Abdul El-Sayed's fighting style terrifies MAGA | Republicans don't know how to handle this Michigan Democrat
Jesse Watters can’t seem to stop admiring Dr. Abdul El-Sayed. The Fox News host loves to talk about how Michigan’s Democratic nominee for the Senate is “in great shape” and how “Abdul . . . beat the machine” — meaning the party establishment’s candidate, Rep. Haley Stevens — in a hard-fought primary. During an interview in August, Watters clearly enjoyed El-Sayed’s jokes and blunt speech, which included calling his opponent, former Rep. Mike Rogers, a “beta,” and asking the host if he was circumcised when Watters tried to corner him on gender-affirming surgery for minors. The next day, Watters made no bones about El-Sayed’s appeal. “I like him,” he said. “I don’t want to like him. I like him for some stupid reason.”
But the reason was obvious. The doctor-turned-politician has an aggressive bro style that appeals to someone like Watters. Quick-witted with bulldog energy, El-Sayed never backs down from a fight. But despite Watters’ admiration, Fox News has become obsessed with taking El-Sayed down. It’s not because he’s Muslim, though Republicans are ratcheting up the racism in their efforts to derail his campaign. It’s because he is a model for how Democrats can escape their reputations for being weak and feckless.
https://www.salon.com/2026/10/19/abdul-el-sayeds-fighting-style-terrifies-maga/Open linkView original on lemmy.world
76 replies
Republicans only know how to run against neoliberals...
If a candidate just wants to talk about progressive policy, they can't counter it. Because virtually every American wants progressive policy
Because Republicans have become incredibly lazy and just resort to name calling. They say, "this guys a socialist" and socialists are like ya I am and the Rs have no response because they can't define socialism and have no firm policy on anything thanks to Trumpism.
It's very interesting to see their complete lack of answers when getting into a discussion about socialism with modern Republicans/MAGA. It's always "socialism bad", and when you ask why it's all fear mongering crap. Trying to get them to explain why capitalism is better, if you can get a real answer at all, always results in them talking about things that inevitably came from public research, grants, etc. and were then co-opted by private businesses to make a profit.
Their go-to is usually the Internet. They never seem to know it was developed by DARPA and the NSF for military and scientific/academic communication and collaboration. That 99% of the internet operates om open source software.
Another go-to is how "great" healthcare is even in it's bastardized form in the US, government death panels, etc. And never understanding that even private healthcare is socialism. Everything paying the insurance company premiums ends up paying for everyone else's care, except a handful of assholes in the middle steal millions for themselves while denying legitimate claims (literal profit-driven death panels).
Because that's all they have. If the repugs actually started talking about the policies they want to implement half of their voter base would shit bricks and switch sides. So instead they create invisible boogymen and have their propaganda outlets shove that shit down their throats 24/7.
Which is exactly why the conservatives are trying to make this election about things like "men in women's sports".
True for the party in general now, and MAGA specifically can't debate against anyone with an actual opinion. As soon as they try, they expose the fact that all of their opinions are based on racism (disguised poorly if at all) or simply being contrarian to whatever their "enemies" want. If their enemies want it, it MUST be bad. They are completely unable to actually provide any reasons for their beliefs being better for people/society, or why other opinions are worse that don't come back to those racism or "just because".
A Democrat that doesn't immediately fold on culture war issues. "Holy shit what do we do?? We had no plan for this!"
Roosevelt energy. Forward and unafraid + progressive pretty clearly wins in the US, historically. Seeing it again a century-ish later isn’t surprising but it does give a tiny spark of hope.
Bro style? He's a reserved person of color who knows any aggression will get him called a terrorist. The MF is so cool and collected it blows my mind. Standing up for yourself, caring about others, and not getting pulled into immature name calling isn't being a bro. People forget what a real grown ass man looks like.
He called his opponent a beta multiple times on his Fox News interview.
He definitely has a bro persona that he puts on to cater to certain audiences, which is good, a politician should be able to communicate with different groups on their level. Democrats do have a problem meeting young men / bros where they're at. If him calling Mike Rogers a cuck gets more disaffected young men to vote for him instead of the Republicans I'm all for it
Bro has pretty much become a derogatory term on the left, but a ton of young men identify with that sort of culture and we can't just call them all misogynists and cede them to the right if we want to win.
