Trump’s closing argument: It doesn’t have to be this way
When Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) rebuked Martha Raddatz on air a few days ago, he was not just pointing out the bias of the liberal media. The GOP vice presidential candidate was also calling out a far more sinister threat to our country.
In a conversation about the violent criminals of Tren del Aragua entering our country illegally, ABC host Raddatz sought to minimize reports that the feared Venezuelan gang had taken over housing units in Aurora, Colo. "The incidents were limited to a handful of apartment complexes,” she claimed — as though that were somehow acceptable.
But Vance was having none of it. “Martha, do you hear yourself?” the senator prodded, rightly astonished at her attitude.
What he spotlighted is how the media, and Americans generally, are beginning to normalize our open border, rising crime and other heinous activities that would never have been tolerated in the past and should not be tolerated now.
We now accept that millions of people have been allowed to enter the country illegally, and that even though some commit serious crimes, many times they are allowed to stay. The toxic combination of sanctuary city, “raise the age” laws and “criminal justice reform” has made it almost impossible to lock up or deport criminals, putting increasing numbers of Americans in harm’s way.
Just recently, in New York City, a 15-year-old Venezuelan migrant who is being housed at a “taxpayer-funded hotel” has allegedly committed what the New York Post calls a “one-man crime spree of assaults and thefts.” Notwithstanding a lengthening crime sheet totaling 11 purported robberies and thefts — including one with a deadly weapon — the juvenile has been cut loose after every alleged crime. He belongs to a pack of violent young thugs robbing tourists and New Yorkers alike, often at gunpoint, none of whom has been thrown in jail.
This is outrageous. But such reports have become so commonplace they barely quicken the pulse of weary city-dwellers. Nonetheless, people increasingly fear for their personal safety — and are also convinced that no one is riding to their rescue.
It is not just undocumented migrants who are wreaking havoc in our cities and in our country. Lawlessness in general has surged, driving down the quality of life and harming businesses.
Walgreens announced in recent days that it would be closing 1,200 stores. This comes on top of CVS and Rite-Aid similarly pruning back their brick-and-mortar presence. In the past, before crime was such a hot-button issue, CEOs declared out-of-control retail theft as contributing to their firms’ poor performances. Now they are wary of blow-back for calling out the costly “shrinkage” they endure, especially in cities.
Walgreens announced in 2021 it was shuttering stores in San Francisco, citing rampant shoplifting as driving the closures. As the New York Times reported, “In June 2021, a video of someone shoplifting from a San Francisco Walgreens on his bicycle and, with a garbage bag filled with stolen merchandise, riding past a television news reporter and security guard, drew millions of views.”
Those scenes play out daily in our big cities — just ask anyone working in those stores — but it is now politically incorrect to bring it up.
When stores must protect their everyday goods behind plastic shields, requiring customers to wait for help, costs go up and volumes plummet. It is far easier to order what you need on Amazon.
Voters rate crime as one of their top concerns. During the debate a month ago between the two presidential candidates, the ABC anchor who co-moderated the face-off memorably weighed in to fact-check Donald Trump on the subject. The former president had said that crime in the U.S. under the Biden-Harris administration was “through the roof.” David Muir stepped in to correct the record, saying "President Trump, as you know, the FBI says that overall violent crime is actually coming down in this country." The GOP candidate called the FBI data “defrauding statements,” meaning “false.”
And now it turns out Trump was right.
Although the FBI stats initially showed that crime had gone down 2.1 percent in 2022, the agency has revised the data to show the number of violent misdeeds has actually increased by 80,029, or 4.5 percent. The FBI added to the tally an additional 1,699 murders, 7,780 rapes, 33,459 robberies and 37,091 aggravated assaults that year. That was awkward for the Biden-Harris White House, which had taken a premature victory lap for driving crime to a “near 50-year low.”
But no one actually needed the FBI to tell us what we all know from our daily experience. If crime stats in New York are down, it is probably because people have given up reporting assaults and thefts, knowing that the police are reluctant to respond. Cops will tell victims that their “hands are tied.” Eventually, people give up.
As a result, many think that the Department of Justice's National Crime Victimization Survey, which showed increases in rape, aggravated assault and robbery from 2020 to 2023, has become the more reliable barometer of wrongdoing. According to the report, the total number of violent crimes in 2023 was 6.4 million, up from 5.8 million in 2019. That is an increase greater than 10 percent, so it's no surprise people notice.
