The Democratic mayoral nominee for New York City, Zohran Mamdani, has been urged by former Tennessee Democrat Representative Harold Ford Jr. to clarify his stance on racially and economically charged policies.
Ford's comments, made during an appearance on Fox's "The Five," underscored the need for Mamdani's "leading opponent" to challenge him on these contentious issues.
According to the Daily Caller, Mamdani's victory in the Democratic mayoral primary has sparked a wave of scrutiny over his proposed policies, which could significantly impact the nation's largest city if he emerges victorious in the November elections.
Ford drew attention to Mamdani's reluctance to condemn the phrase "globalize the intifada," as well as his proposal to levy higher taxes on "whiter neighborhoods," which Ford labeled as "the most racist thing to do."
Ford expressed confusion over Mamdani's interview with Kristen Welker, in which the nominee claimed he did not wish to introduce race into the discussion. Ford challenged this assertion, stating, "But he is, and he doesnt want to police speech. But I guess its OK for him to add any kind of speech he wants and just wrap it or defend it with the notion of free speech." Ford further questioned Mamdani's views on sensitive topics such as slavery and the use of racial slurs.
Ford emphasized the importance of Mamdani's words, given his status as the Democratic Party's nominee, and urged him to reassess his approach to discussing these issues, as "a lot of people are listening and a lot of people reacting."
Mamdani's refusal to denounce controversial phrases such as "globalize the intifada" and "From the river to the sea" during an appearance on "The Bulwark" has also drawn criticism. Despite this, Mamdani defended his stance, stating that while he does not use such language, his beliefs are rooted in "universal human rights."
Mamdani's proposal to increase taxes on wealthier, predominantly white neighborhoods has also been met with backlash. Despite this, Ford commended Mamdani for acknowledging that "affordability is the issue on most Americans minds," but argued that President Donald Trump has been the most effective at addressing this concern.
Ford criticized Mamdani's proposal to offer free amenities as a solution to affordability issues, arguing that it sends the wrong message to hardworking small business owners and their employees. He urged Mamdani's leading opponent, whether it be Andrew Cuomo or Eric Adams, to challenge him on these issues and force him to answer difficult questions.
Mamdani's victory in the Democratic mayoral primary saw him defeat former Governor Andrew Cuomo by an estimated seven points, according to projections by the Associated Press. The New York Times reported that Mamdani led Cuomo by about 10 points among "middle income" voters and roughly 13 points among "higher income" voters, while Cuomo carried "lower income" voters by an estimated 13 points.
Mamdani's controversial proposals include taxing "whiter neighborhoods" to raise an estimated $10 billion to fund free amenities, increasing the minimum wage to $30, defunding the police, and ending cooperation with the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal migrants.
The November elections will see Mamdani face off against current Democratic Mayor Eric Adams, who is running as an independent, and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa. There is also speculation that Cuomo may enter the race as an independent.
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