Michigan Debate: El-Sayed Calls Rogers’ Remarks on Oct. 7 ‘Political Theater’
Michigan Senate candidates clash over responses to Oct. 7 Hamas attack during debate in Grand Rapids.
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In a heated exchange during a Michigan Senate debate in Grand Rapids, Republican former Rep. Mike Rogers accused Democratic candidate Abdulrahman El-Sayed of engaging in ‘political theater’ for not acknowledging the atrocities of the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack in Israel. Rogers criticized El-Sayed for failing to issue a statement on the Wednesday anniversary of the attack, urging voters to be ‘absolutely angry’ at the Democrat’s lack of acknowledgment.
Rogers’ Accusations of Political Theater
Rogers took to the debate stage to highlight El-Sayed’s silence, recounting the violent nature of the attack, including ‘rape, murders, cutting off of women’s breasts, putting children in ovens and killing them in front of their families.’ He emphasized that El-Sayed had not ‘mustered’ the strength to acknowledge such horrors. El-Sayed interrupted, asserting that he had ‘condemned’ the attack and that his campaign was not ‘political theater for political gain.’
Rogers, however, dismissed El-Sayed’s claim, branding the entire campaign as ‘political theater.’ He also criticized El-Sayed for ‘putting on a white jacket and calling himself a doctor,’ referencing reports that while El-Sayed holds a medical degree, there is ‘overwhelming evidence’ that he has no experience as a licensed medical doctor.
El-Sayed’s Response and Silence
After the debate, El-Sayed refused to answer a reporter’s question about why he had not issued a statement on the anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack. This silence has drawn further scrutiny, with critics questioning his stance on the issue. The debate highlights the deepening divide between the two candidates, with Rogers accusing El-Sayed of avoiding the topic, while El-Sayed insists his approach is not about political gain but about acknowledging the pain of others.
Source: Breitbart
