# Abdul El-Sayed vs Haley Stevens - Progressives vs Centrists, gloves-off discussion **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 3, 2026, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abdul-el-sayed-vs-haley-stevens-progressives-vs-centrists-gloves-off-discussion/1034371 "2026-11-03T17:14:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abdul-el-sayed-vs-haley-stevens-progressives-vs-centrists-gloves-off-discussion/1034371/121 "2026-11-03T23:40:16Z")
Hey, some of my best friends are Jewish! (Also, some of my best family members, like my mom, uncle, her parents who met while on the run from the Nazis while they were murdering my grandfather’s family, many close friends and other family members, and on and on) ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abdul-el-sayed-vs-haley-stevens-progressives-vs-centrists-gloves-off-discussion/1034371/122 "2026-11-03T23:40:58Z")
I’m with spice weasel. It was really weird behavior from a politician. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abdul-el-sayed-vs-haley-stevens-progressives-vs-centrists-gloves-off-discussion/1034371/123 "2026-11-03T23:41:29Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > She asked him to condemn the ad, he responded by disinviting her from his rally. He told her she had no place in his campaign; what did he think was going to happen? He did? I heard it was AOC. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abdul-el-sayed-vs-haley-stevens-progressives-vs-centrists-gloves-off-discussion/1034371/124 "2026-11-03T23:46:53Z")
If I’m understanding correctly, there was also a pro-El-Sayed ad that featured Tucker Carlson praising El-Sayed? This whole thing is so convoluted. I’ll tell you if I saw Tucker Carlson praising any candidate I’d think twice about voting for him. Weird that they took that tack. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abdul-el-sayed-vs-haley-stevens-progressives-vs-centrists-gloves-off-discussion/1034371/125 "2026-11-03T23:48:34Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > But haven’t you said that this whole thing isn’t about the ad? Everything but the ad has been on the table for months. Why didn’t she make her fascist turn earlier? > **[Straw that broke the camel's back](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_that_broke_the_camel%27s_back)** > > The idiom "the straw that broke the camel's back" describes a minor or routine action that causes an unpredictably large and sudden reaction due to the cumulative effect of previous small actions. It alludes to the proverb "it is the last straw that breaks the camel's back". This gives rise to the phrase "the last straw", or "the final straw", meaning that the last one in a line of unacceptable occurrences causes a seemingly sudden and strong reaction. The earliest known version of the expression... And like I said, I agree that she shouldn’t have done it. So you’re basically asking me “why did she make this mistake now instead of earlier?”. Well, I can’t justify the mistake for you. If I did, I wouldn’t think it’s a mistake. But I don’t find the timing of that mistake particularly odd. The closer you get to an election, the higher the stakes go. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abdul-el-sayed-vs-haley-stevens-progressives-vs-centrists-gloves-off-discussion/1034371/126 "2026-11-03T23:51:31Z")
I’m getting the sense that the schism really came down to ideological differences between Haley and Abdul that couldn’t otherwise be resolved. Some may see an abusive relationship, but it could be she just really cares about her husband’s opinion, especially if she’s part of a whole community that thinks she should renounce El-Sayed. Abuse not required in that scenario. Social pressure is a sufficient explanation - for not endorsing Abdul. But endorsing Mike Rogers is batshit insane. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abdul-el-sayed-vs-haley-stevens-progressives-vs-centrists-gloves-off-discussion/1034371/127 "2026-11-03T23:51:35Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > If I’m understanding correctly, there was also a pro-El-Sayed ad that featured Tucker Carlson praising El-Sayed? This whole thing is so convoluted. It was an El Sayed ad that featured a bunch of Republicans saying either positive things about El Sayed or negative things about Mike Rogers. Technically if I’m being super charitable the specific clip of Tucker was one where he said he wouldn’t vote for Mike Rogers if there was a gun to his head, so you _could_ argue that it wasn’t exactly Tucker praising El Sayed, but many of the other clips of Republicans _were_ praising him (calling him charismatic, a good speaker, etc) and it was a weird including anyways. And to me that’s a bit of a distinction without difference. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abdul-el-sayed-vs-haley-stevens-progressives-vs-centrists-gloves-off-discussion/1034371/128 "2026-11-03T23:52:48Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > He did? I heard it was AOC. You really need to get those voices in your head checked out. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abdul-el-sayed-vs-haley-stevens-progressives-vs-centrists-gloves-off-discussion/1034371/129 "2026-11-03T23:54:06Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Technically if I’m being super charitable the specific clip of Tucker was one where he said he wouldn’t vote for Mike Rogers if there was a gun to his head, so you _could_ argue that it wasn’t exactly Tucker praising El Sayed, Well that makes a little more sense if it’s targeted at people who like Tucker Carlson. I’m not sure I would want their votes, though. