Quick Hit:

CNN commentator Van Jones has speculated that antisemitism within the Democratic Party might have influenced Vice President Kamala Harris' decision to bypass Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro for Minnesota's Governor Tim Walz as her running mate.

Key Details:

• Moderate vs. Bias? Van Jones questioned whether Shapiro's exclusion was due to his moderate political stance or potential antisemitic sentiments within the party.
• Antisemitism in Politics: Amid heightened tensions following recent conflicts involving Israel, allegations of antisemitism have surged, particularly concerning Shapiro's past pro-Israel positions.
• Democratic Dynamics: The decision could reflect internal party dynamics, where aligning with certain international stances might be more palatable to some Democratic factions.

Diving Deeper:

On Tuesday, Van Jones, a former Obama official, suggested that Vice President Kamala Harris may have succumbed to pressures from antisemitic elements within the Democratic Party by selecting Governor Tim Walz over Josh Shapiro as her running mate. Shapiro, a Jewish politician with a previously favorable standing, faced opposition from the far-left faction of the party due to his supportive stance on Israel, especially highlighted by his earlier writings and affiliations with the Israeli Defense Forces.

Jones articulated concerns that antisemitism, "marbled into the party," might be influencing decisions, overshadowing political merit with bigotry. "You also have anti-Semitism that has gotten marbled into this party. You can be for the Palestinians without being an anti-Jewish bigot, but there are some anti-Jewish bigots out there," Jones said.

Criticism from far-left groups, notably after Shapiro's decades-old opinions resurfaced, underscores the internal conflicts within the Democratic Party concerning Israel. Shapiro’s spokesman, Manuel Bonder, emphasized that the governor's views have evolved significantly since his college days, highlighting his efforts to foster relationships across diverse communities in Pennsylvania. In a statement tto Fox News Digital, Bonder said of Shapiro, "Since he wrote this piece as a 20-year-old student, Gov. Shapiro has built close, meaningful, informative relationships with many Muslim-American, Arab-American, Palestinian Christian, and Jewish community leaders all across Pennsylvania."