State Sen. Scott Wiener has recently stoked the flames of an already intense Democratic congressional race by changing his stance on the controversial issue of Israeli military actions in Gaza. Wiener, while being heckled and facing harsh criticism from constituents and fellow candidates, has shifted from his previous reluctance to label the situation as genocide to acknowledgment of the term's applicability to Gaza under Israel's attacks. According to a San Francisco Chronicle report, during a recent candidate forum, rivals Supervisor Connie Chan and former congressional staffer Saikat Chakrabarti were quick to signify their positions with signs reading "yes" in response to the genocide question. Wiener, conversely, chose a more nuanced response at the time, leading to substantial jeers from the audience.
Post-forum, Wiener articulated his updated viewpoint in a 90-second video clip, "I’ve stopped short of calling it genocide, but I can’t anymore," Wiener explained. Unveiled on his social media, this statement represents a stark evolution from Wiener's prior circumspect comments on the matter. Scott Wiener, who identifies as Jewish, previously expressed hesitation in using the term genocide given its historical significance, especially related to the Holocaust, which saw the extermination of six million Jews. This detail was amplified in an interview where he discussed the moral stain the Israeli government's actions have caused, especially the killing of Palestinian children, as detailed in a report by The SF Standard.
The response to Wiener's volte-face has been swift and critical from his campaign rivals. Emily Hyden, campaign manager for Chakrabarti, accused Wiener of political opportunism, telling the San Francisco Chronicle, "Genocide shouldn’t be something you say yes or no to based on the reporter you are talking to or how your poll numbers look." Similarly, Julie Edwards, spokesperson for Chan, condemned Wiener's motives, saying, "People getting killed didn’t move him, but boos at a forum did. This is about politics, not principle."