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abdul-el-sayed-vs-haley-stevens-progressives-vs-centrists-gloves-off-discussion/1034371/130 "2026-11-03T23:56:58Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > If I’m understanding correctly, there was also a pro-El-Sayed ad that featured Tucker Carlson praising El-Sayed? This whole thing is so convoluted. > > I’ll tell you if I saw Tucker Carlson praising any candidate I’d think twice about voting for him. Weird that they took that tack. My understanding (from reading about it here, I haven’t seen the ad) is that Tucker Carlson is trashing Rogers, not praising El-Sayed. If that’s what it is, then I can live with it. (and I hate Carslon as much as anyone). > [@Babale](#): > > Maybe the endorsing Mike Rogers part is surprising, but denouncing El Sayed? After what he did to her? Not surprising at all. _What he did to her_? His disinvited her to his rally (according to your post, I really don’t know) and he told her she had no place in his campaign. Hardly capital offenses in the world of politics. He also beat her in the primary. > [@Babale](#): > > None of what I have said about El Sayed has been excessive. If it sounds excessive, it’s because his actual behavior has been egregious. You’ve been beating this drum for a couple days now, and I haven’t seen any conduct you mention as anything I would call egregious. You don’t have to love everything he does or say, that’s fine. But I’m having a hard time finding anything to be actually outraged about. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abdul-el-sayed-vs-haley-stevens-progressives-vs-centrists-gloves-off-discussion/1034371/131 "2026-11-03T23:57:07Z")
This is where you could have provided evidence that El-Sayed disinvited Stevens from his rally and told her she had no place in his campaign. But you went with the insult… as always. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abdul-el-sayed-vs-haley-stevens-progressives-vs-centrists-gloves-off-discussion/1034371/132 "2026-11-04T00:03:20Z")
He egregiously opposes genocide. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abdul-el-sayed-vs-haley-stevens-progressives-vs-centrists-gloves-off-discussion/1034371/133 "2026-11-04T00:03:32Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > This is where you could have provided evidence that El-Sayed disinvited Stevens from his rally and told her she had no place in his campaign. Wait, you were asking for a cite? For something that everyone who has spent even a microsecond investigating the issue already knew? Why didn’t you say so? I thought you were trying for some kind of snarky barb implying that I’m obsessed with AOC or something. I can’t read your deranged little mind, you know. Here you go: > **[Haley Stevens advised to stay away from Abdul El-Sayed campaign events to...](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/31/abdul-el-sayed-haley-stevens-disinvited-from-events)** > > A public spat has cast Democratic tensions in the spotlight as the close US Senate race draws to a head > [@](#): > > Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for Michigan’s tightly fought US Senate race, wants the Democratic congresswoman Haley Stevens to stay away from his campaign events. > > “I don’t want any distractions,” El-Sayed told reporters after a campaign rally, according to the New York Times. “It seems as though other folks are more interested in making this race about things that it’s not about.” Maybe next time you want something you should just say so instead of making smarmy little sounds in the corner and then moaning about how victimized you are when you don’t get what you want. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abdul-el-sayed-vs-haley-stevens-progressives-vs-centrists-gloves-off-discussion/1034371/134 "2026-11-04T00:07:24Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > I can’t read your deranged little mind, you know. > [@Babale](#): > > I thought you were trying for some kind of snarky barb implying that I’m obsessed with AOC or something. Make up your fucking mind. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abdul-el-sayed-vs-haley-stevens-progressives-vs-centrists-gloves-off-discussion/1034371/135 "2026-11-04T00:08:07Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Make up your fucking mind Thank you for conceding that I was right so gracefully. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abdul-el-sayed-vs-haley-stevens-progressives-vs-centrists-gloves-off-discussion/1034371/136 "2026-11-04T00:09:07Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Maybe next time you want something you should just say so Like this? > [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > > [@Babale](#): > > > > (he didn’t mention that those relatives were Hezbollah members) > > How many relatives and how many were Hezbollah? 'Cause you’ve only given us one. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abdul-el-sayed-vs-haley-stevens-progressives-vs-centrists-gloves-off-discussion/1034371/137 "2026-11-04T00:13:45Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Here you go: Which says, > The two had planned to appear together on Sunday at a church service in Detroit, but Representative Debbie Dingell later told CNN she had spoken to Stevens and told her “This isn’t working.” Who woulda guessed that Abdul El-Sayed was Debbie Dingell in disguise! But as we’ve seen close enough is close enough for you. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abdul-el-sayed-vs-haley-stevens-progressives-vs-centrists-gloves-off-discussion/1034371/138 "2026-11-04T00:13:49Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Like this Sure. He lost two Hezbollah brothers and one of his brothers had two kids who were killed in the strike. What point do you imagine you’re making? ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abdul-el-sayed-vs-haley-stevens-progressives-vs-centrists-gloves-off-discussion/1034371/139 "2026-11-04T00:15:07Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > He lost two Hezbollah brothers and one of his brothers had two kids who were killed in the strike. Two kids who were clearly Hezbollah! ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abdul-el-sayed-vs-haley-stevens-progressives-vs-centrists-gloves-off-discussion/1034371/140 "2026-11-04T00:16:12Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Two kids who were clearly Hezbollah No, they were civilians. Sometimes civilians die in strikes on valid military targets. Again, what point do you think you’re making? What does that have to do with the terrorist attack in Michigan? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abdul-el-sayed-vs-haley-stevens-progressives-vs-centrists-gloves-off-discussion/1034371.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abdul-el-sayed-vs-haley-stevens-progressives-vs-centrists-gloves-off-discussion/1034371.md?page=8)