Democrats want us to believe that the border is under control, that crime is down and that the economy is excellent. None of that is true, and the voters know it. When 79 percent of registered voters say the country is on the “wrong track,” as respondents did in a recent Marquette Law School poll, the incumbent party should worry.
The risk is that far too many Americans may be like Raddatz — normalizing and becoming inured to our country’s big problems. Trump’s closing argument in the days ahead should be that it does not have to be this way and that he will turn things around. He has, after all, done it before.
Liz Peek is a former partner of major bracket Wall Street firm Wertheim and Company.
Date: | |
Tag: | Donald Trump |
Topics
-
Top stories - The New York Times
Harris Needs a Closing Argument. Here’s One.
Trump turned us into a nation of haters. He’ll do it again if he wins next month.2 days ago -
Top stories - NBC News
Asian American evangelicals’ theology is conservative. But that doesn’t mean they vote that way.
Pastors and leaders in the Asian American Christian community say younger evangelicals are moving away from their parents’ and grandparents’ loyalty to the Republican Party.22 hours ago -
Politics - NBC News
Judge in Trump's Jan. 6 case rejects 'strained' argument about his false 2020 election claims
WASHINGTON — A judge overseeing the federal election interference case against Donald Trump on Wednesday rejected the former president's claim that he was actually concerned about foreign influence ...Yesterday - Donald Trump -
World - The Guardian
Harris rallies North Carolina crowd to ‘fight to realize the promise of America’ as Trump hits Arizona – live
VP attacks Trump’s spreading of hurricane misinformation as he tells Arizona crowd to vote to ‘take back our country’. Kamala Harris and Donald Trump spent Sunday trying to shore up political ...4 days ago - Donald Trump -
Sports - ABC News
Analysis: Offenses have their way in Week 6 with highest scoring output of the season
Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers moved the ball at will against the Saints4 days ago -
World - ABC News
In the heartland of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, the old ways have changed and violence rages
Cellphone chats have become death sentences in the continuing, bloody factional war inside the Sinaloa drug cartel2 days ago -
Politics - The Hill
List: Here are the nearly 500 Big Lots stores that have or will be closed this year
Since filing for bankruptcy protection earlier this year, Big Lots has slated nearly 500 stores for closure - some of which have already closed their doors for good.4 days ago -
Sports - Yahoo Sports
Bruins still have ways to go to reach Panthers' level after latest loss
The Panthers are the gold standard in the NHL right now, and the Bruins have a lot of work to do to reach that level before the playoffs.3 days ago -
Business - CNBC
Nearly 2 in 5 cardholders have maxed out a credit card or come close, report finds
Higher prices and higher interest rates have caused many Americans to use more of their available credit. Gen X is particularly stretched.22 hours ago
More from The Hill
-
Politics - The Hill
It's more dangerous to drive at night in these states than anywhere else in the US
Driving at night is dangerous no matter where you are in the U.S. It's harder to see and you're more likely to be sharing the road with fellow drivers who are either tired and could potentially ...41 minutes ago -
Politics - The Hill
Where Harris, Trump will be on Friday
Vice President Harris and former President Trump have entered the home stretch of campaign season, with the election just over two weeks away. Both party nominees are on the ground Friday, ...44 minutes ago - Donald Trump -
Politics - The Hill
Trump calls Jack Smith ‘sick puppy’ as latest Jan. 6 evidence unsealed
Former President Trump on Friday railed against special counsel Jack Smith and the judge overseeing his case on efforts to subvert the 2020 election as Smith released a slew of new documents. "The ...47 minutes ago - Donald Trump -
Politics - The Hill
Cook moves Scott Perry's House race to toss-up
The non-partisan Cook Political Report has shifted Rep. Scott Perry's (R-Pa.) race toward Democrats, calling the contest a toss-up on Friday. Perry is in a competitive race with Democrat Janelle ...54 minutes ago -
Politics - The Hill
Teaching kids to be better citizens should start at home
As millions of young Americans prepare to vote in a presidential election for the first time, our country has an opportunity to spark lifelong civic engagement.58 minutes ago