DETROIT (WWJ) -- "To me, it's stupid. But, more importantly...we need to be coming together as one to make this country a better country."
Keith Williams, Chair of the Michigan Democratic Black Caucus, is speaking out against threats by some in the party to vote "uncommitted" in Tuesday's Michigan presidential primary because of anger over President Joe Biden's handling of the Israel-Hamas war.
Speaking to WWJ Newsradio 950's Charlie Langton, Williams said an uncommitted vote is a wasted vote.
"It's wasting people's time," Williams said, of the effort by progressive groups and Arab American grassroots organizations urging people to vote uncommitted. "If you're gonna do that, you might as well say you voted for Donald Trump."
The movement is being pushed by the group Listen to Michigan, which says it "strongly reject[s] Biden's funding war and genocide in Gaza." Other left-leaning voters speaking to Langton say they're upset that Biden has not yet fulfilled the goal of reaching a cease fire in Gaza.
Michigan state Rep. Alabas Farhat, who represents most of Dearborn, explained the movement this way:
"This is not just a coalition of Muslim and Arab voters. This is a coalition of Gen Z voters; this is a coalition of black and brown folks, of Jewish voices for peace, of Christians," Farhat said. "This is a coalition of folks who feel dissatisfied with the way the president is handling the conflict in the Middle East, where you're seeing 30,000 people have been killed, half of which are women and children."
"And so today's effort to get people to vote uncommitted is to send a clear message to the president that there are voters who are upset. They are disappointed with his handling (of the war in Gaza), and to push him to meet the standard that we know President Biden can meet in calling for a cease fire," Farhat said.
Farhat said an uncommitted vote is not a vote for Trump, as Trump and Biden are not facing off in the primary. He said the purpose would be for Michigan Democrats to show President Biden that he must do better, and do more, if he wants to earn their support.
Williams, however, believes Biden is already doing what he can regarding Gaza, although it may be taking longer than people would like.
"Now not the time to abandon ship," Williams said, urging continued support for Biden whom he says "has done remarkable work in this country."
"Donald Trump is not gonna do nothing for them," Williams said. "Remember he told them he was gonna put him out of the country when he was president. So, you could take your chances and go with Donald Trump or you could take the chance... and go with Joe Joe Biden because he has a steady hand."
"Inflation is going down, the economy is roaring and people are going to work, and he has done what he said he was gonna do," Williams said. "What more do you want from him?"
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