Staff Reports
A new political ad supporting Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El‑Sayed has blown up this week — and not in a good way. The spot, posted by Rebellion PAC and pushed by Cenk Uygur, links grocery prices to U.S. support for Israel and quickly drew waves of condemnation from Jewish groups, Democratic lawmakers, and many voters who can still tell the difference between critique and scapegoating.
What the Ad Said and Who Pushed It
The ad shows a couple in a grocery store putting items back while saying they must “set that $7 aside for killing Palestinians.” Cenk Uygur, the public face of Rebellion PAC, promoted the spot on social media. The line is blunt and cruel, and it ties everyday economic pain to support for Israel in a way many described as antisemitic. Rebellion PAC made and posted the video as an outside group supporting El‑Sayed — not the campaign itself, by the group’s own account.
Immediate Backlash and a Half‑Measure Response
Jewish leaders and elected Democrats reacted fast. Anti‑Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt called the ad “a case study in antisemitism.” Michigan Rep. Haley Stevens, who ran against El‑Sayed in the primary, warned it was “fearmongering” that would hurt Democrats down‑ballot. El‑Sayed’s campaign issued a distancing statement saying the ad “is not affiliated in any way with the Abdul for Senate campaign” and that “no one speaks for Abdul but himself and his campaign.” That wording stops short of an explicit, moral denunciation of the content — and that matters.
Why This Matters in the Michigan Senate Race
Outside PACs can run what they want, but when their ads clutch at dangerous stereotypes, the candidate’s name gets dragged through the mud whether the campaign paid for the spot or not. Democrats have already warned that toxic messaging on Israel and Jews could cut into support among Jewish voters and suburban moderates — the very groups Democrats need in a tight Michigan contest. There are also practical questions left unanswered: who paid to run this ad in Michigan, where did it run, and will the PAC pull it down? Voters deserve a clear answer — and fast.
Wrap‑Up: Demand Clarity, Not Excuses
Recycling a grocery‑store gag from a prior left‑wing production and then blaming Israel for higher prices is not clever; it’s careless and politically costly. El‑Sayed’s team has distanced itself, but a true denouncement would include asking Rebellion PAC to remove the spot and explaining why its rhetoric is wrong. Democrats in Michigan can’t afford these clumsy, incendiary attempts at persuasion right before an election. If the left wants to win, it should stop lighting bonfires with campaign matches and start thinking like adults — or at least like people who want votes instead of headlines.
