Former Congressman Mondaire Jones, left, and Congressman Mike Lawler, right. Photo from News 12
By Dan Murphy
News 12 Westchester and Tara Rosenblum hosted a debate between Congressman Mike Lawler and former Congressman Mondaire Jones. The two candidates agreed on nothing and criticized each other for their campaign tactics and views on issues important to Westchester residents.
For those of us who live in this district, we have received dozens of mailings and hundreds of TV ads, which highlight two issues.
Jones has highlighted Lawler’s pro-life stance on abortion in his mailings and TV ads, while Lawler has highlighted Jones’s comments about defunding the police and ending mass incarceration in his ads.
Both issues were raised in the debate.
Jones said, “I’ve never voted to cut funding for law enforcement. We have to make sure we continue to fund our police.
“I voted for record levels of police funding, despite the millions of dollars in ads that Elon Musk, his biggest backer in this campaign, is putting on Twitter and on Television.” (Musk’s America PAC has been running ads against Jones).
Lawler responded saying, “Just listen to him in his own words. He said we need to end mass incarceration and defund the police. Those are his words.” We can confirm that the TV ads have audio from Jones saying just that.
On Abortion:
Jones—He (Lawler) supports allowing politicians to ban abortion, including right here in our home state of New York. Every woman should have the ability to make their own reproductive decisions. It’s a deeply personal and intimate right, and Mike Lawler should stay out of people’s doctor’s offices.”
Lawler said, “Abortion rights are codified into law in New York State. They are not going anywhere. This proposition (Proposition One) is designed to scare people in New York, but abortion is not going away in the State of New York. I am not seeking to change this, and I am not voting to ban abortion nationwide.”
Other issues discussed in the debate included:
Assault Weapons Ban: Jones, “He blocks that legislation every day he serves in Congress. We need to restore a democratic majority so we can finish the work that I and others started.”
Lawler, “Democrats had complete control and didn’t get this done. There is not a consensus to get this passed because it would ban semi-automatic weapons. I am proud of my record in Congress.”
On Supporting Israel: Lawler, “Mondaire Jones, when he was a member of Congress, voted four times against the Iron Dome and has an abysmal record of doing anything to stand for Israel. Now that it is politically expedient, he throws Jamaal Bowman under the bus.”
Jones, “I am a pro-Israel progressive in Congress. Mike Lawler, in the 11th hour, is manufacturing a number of lies. I voted for and supported every appropriation bill that included continuing aid for Israel.”
Tara Rosenblum asked both candidates questions.
To Jones, she asked about his comment about calling Governor Hochul a Bitch. “I was not speaking about any particular person, but what a Governor should and should not be.”
Lawler, “He did call the Governor a little B word. This is a pattern of extreme rhetoric, like calling republicans fascists. Mondaire Jones is a radical extreme leftist.”
To Lawler, Rosenblum asked about a 2006 photo of Lawler in a Halloween costume with a black face. “I recognize why people are upset, and I apologize.”
Jones said, “This is part of a broader pattern. He declined to do an NAACP forum and refused to rise to the occasion and denounce someone who used the N-word at his event.”
Watch the entire debate at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCdHJdl7qXg