Every time I see this guy speak he just kills its. Dude knows how to debate and get his point across.
Wanted to share this clip of him from the other day, in case anyone hadn’t seen it yet. Not sure what com it belongs in tho since politics is articles only.
https://mastodon.social/@benroyce/117461856187677583
That was epic!
Tommy got dissected in front of a crowd.
I personally prefer the term vivisected, since it portrays just how bad Tommy got owned.
Buddy had to hand over his dick
That was great. Thanks for the link.
That ending question by Abdul and tommys walk out was great.
c/videos would work.
Mamdani too, they don't know how to counter it because they're used to people being cautious after they speak, because they're fucking insane. They mistake that for backing down.
I keep seeing him addressed as "Dr." What does he have a doctorate in? Just curious
Edit. He's an epidemiologist. Hells yeah, man!
This is the same reason why they're so obsessed with Hasan. The right has benefited from a perception that men, or at least "real" men, don't have a place on the left. It's been a highly effective strategy that shifts things away from the actual issues and onto meaningless aesthetics, and which is partially responsible for the political gender gap, particularly among young men who are more impressionable in that way. Having at least a handful of men who can challenge that perception (provided it doesn't fall into actual toxicity) is, from a purely pragmatic perspective, strategically invaluable.
The right understands the potential impact of such aesthetics better than many on the left do, and so they're desperate to discredit such figures, and especially, to try to get liberals and leftists to denounce them, because the goal is to reinforce this narrative that men have no place on the left. Of course we shouldn't let their narratives dictate our actions, but we should at least be aware of them and try to avoid playing into them. Know the enemy.
In this case I think you're correct, but in general we've spent way too long letting them dictate the terms of engagement
They're going to attack our people, whether we give them opportunities or not. I think we need to worry less about playing into them, instead we need to bulldoze through their attacks like the petty insults they are
But I'm this case I fully agree - we need to stop taking the bait when they demand we disavow this guy or that group. It's a loaded question... If you refuse to "disavow", it sounds to the low info voter like you tacitly support someone who sounds bad and scary. If you do, it implies there's some relationship there that you're betraying. You can't answer loaded questions,
We need to do more like El-Sayed did... Turn it back on them as the stupid question it is..."I haven't heard you disavow the Muslim brotherhood, why are you asking me? We all know why you're asking me, come on, say it"
Fucking Cinema right there
We need to do more of that... When you're asked a loaded question, the only answer is make them look stupid for asking.
Ask why some twitch streamer matters. Ask them how many hours a day they're on twitch. Demand to go through the audience one by one and avow or disavow each person together. Pick some of Trump's biggest mistakes and ask them to disavow his choices. Bring up his friendship with Epstein. Ask if they'd commit to impeaching Trump if a video of him with a child comes to light
We need to stop letting them control the narrative, and better yet, create our own
Absolutely spot on. The existence of Hasan, El-Sayed and Mamdani flies directly in the face of the toxic masculinity propaganda they've been espousing to young men.
People like Pete Hegseth, who are so obsessed with the appearance of traditional "masculinity" despise that these people not only exist, but outclass them in every way.
Thank you for posting this, OP. This is a race the world over is watching. Let's hope for the best - and may the state of AIPAC/Israel get their genociding asses kicked once more in a few days.
I mean, he's against genocide...
But it's weird people act like that's the main topic.
Like, you've never even heard him speak on video, have you? It's nowhere near his priority and the only time it comes up is from rightwingers at townhalls.
Because they're desperate to talk about anything other than domestic progressive policy.
Making everything about Israel is Republicans best (but still shitty) option.
Maybe you haven't listened to him talk? He always mentions get money about of foreign wars aka the war with Iran that Israel started.
Everytime they mention Israel, he claps back with not spending money overseas. He doesn't make a direct focus, but it's a core part of keeping our tax dollars at home.
Again...
It's a lot more than just that single one.
Do you legitimately think that thata the only foreign war America is involved with?
Yes...
