Governor Kathy Hochul and Congressman Lee Zeldin met on Tuesday evening for their one and only debate of the governor’s campaign, which has become much closer than most people imagined. The Democratic incumbent attacked her Republican opponent as a Trump-loving radical, while he accused her of making New York less safe and less affordable under her reign. The following are some crucial moments from the argument.
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On The Issue Of Crime, It’s Illegal Guns VS, Cashless Bail
The debate began with a discussion of crime and public safety, which have been at the top of voters’ minds in the last weeks of the campaign. Zeldin has taken advantage of Hochul’s support for the abolition of cash bail, claiming that it has exacerbated crime.
The claim is contradicted by some state evidence, which Hochul used in her rebuttal. “You can either concentrate on scaring people or working on keeping them safe,” she said, adding that she had delayed the state’s newest budget in Albany to work on “common-sense reforms” to the bail-reform statute. Then she accused Zeldin of being wimpy in the face of criminality.
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“There is no crime-fighting strategy that does not include illegal guns, and you refuse to discuss how we can do so much more.” “You didn’t even show up in Washington for voting on an assault-weapons prohibition when a bipartisan group of enlightened legislators voted for it,” she remarked.
Zeldin responded promptly. “Unfortunately, Kathy Hochul feels that the only crimes being perpetrated are those involving firearms. People are frightened of being pushed in front of oncoming subway cars,” he explained.
“They’re being stabbed and beaten to death with hammers on the street.” Talk to the Asian American community about how the loss of life has affected them. On our streets, Jewish people face raw, aggressive antisemitism.”
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Later, the conversation shifted to Zeldin’s threat to fire Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg on his first day in office if elected governor, accusing him of breaking his oath of office in his treatment of criminal defendants.
“Alvin Bragg is not performing his duties. “There will be no doubt that if you’re the DA, it stands for district attorney, not defense attorney,” Zeldin added. “Alvin Bragg can go be a defense attorney, but if he’s not going to do his job, I’m going to do mine and remove him as quickly as possible.”
Hochul promptly retaliated by labeling him anti-democratic. “I’m not shocked because, in Lee Zeldin’s world, you overturn elections with which you disagree.” “You can’t get rid of someone who was duly elected,” she explained.
“Yes, I’ve worked with all of our district attorneys to provide them more authority in carrying out their duties. But for someone who voted to overturn a presidential election, I’m not shocked he feels he can just reverse the will of the people whenever he wants.”
“I am the governor of New York, he is not.”When asked if she would support any limitations on abortion, Hochul stated that New York’s law is “just a codification of Roe v. Wade,” but did not go into further detail. She then went after Zeldin, who has recently claimed that he will not reform the state’s abortion law because the state legislature will remain in Democratic hands.
“What is so heinous is the general campaign conversion that we’re hoping to hear from Lee Zeldin, who will say, ‘Nothing actually changed the day after the Dobbs judgment.’” Why did nothing change the day after Dobb’s decision? Because I am the governor of New York and he is not,” she explained.
Zeldin answered by claiming that the state has codified “more than Roe,” but that he has no plans to change the abortion law. “When we got up the day after the Dobbs judgment, the law in New York was exactly the same as it had been the day before,” he said.
Is Trump A Wonderful President, Or Not?
The moderators of NY1 incorporated a cross-examination portion in which the candidates were allowed to ask their opponents one question. Hochul questioned Zeldin, “Is Donald Trump a great president?” and asked for a “yes” or “no” answer.
Instead, Zeldin provided a lengthy response, detailing some of Trump’s successes in office, such as “our work on the southern border” and strengthening the US-Israel connection. After being cut off for a time by the moderators, Hochul said, “I will take that as a resounding yes, and the voters of New York do not agree with you.”
The 2020 Election Is Still Being Debated
The congressman from Long Island voted on January 6, 2021, to object to the certification of Joe Biden’s electoral votes from Pennsylvania and Arizona, as part of a Trump-led effort to maintain him in power despite losing the election. When asked about the vote, Zeldin indicated he would do it again.
“The election was held in two states: Pennsylvania and Arizona.” “The problem persists now,” Zeldin remarked, explaining that his reasoning was due to adjustments made to the way nations conducted elections during the pandemic.
“There will be more health crises and natural disasters.” The administration of election law is determined by state legislatures, according to the United States Constitution. That was the question I posed at the time. That is the question I will address presently. And it’s about looking forward rather than back.”
The moderators then questioned Zeldin if he would accept the election results if he lost to Hochul. “First and foremost, defeat is not an option,” he stated. “Secondly, of course, playing along with your hypothetical inquiry.”
The Buffalo Bills Are Western New York’s Broadway
Hochul was questioned if the state’s proposed $600 million investment in a new Buffalo Bills stadium was a sensible option. The governor, who is from Buffalo, defended the decision in a creative manner. “You consider a community’s identity. “The Buffalo Bills are to Western New York what Broadway is to New York City,” she explained.
Hochul also stated that the team was considering relocating outside of the city, therefore the franchise and its billionaire owner’s subsidy were critical in keeping them here. “As a result, we devised a strategy.” And if you only look at the players’ salaries, they do pretty well. “After 20 years, the tax proceeds from simply the players will more than pay for that investment,” she claimed.
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