El-Sayed Disavows Hasan Piker Comments in 1-Hour Detroit Event as Rogers Skips Senate Debate
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 16
El-Sayed Disavows Hasan Piker Comments in 1-Hour Detroit Event as Rogers Skips Senate Debate
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 16
Summary
Tuesday's Detroit forum left Abdul El-Sayed alone for roughly an hour after Republican Mike Rogers declined to appear, forcing the Michigan Democratic Senate nominee to answer pointed questions on Hasan Piker, Israel, campaign money and socialism.
Pressed on whether he could fully disavow Piker, El-Sayed said "absolutely" and cited the streamer's remarks about Jewish Americans and 9/11, while still defending engagement with Piker as outreach to his millions of followers.
On Israel, El-Sayed refused a yes-or-no answer on recognizing it as a Jewish state, instead framing his position around equal rights and self-determination for Palestinians and Jewish Israelis.
He also rejected being part of the Democratic Socialists of America, called himself a capitalist, defended CAIR as a civil-rights group and accused Rogers of trying to turn the race into a culture war centered on his faith and ethnicity.
Rogers formally declined the Aug. 5-invited debate Tuesday morning over objections to moderator Roop Raj; the two candidates are still scheduled to meet again on Oct. 8 and Oct. 21 before November's election.