Everytime someone does what you did, he says what I just said...
What the actual fuck are you still having difficulty with here?
Watching from EU
Well of course. He’s a doctor. He fully understands down to your raw psychology why one is even asking a question. He’s extremely educated for a politician. A VAST improvement over these MAGAts.
Mehmet Oz is a doctor too. I'd be less liberal with how discerning and smart you think a person is based on that title alone.
Isn't Oz a grifter?
He's a world renowned cardiothorasic surgeon. Also a grifter, but the surgical credentials are legit
TIL, but also that's not what I meant. He's a grifter, therefore he knows he's pushing bullshit rather than being that dumb is what I was trying to say.
It's not just understanding; most American politicians are actually very well educated. Aside from just raw talent, the important factor here is his willingness to fight back and his having a platform that he can fight back over.
To be honest democrats are shitting themselves as well
Well, we need a lot more quick witted democrats because the majority of them are like deer in headlights.
They're still shocked that the GOP won't play nice.
They are handling it the same as they always do by being brain-dead mouth breathing racist shitbags
Trump would love to admire his cock through an oddly worded monologue
“All of our lies aren’t working, and that’s all we know how to do!“
Turdpublicans are bullies. Of course they can't handle it when someone punches them in the nose.
Give Abdul a show on the food network because our boy is fucking cooking!
I love this. We need more and more of candidates like this guy.
No more folding and no more resorting to a fake "civility" when the POS conservatives are out there lying their motherfucking asses off all the time.
I'm so sick of the Murc's Law Media giving the conservatives a pass in the name of "civility" and only punching leftwards. Glad to see a candidate that doesn't give that shit about fake "civility".
Tell the reactionary centrist Tone Police to go fuck themselves.
Yeah... intelligence and the truth scare the dogshit out of them. They're good at name calling. That's about their entire strategy. They really like name calling other people what they're really doing. Trump says "dem election fraud" when in fact it's his election fraud. Congress calls dem presidencies corrupt and full of fraud and instead it's the republicans who have almost, ALMOST... overturned the American government.
Watch out though - those sorry redcoats resort to violence, because after all, America is ALMOST trump's "mob" - and that's how animals "rule".
Glad to know I'm not the only one who noticed this. Him and Mamdani are brave people despite the bigotry. Their fighting prowess (which corporate Dems lack and it's by intention from them) is what's very needed to push against fascism.
If Democrats won't fight for themselves, how can they be expected to fight for us? Time to follow Mamdani and grow a spine!
Dude is so spicy. I've never seen a candidate clap back as hard as he does.
Abso-goddam-lutely
Ugh. Can we talk about his politics without turning it into some weird gender thing? I want to relate to his policies and goals. Pointless masculine aggression makes me not want to have anything to do with someone.
I agree, but if you actually listen to El-Sayed, that isn't what he's doing or who he is. It's easy for confidence to be misunderstood as aggression, particularly in politics. The right always tries to attack their opponents as "weak". Their understanding of that term is based on toxic masculinity as their only role model.
El-Sayed is a case study in the difference between toxic masculinity and healthy masculinity. He is a fighter, but he's fighting to help people, not to bully anyone. That is only an issue because his opponents keep bringing it up.
Right! Like, if that's not who he is, then who are they preaching to when they characterize him that way? Who are they appealing to? What I want to bring people across the aisle is improved empathy and understanding, not "our guy is your style" kind of compromises. The problem seems to exist in the media pipeline.
That's kinda the point of the story though right? That Jesse is a weirdo that is actually taken by that attitude
If you can't change someone's mind without appealing to their problematic side, then you've failed to change their mind, and they've succeeded at compromising your integrity.
I dunno that changing a fox news host's mind is the main game here..
Re-read the comment I was replying to.
Take your own advice. You're the only one talking about changing minds.
I did. I would still make the same point. We don't need to make every conservative a true progressive believer. We need to see material change that makes things better for everyone (which will probably help change many conservatives view of what is OK/good).
This is not a "by any means necessary" thing, it's a "use what levers you have access to" thing.
This just seems like extending purity politics to a cultural affect.
