CNN commentator Van Jones said that Kamala Harris choosing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate instead of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro would help her reach anti-Israel and elements in the Democratic party, and may even signify a capitulation to antisemitism that has become “marbled into” the party.
Though Shapiro had been seen as a favorite to become the Democratic VP pick and one who could help secure support in Pennsylvania, he had also come under scrutiny as a potentially “risky” choice because of his Jewish identity.
Jones said that Walz would help attract “young people concerned about Gaza, Muslims and Arabs” who “have not felt seen by the Biden administration” and consider “Genocide Joe” Biden too supportive of Israel.
“You also have antisemitism that has gotten marbled into [the Democratic party],” Jones continued. “You can be for the Palestinians without being an anti-Jewish bigot, but there are some anti-Jewish bigots out there, and there has to be some disquiet now [about] how much of what just happened is caving into some of these darker parts of the party.”