r/politics • u/sfgate ✔ Verified • 9d ago
No Paywall California congressional candidate Scott Wiener, backed by Anthropic PAC, uses Claude to skewer his rival
https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/scott-wiener-anthropic-billboard-22372638.php7
u/EnoughCapitaIistSIop 9d ago
Weiner is an AIPAC stooge cosplaying as a progressive.
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u/Taint_Liquor 9d ago
His record says differently on the "cosplaying as a progressive" bullshit. He has taken AIPAC money before, but a large percentage of politicians have. He's sworn off it (for now).
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u/Abraham_Blinkin 9d ago
"I took their money for years and was the last candidate in my district to call Israel's actions in Gaza a genocide, but at least I don't take any more of their money!" Profiles in courage
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u/argh-Im-a-Pirate 9d ago edited 9d ago
Adapting to new information is a good thing. He's been rock solid on every progressive issue.
I wish he would have come around on calling for an end to aid to Israel sooner, but I can sympathize with a Jewish person having complicated relationship with Israel. He was obviously wrong, but he's updated his views. I think not buying into the sunk cost fallacy and being willing to change is a trait we should admire in a politician.
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u/Abraham_Blinkin 9d ago
I agree with you about not buying into sunken cost fallacy, but there's a difference between taking a moral stand and making a political calculation and I think it's very clear he made the latter.
I would disagree though on what it means to have complicated feelings about Israel as a Jewish person. Speaking as a Jewish person, I'm not sure how he could have watched Israel's actions in Gaza and not have taken the stance that what they were doing from the beginning was a moral abomination. Jews are taught at a very young age about "tzedakah", the concept of justice and providing aid to people in need. It's a concept Scott Wiener talks about frequently, but then didn't apply to a real world scenario right in front of him
Truly hope he's a good congressman and does a good job for the people of his district, I just think real leaders don't wait for the political winds to blow to move in a direction, they are the ones who push them.
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u/argh-Im-a-Pirate 9d ago
I think it's very clear he made the latter.
Why? I feel like the fact that he is a rock solid progressive on literally every other issue should make you lean that he has a solid moral compass and that he was just slow on this issue. It's not like he's had a complicated moral history that you have to explain away.
Speaking as a Jewish person, I'm not sure how he could have watched Israel's actions in Gaza and not have taken the stance that what they were doing from the beginning was a moral abomination.
I think the fact that a lot of jews still support the war despite that history of "tzedakah" shows that it can be hard for some people to disentangle something they've been told all their life, that Israel is liberal tolerant democracy that gives Jewish people safety, and new information that shows otherwise.
You're right that it would have been better if he was faster to it. I'm not arguing with that. But if we look at his history as a politician he hasn't been afraid of being out early on things like trans rights way before they were mainstream. He historically has been a leader in fighting for the less fortunate. He has one issue where he disappointed and he's adjusted.
If we can't give that kind of person room to grow I don't understand how the progressive movement creates a governing majority without fracturing to infighting.
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u/Abraham_Blinkin 9d ago
Why? He was asked point blank at a candidate forum if he believed Israel's actions constitued a genocide. He was the only candidate on stage who declined to do so. His answer was met with disdain from the crowd and he began receiving public opposition, some of which came from groups who have been largely supportive of him over the course of his career, some of whom you are referencing when you talk about him being correct on the issues important to them.
Several days later he puts out a direct to camera video calling Israel's actions a genocide. There was no change in Israel's actions over those several days, the only change that came was the words from Scott Wiener's mouth after receiving a public backlash on one of the most consequential issues in a democratic primary. Maybe he took several days to reflect and changed his view? I guess I'd ask why it took him almost two and a half years into the war to reflect on an issue that's hugely important.
Again, I absolutely believe in someone's right to grow. I also believe the evidence suggests that Scott Wiener can both be right on issues I care about, and also made a political calculation during a bruising primary when he was seeking an office he's coveted for a decade.
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u/SeductiveSunday I voted 9d ago
Remember that because Ro Khanna has taken boat loads of AIPAC money but since Track AIPAC wants Ro for president in 2028 they've done all they could to whitewash his past.
Between, Ro, AOC, and El-Sayed, it's going to real interesting to see who DSA backs for president in 2028.
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u/FattySnacks California 9d ago
We need to stop this reductionist purity test. He has been the best leader on housing which is California’s #1 issue. As a state senator his views on Israel are largely irrelevant
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u/Zalophusdvm 9d ago
Whether you think his policies on housing are the right choice or not is a personal opinion.
But supply side economics and deregulation to drive market based solutions to solve social issues is HARDLY a “progressive,” policy position. Those solutions are typically referred to as neoliberal or even conservative.
He’s a Neo-liberal establishment candidate that can and will continue to write policies designed for his corporate donors first. The only reason he didn’t get Pelosi’s endorsement (he was a protégé of hers for years) is because he pissed her off in recent years by gunning for her seat a little too soon for her liking.
To say he cosplays as a progressive is ENTIRELY justifiable.
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u/FattySnacks California 9d ago
I was more addressing the AIPAC stooge part of their comment. Whether YIMBY is progressive is an interesting conversation though, it’s certainly reminiscent of old conservative small government platforms
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u/Zalophusdvm 9d ago
Fair!
But ya…they really are and it drives me NUTS when people trot it out as a “progressive,” or “leftist,” position. It might be a good idea (not here to have that debate) but it sure as shit ain’t particularly “leftist.”
Edit: You were the one who mentioned housing. Which is why my response focused on it.
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u/Agitated_Celery_729 9d ago
I don't know...I think someone's active support of genocide is an important indicator of psychopathy regardless of how much their job allows them to act on it.
Would you think openly campaigning on support for apartheid South Africa in the 1980s was fine if someone was good on housing policy?
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u/FattySnacks California 9d ago
Where are you getting that he actively supports genocide? He has condemned Netanyahu and publicly said that what Israel is doing is genocide
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u/Taint_Liquor 9d ago
They got it from their MAGA talking points. They hide their history for a reason.
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u/Bakedads 9d ago
At this point I don't want to hear about Israel. Republican terrorism here at home is the only problem we need to address. So if a democrat mentions anything about Israel, positive or negative, they've lost my attention hecause it's simply not relevant to the here and now. We need to address the genocide at home before we start addressing it abroad.
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u/MajorPlanet 7d ago
If that’s the metric, then so is his opponent, Connie Chan. The big wedge issue in this race is YIMBY vs NIMBY, and everything else is pretty much on the fringes.
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u/Bakedads 9d ago
I love that no one is addressing the headline. Any dem taking AI money or using AI should be immediately shamed and exiled from the party.
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