There's a debate to be had on purity politics in respect to actual policies and positions like supporting genocide, trans rights etc.
But if it's in regards to how you express those policies and positions that's just limiting your voting base with no real gain.
I"m just disappointed that this is the limit to the progress achievable from the best candidates the left can offer. I don't like having to compromise on anything considering how uncompromisingly awful this administration has been about everything. Making sure your hands are thoroughly washed isn't about some goofball idea of purity, it's a practical precaution.
Too fucking bad. You need votes. Getting bros excited to vote is about the only fucking chance you have to non violently avoid literal death camps being built out.
Whether you like it it not large swaths of humans act emotionally and how bros are feeling about a progressive is very much tied to our future.
It'll be a future that doesn't represent me or people like me, but I'd still be paying taxes. Hope they enjoy meeting the new boss who's the same as the old boss.
👌👍
So you'll just be in the same predicament that any American a who isn't a straight white cis male capital owner has always been in.
The people in that predicament right NOW don't have anything to loose.
Yeah about that. I'm trans and bi. So that is indeed my situation and I'm tired of every president, left or right, either merely tolerating my existence or wanting me dead. I'm willing to vote for the least of the evils when it counts, but I will not stop protesting that the people who are supposed to be progressive are okay falling right back in line behind the same kind of people that drove us to this point to begin with. Call me idealist, call me naive, call me ignorant, say whatever you like. I don't care. None of the people replying to me understand what the fuck I'm saying and they all act like I'm some kind of secret agent trying to nitpick and sow division among the left, when the truth is most of the left doesn't actually care about trans rights nearly as much as they claim, when it actually matters. They'll still say "maybe later" and vote for another cisgendered symbol of masculinity. Well, fuck that. And fuck this thread, too.
You just know that if he was a woman, they'd be foaming at the mouth about how she's "emotional", "unstable", or "shrill" instead.
It would be his opponents saying those things, not fans. It's his fans saying these things about him now and it doesn't fill me with confidence for a future not led by yet another shining symbol of masculine aggression.
Literally no, we can't
Politicians have broken faith so many times that talking about policy doesn't work. People will not simply vote for their self interest
A good candidate has to dress up their policies in presentation. They have to stand out in people's minds in a way that inspires confidence with limited exposure
What is gender but a bucket of traits and behaviors we group into a social role. It's ultimately a mental shortcut - if people see certain traits or behavior, people assume other associated traits and behaviors
The way that people are engaging with the gender presentation of a candidate is really important in politics (and pretty much nothing else)
All of this is true and serves not as an excuse, but as an indictment.
Yeah well.... You can spend your time upset about how the world sucks, or you can look at it accurately so you can effectively do something to make it better
Politics is a dumb game, but it's really important to play it well
This makes no sense. If I'm upset about how the world sucks, it's because I am looking at it accurately. I'm accurately evaluating it as a thing that sucks and should be changed. This isn't change, this is just the same shit creeping back in under the flag of change, and I'm not buying it. Have a nice day.
El-Sayed isn't toxically masculine like that MAGAt idiots. Don't confuse a guy that stands up for himself as more the same shit we have already. Talarico in Texas is similar. They both display "healthy" masculinity. So does Pete Buttigeig, that matter. There's a night and day difference between healthy and toxic masculinity. We need more of the healthy and truckload less of the toxic. El-Sayed is NOT more of the same. It's a different energy. It's very much the same difference of Obama versus Trump. If you think Obama and Trump are the same kind of man...then you need psychological help.
They're so completely different that people who admire toxic masculinity find him appealing. Yep. Definitely buying that.
No, you're upset that someone with good positions is being praised for qualities that shouldn't matter instead of their policies
But those traits do matter - the fact that El-Sayed delivers his message in a way that inspires confidence in low information voters doesn't take away from his positions. Instead, it empowers his positions. It enables positive change
This is what forward progress looks like. This is what winning looks like. It's progressive policy in a pretty package. It's good delivery of a good message
Nothing about that is a compromise
Yikes. Blocked.
That's how I feel about your nonsense! Bye.
lmao only misandrists would call those words “aggressive masculine”. You’re not the hero you think you are. You are part of the problem.