(Mark Pellin, Headline USA) Congressional Democrats ran scared when asked about soaring crime rates sweeping the country, triggered in large part by their party’s lax law enforcement policies, as public safety emerges as a key concern for midterm voters.
When Fox News reporter Gianno Caldwell went searching for comment on the wave of violence hitting particularly hard in Democrat-run cities, the Democrats that have promoted everything from defund the police to the elimination of cash bail fled the questions like a plague.
The Democrat dodges took on an added dimension of shamelessness considering the reporter asking the questions. Caldwell’s brother was killed earlier this year in Chicago’s gun violence epidemic.
“We just want to talk about the crisis that is impacting our country with crime across the nation,” Caldwell said as he tried to get a response from Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., who refused to comment, claiming he was “in a rush.”
“I can’t do it now,” Nadler claimed.
“Congressman Nadler, can we set up a meeting with your office and have a discussion?” Caldwell asked.
“Uh,” Nadler responded. “Maybe. I’m going to be pretty busy.”
Would tomorrow work better, Caldwell pressed, asking again, “Who should we reach out to in your office, Congressman?
“We just want to talk about the crime crisis in America.”
Nadler didn’t and slunk into an elevator to escape.
Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., blithely thanked Caldwell for his questions and dodged any comment.
Q: “Senator, any reaction to the crime crisis in America? Crime is up. There’s a crisis. “
SENATOR CHUCK SCHUMER: “Thank you.” pic.twitter.com/1iuepi9Umo
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) October 6, 2022
Republican lawmakers were more responsive.
“A lot of the crime that’s perpetrated, the majority of it is black on black,” Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah, told Fox News.
“The most important thing is how do we deal with this long term?” asked the former NFL star.
“We have to get our kids educated – black young men who cannot read and write. They’re going to be driven by emotion,” said Owens, and added that they often turn to crime as “their only way out.”
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy promised action on “day one” if the GOP regains majority control after the midterms.
“No longer will the voice of Washington with the Democrats in control say defund the police,” McCarthy said. “It will be the opposite.”
As one concrete example for change, McCarthy said lawmakers would score every prosecutor to decide if they deserve to receive federal funding if they’re not upholding the law.
Notorious cop critic and criminal justice equity reform advocate Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., had a decidedly different response when asked about the country’s soaring crime rates, which was no response at all.
“You supported the defund the police movement that led to a rise in crime,” Caldwell noted. “Do you have any reaction? Any reaction? No reaction? It impacts your citizens.”
Omar remained mute as she clambered into a tiny car, rolled up the window and fled the scene.
Q: “You supported the ‘Defund the Police’ movement — it led to a rise in crime. Do you have any reaction?”
Democrat Ilhan Omar: *rolls up car window* pic.twitter.com/v2C17TDqdr
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) October 6, 2022
Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., argued that Democrats advancing a student loan forgiveness scheme was a sterling example of how to reduce violent crime.
“I mean our work on student cancellation is a direct response to what I would consider to be policy violence,” she claimed.
When asked about rising violent crime, Democrat Rep. Ayanna Pressley says Biden’s student debt bailout is a reaction to “policy violence.” pic.twitter.com/1Pat6S0lOk
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) October 6, 2022
