‘Michigan Chronicle’ Reporter Jeremy Allen: Stevens Did Not Satisfy Questions About AIPAC Funding
“Michigan Chronicle” executive editor Jeremy Allen reports on the Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate debate between Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed.
LAURA COATES, CNN ANCHOR: I want to begin with Jeremy Allen, the executive editor of “The Michigan Chronicle,” the state’s largest Black-owned newspaper, Joe Crowley, former Democratic congressman from New York, and Shermichael Singleton, CNN local commentator and Republican strategist. I’ll begin with you, Jeremy. Thank you for being with us today. I mean, Congresswoman Haley Stevens was repeatedly pressed on whether the tens of millions in funding boost from the pro-Israel group AIPAC should concern voters. Here’s what she said. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) STEVENS: Absolutely not, Roop. Look, I have been very clear, consistent, and transparent. And I have continued to be. I want to see long-term peace. I want to see a two-state solution. ROOP RAJ, FOX 2 NEWS HOST: But no concern about the $ 46 million plus spent on the behalf of AIPAC. That should worry people about perhaps you doing their bidding should you win the seat. STEVENS: Well, I don’t think there’s much difference between super PACs going in for Abdul or super PACs going in for me. (END VIDEO CLIP) COATES: So, you’ve covered Michigan voters. How does that — both sides are doing at defense land? JEREMY ALLEN, EXECUTIVE EDITOR, THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE: I don’t think it lands very well with Michigan voters because, you know, there has been a huge concern. There’s going to be an initiative on the ballot in November in Michigan about removing corporate money from politics. And this question that Haley kind of danced around for a minute before eventually answering is a question that’s on the mind of so many Michiganders. You know, if you’re getting all this money, what are you going to have to pay for it eventually? What’s going to come on the back end of it? And I don’t think she satisfied the viewers and the voters with some of her responses. And, you know, to El-Sayed’s credit, he continued to push the issue with her and continued to bring up that point about the AIPAC funding throughout the debate tonight.
