OPINION:
Any candidate aligned with Hasan Piker should renounce him or face major backlash. The Twitch streamer is bad news.
Even longtime Democrat James Carville spoke out against the left-wing influencer, saying, “There’s two things that I know about Hasan Piker. One, he’s an idiot, and two, he’s not a Democrat. So, I don’t answer for idioms and I don’t answer for people who are not Democrats.”
During the primary election in Michigan, Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed campaigned with Hasan Piker. The self-described socialist streamer campaigned with other democratic socialists too, including state Rep. Francesca Hong — who nearly won the primary in Wisconsin.
Ms. Hong also received backlash for campaigning with the controversial character, but she took the help she received on turnout and the money she was able to raise by streaming with him.
Mr. Piker has said that “America deserved 9/11.” He faced renewed scrutiny when he put a copy of the New York Times from the day after the attacks, Sept. 12, 2001, with the headline, “U.S. Attacked: Hijacked Jets Destroy Twin Towers and Hit Pentagon in Day of Terror” on his set.
The framed front page features a photo of the Twin Towers burning after the terrorist attacks.
As we approach the 25th anniversary of those atrocities, it is important to remember what was done that day, who did it and why.
Each year, Young America’s Foundation helps college and high school students put 2,977 American flags on each campus to commemorate the innocent lives on Sept. 11, 2001.
Over the years, Young America’s Foundation helped students put up over 14 million flags. Originally the “9/11: Never Forget Project “had nearly universal support from school leaders and students.
But recently, some radical students have objected and even suggested that America deserved what happened.
It is a reminder to all of us that we cannot assume young people understand the circumstances surrounding the worst attacks on American soil since Pearl Harbor.
This is why Mr. Piker’s rhetoric is so dangerous. And why people should be wary of candidates who associate with him.
Mr. Piker has also made radical comments about Jewish people in America. He has stated: “If Jews in America keep putting this idea out there that they are singularly invested in Israel, eventually someone’s going to come around and take action, not against the state of Israel, mind you, but against American Jews.”
He called Orthodox Jews “inbred,” defended Hamas, calling the terror organization “1,000 [times] better than Israel” and criticized those who condemned the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre of more than 1,200 Americans and Israelis in Israel.
In one of his more damning moments, Mr. Piker actually said during a stream, “It doesn’t matter if rape happened on October 7. It doesn’t change the dynamic for me.” This was in response to being confronted by people referencing the reports by the United Nations and other organizations that documented mass sexual assaults during the Oct. 7 attacks.
This is absolutely disgusting and should be condemned by people on the left and right. Mr. Piker is a sick pig.
Candidates including Mr. El-Sayed are now trying to distance themselves from Mr. Piker. Watch carefully. Mr. El-Sayed has only said that he will not be campaigning with Mr. Piker in Michigan. He has yet to denounce the man or his ideas.
So either Mr. El-Sayed supports the ideas or he is afraid to alienate Mr. Piker. It is likely both. He must be held to account for this outrageous alliance.
So many democratic socialist candidates have campaigned with Mr. Piker. When they appear on his show and otherwise associate with him, they are doing more than talking to his audience. These candidates are embracing his ideas.
Besides holding controversial views on Israel, the Jewish people and the 9/11 attacks, Mr. Piker is pushing policies that have failed elsewhere in the world. Limits on rent have led to shortages of housing in the past. So have price controls.
And government-run healthcare that operates like the post office instead of moving toward more market-driven reforms that make things like cellular service affordable for the masses are what Mr. Piker and his pet candidates are pushing on Americans.
We should all be forewarned that Mr. Piker’s brand of democratic socialism does not work. It failed in the past when tried around the world. It continues to ruin countries like Venezuela. And it will ruin America if we go down this dangerous path in the future.
Candidates like Abdul El-Sayed must denounce Mr. Piker. If not, the media must force him to defend the outrageous statements and failed opinions expressed by Mr. Piker.
• Scott Walker is a columnist for The Washington Times. He was the 45th governor of Wisconsin and launched a bid for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. He lives in Milwaukee and is the proud owner of a 2003 Harley-Davidson Road King. He can be reached at swalker@washingtontimes.com.
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