Michigan Senate Hopeful Abdul El-Sayed Calls US Political System a 'Disease' After Expressing Patriotism

Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed characterized the American political system as a "disease" during a recent appearance, moments after expressing his profound appreciation for the country where he was raised.

El-Sayed articulated a scathing assessment of the U.S. political structure on Sunday, during the concluding event of "The People v. The Powerful" tour, held at DeVos Performance Hall in Grand Rapids. He shared the stage with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. The trio collectively voiced criticism against former President Donald Trump, established party leadership, large corporations, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The Egyptian American physician and former public health official began by reflecting on the opportunities he believed the United States had provided him. He highlighted his "incredible" public university education and medical training, which he noted was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

"No, don't get it twisted. I love America. I know exactly what America gave to me. I know what my life would have been, but for America," El-Sayed stated. "I know what America can do, and at the same time, it's impossible not to reflect on the worst moments of those 250 years as well."

Critique of the Political Landscape

El-Sayed then posited that Donald Trump was not the fundamental issue but rather a manifestation of deeper systemic flaws within American politics.

"Donald Trump is not, himself, the disease of our politics. He's just the worst symptom of the disease of our politics," El-Sayed explained.

He further elaborated on what he identified as the core malady:

"The disease? It's the system that allows corporations and billionaires and special interests like AIPAC to buy and sell politicians to rig the system against us."

Representative Ocasio-Cortez echoed this sentiment earlier in the event, telling the audience, "You deserve a politics that treats the disease and not the symptoms."

Healthcare and Immigration Policy Stances

The Senate hopeful then directed his focus to the nation's healthcare infrastructure, asserting that medical debt should not exist. He contrasted the substantial cost of medical debt with federal expenditures on political campaigns and foreign aid.

"Medical debt shouldn't exist," he declared, claiming that the country's approximately $225 billion in medical debt could effectively be eliminated for around $2.25 billion, because it is possible to purchase it "for a penny on the dollar."

Subsequently, El-Sayed addressed ICE, labeling it a "rogue agency" that, in his view, ought to be abolished.

"ICE has nothing to do with immigration. ICE has nothing to do with the southern border. ICE is about normalizing paramilitary forces on our streets. ICE is about weaponizing the idea of immigration against the Constitution itself. ICE cannot be reformed. ICE cannot be retrained. ICE has to be abolished."

A 'Dangerous' Candidate

El-Sayed concluded by describing himself as "dangerous" to a variety of entrenched political and corporate entities, including health insurance providers and leaders within the Democratic Party.

"If you're Blue Cross Blue Shield, I'm dangerous," he asserted. "If you're Chuck Schumer, trading politicians like trading cards, I'm dangerous."