support for the guy who wants Netanyahu to "finish the job" on Gaza.
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u/_SummerofGeorge_ Nov 05 '24
You do realize Trump will be even worse for Gazans right? He literally said for Israel to kill them all you stupid fuck
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u/Gardimus Nov 05 '24
They don't care. Its not about Gaza. It never was. They absorbed propaganda and if Trump was holding a gun to a Palestinian child's head and said if he wins hes pulling the trigger, the dude still won't vote for Harris.
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u/Gardimus Nov 05 '24
I love people who pretend to be pro-Palestinian, and then support a guy who will get more killed.
They are rudderless zombies brainwashed by social media. When asked "Whats worse, 50000 dead, or 200000 dead" they change the subject.
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u/toxictoastrecords Nov 05 '24
when you ask them "why isn't 0 dead an option", they change the subject. J/K!! They say "Israel has a right to defend themselves!!"
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u/Gardimus Nov 05 '24
See, this zombie can't answer this.
You only have 2 options. You can't go back in time. When voting for a timemachine is an option, we can explore this.
Whats worse, 50 000 dead or 200 000 dead?
Don't worry, I know you can't answer the question. None of you can. The Palestinians will be in a far worse position if Trump wins. He will let them be pushed out of their homeland with violence. The West Bank will be next. You don't care. The violence will be worse than what it is now, and your vote can stop it, but you won't.
Again, I know you won't answer the question or acknowledge how much worse Trump will make things.
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u/Akiranar Nov 05 '24
You DO get that Hamas wants ALL JEWS DEAD. Right?
And that Trump will let Bibi kill every Palestinian?
Yes, Israel has a right to defend itself.
You claim that Israel is doing Ethnic Cleansing. And your answer is to Ethnically cleanse Israel.
Do you not get how insane that is?
But here is the deal. If Trump wins, BIBI WILL ACTUALLT ETHNICALLY CLEANSE PALESTINE!
And if you idiots get what you want which is an entire arms embargo on Israel. Then Israel will either get destroyed or go nuclear.
And if Israel gets destroyed then Jews everywhere are screwed.
So THANK YOU for showing people WHY Israel needs to exist.
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u/toxictoastrecords Nov 05 '24
I DO NOT SUPPORT TRUMP!! Many people do not see politics as a "us" vs "them" team.
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u/Gardimus Nov 05 '24
See, this zombie can't adress this. So predictable.
Whats worse, 50 000 dead, or 200 000 dead?
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u/AVGJOE0922 Nov 05 '24
Omg you’re so brave for saying this, toxictoastrecords, keep fighting the good fight! I’m sure it’ll turn out well for you in the end! Thank you for doing your part in democracy and making the world safe for Palestinians by… not voting.
Your both sides BS is more tiring than popping a fistful of Benadryl. Touch grass. Nono, not even, just take a step outside. Wait wait wait even easier, here we go: just open the front door and take a quick glance around.
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u/No_Fee_161 Nov 05 '24
Even Bernie Sanders made a statement like that