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The socialist Democrat primed to represent much of America’s birthplace in Congress profanely erupted Thursday at Democrats distancing themselves from far-left streamer Hasan Piker, who once suggested the U.S. deserved the September 11, 2001, terror attacks.
Pennsylvania state Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Northwest Philadelphia, is one of several democratic socialists running in November as some prominent Democrats condemn or distance themselves from Piker over his radical left-wing positions and controversial comments.
“This is what the institutionalists are focusing their efforts on now: Disavowing Hasan Piker,” Rabb tweeted Friday.
WHO IS HASAN PIKER? MEET THE FAR-LEFT STREAMER WHO IS STIRRING UP CONTROVERSY AND DIVIDING DEMOCRATS
“Not White Christian nationalists? Not the broligarchs? Not the AI overlords? Nope, the guy encouraging young people to use their collective political power for good,” Rabb wrote.
“F— that noise.”
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In a test of Philadelphia’s socialist-progressive versus establishment divide, Rabb won a four-way primary that included state Sen. Sharif Street, D-North Philadelphia, the son of a former mayor who was endorsed by several mainstream Democrats.
Rabb had already embraced his association with Piker during the primary, appearing with the streamer at an event in West Philadelphia in April.
He told Piker at the time that he would be “slammed for even talking to you” and called such criticism a “double standard because as a Black progressive, I can’t do this: I’m part of the problem or whatever,” according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Fox News Digital reached out to Rabb and Piker for comment.
Rabb’s defense puts him at odds with a growing list of prominent Democrats who have condemned Piker.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., called Piker’s comments about American Jews “dangerous and anti-Semitic.”
ANTISEMITIC STREAMER FINALLY MAKES DEM LEADER SNAP WITH RARE REBUKE: ‘MALICIOUS’
When pressed by CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, who is Jewish, Jeffries said, “I’ve just addressed Hasan Piker’s comments as it relates to the Jewish community as forcefully as I can, and I will continue to do that.”
On Tuesday, Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., called for a vote on a bipartisan resolution condemning Piker and conservative podcaster Candace Owens.
ELISSA SLOTKIN CALLS OUT HASAN PIKER FOR BLAMING JEWISH AMERICANS TARGETED OVER THEIR ISRAEL VIEWS
“Hatred is hatred, period. I said it months ago with Rep. Lawler, and Piker has proved it again,” Gottheimer said in a statement.
“Telling millions of followers that Jewish Americans are bringing violence on themselves is blatantly antisemitic and one of the oldest tropes in the book,” Gottheimer added.
EL-SAYED DISTANCES HIMSELF FROM HASAN PIKER AFTER DISTURBING REMARKS ABOUT JEWISH AMERICANS
Gottheimer declared that anyone campaigning with Piker is “complicit” with him.
Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., also accused Piker this week of “victim-blaming” American Jews and reiterated his earlier description of the streamer as an “unapologetic antisemite.”
Schneider warned Democrats risk losing credibility when they condemn controversial figures on the right while “platforming those who espouse hate of any kind” on their own side.
Schneider also took a shot at another socialist-aligned candidate running for high office, saying Michigan’s Abdul El-Sayed has “refused” to condemn Piker.
El-Sayed appeared to distance himself from Piker, telling the Michigan Advance that “nobody speaks for this campaign besides me and my campaign spokespeople” as he faced criticism over his association with the Twitch streamer.
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Rabb faces only independent Dennis Mahoney in November in Pennsylvania’s heavily Democratic 3rd Congressional District and is strongly favored to succeed retiring Rep. Dwight Evans, D-Pa.
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