Kuster Confesses: Democrats 'Holding Back' On Criticizing Antisemitic Campus Protests

By Michael Graham, NH Journal

In a new interview, Rep. Annie Kuster says many Democrats “have been, kind of, holding back” on weighing in on the college protests.

“It’s complicated enough for us with the range of opinions and height of emotions we have without weighing in on what [colleges] should be doing,” Kuster told Axios.

That appears to include the two Democrats running to replace Kuster in Congress, both of whom have repeatedly declined to answer questions about the campus protests or their displays of anti-Jewish sentiment.

Neither Colin Van Ostern nor state Sen. Becky Whitley have spoken publicly on the issue, even as the House overwhelmingly passed the bipartisan Antisemitism Awareness Act. And there is no mention of the protests on their social media.

Asked if they would support the bipartisan bill backed by Kuster and Rep. Chris Pappas, both campaigns were a “no comment.” They also declined to say if they agree with Kuster that the issue of antisemitic campus protests is too “complicated” and fraught with “emotions” for Democrats to address with voters.

Political analysts say Democrats like Van Ostern and Whitley are in a tough place politically. Polls show New Hampshire Democrats are critical of Israel, and there is a vocal base of pro-Palestinian activism in their party.

The same is true for President Joe Biden, who continues to struggle in the polls in key swing states. Kuster referenced that difficult electoral math in her comments.

“It just has become this confrontation. And in certain states like Michigan, there are big Arab American populations, big Jewish populations, it’s roiling all kinds of groups,” Kuster said.

One group it’s not “roiling” is the GOP lineup to replace Kuster, who’s not seeking reelection in November. Granite State Republicans like Vikram Mansharamani and Lily Tang Williams have loudly denounced the anti-Israel and antisemitic statements of the protesters, both across the nation and in New Hampshire.

The same is true in the race for governor. As anti-Israel protesters were arrested at the University of New Hampshire and Dartmouth College Wednesday night, the Republican candidates for governor kept up their criticism of the “from the river to the sea” messaging. Former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte and former state Senate President Chuck Morse have both used their social media accounts to decry the protests in the Granite State.

“What’s happening on college campuses across the country is unacceptable, and in our Granite State, we will not tolerate such hateful, lawless behavior,” Morse said. “Students deserve to feel safe and attend classes without fear of antisemitism, violence or destruction of property. This is not the New Hampshire way.”

But even as protesters resisted arrest and fought with police in Durham and Hanover, N.H., the two Democrats running for the governor’s job — former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig and Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington — maintained their silence. They declined to respond to requests for comment, and there isn’t a mention of the campus protests from their campaigns.

Some Granite State Republicans have expressed astonishment at the Democrats’ silence, saying it doesn’t make political sense.

“More Democrats wrote in [Nikki] Haley than 'Ceasefire,'” one Concord GOP insider told NHJournal. “The protesters aren’t going to win the election, not even the primary.”

In the First in the Nation presidential primary, opponents of U.S. support for Israel urged Democrats to write in “ceasefire” on their ballots. Just 1,497 Democrats wrote in “ceasefire,” while 4,695 wrote in GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley.

This story was originally published by the NH Journal, an online news publication dedicated to providing fair, unbiased reporting on, and analysis of, political news of interest to New Hampshire. For more stories from the NH Journal, visit NHJournal.com.