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Bitterness and Vitriol Directed At Lawler and Trump Administration Across the Board
By Tina Traster
Five Democrats vying for District 17’s Congressional seat answered a volley of debate questions Thursday night, showing admiration and respect for one another but making no secret of the disgust and despair they feel toward district incumbent Mike Lawler, President Trump, and his administration.
Moderated by former State Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick at Haverstraw Town Hall and sponsored by the Haverstraw and Stony Point Democratic Committees, debaters fielded questions about foreign policy and the Iran war, America’s role on the world stage, school loan forgiveness, health care, transportation, and more. Speaking to roughly 150 people, nearly all older than 60, the candidates modeled civility in discourse, while at times talking about the lack of civility in the nation.
“I’m committed to doing politics different,” said John Cappello. “Not with fear and division but through faith in neighbors, faith in the system.”
The five candidates – two from Rockland County, three from Westchester – all touched on economic pressures bearing down on Americans due to cuts in social programs, tariffs, the rescinding of ACA subsidies, and most recently soaring gas prices stemming from Trump’s Iran war. They talked about the steep barriers for homebuyers in the Hudson Valley, crippling school loans, inflationary pressures, spiraling energy and healthcare costs.
In a world of vitriol and crosstalk that is too common in public discourse, Thursday’s debate seemed old school, with candidates for the June 23 primary often piggybacking off one another on topic after topic. Two of the candidates are office holders: Beth Davidson represents District 10 in the Rockland County Legislature and Effie Phillips-Staley is a Tarrytown Village Trustee.
Military Veterans Cappello and Cait Conley both stressed the need for greater cyber security, recognizing that America is more vulnerable to asymmetrical warfare than ever before.
Candidates appeared to widely rally around the idea of universal healthcare, while all said they’d fight to restore the ACA subsidies the Trump administration stripped away.
Speaking about her blue-collar roots and rise through West Point and military service, Conley talked about a fading American dream.
“The right of every person now feels more like a distant dream,” she said.
She also took aim at Trump’s war of choice in Iran, saying, “he thinks war is a game. It’s not a game. It should be used as a last resort. This is a betrayal of American values. It’s unacceptable.”
Candidates condemned mass deportations of “illegal” immigrants, though when asked about abolishing ICE, some responses were more nuanced. All agree reform is necessary, with at least a couple saying that ICE had become a rogue paramilitary organization.
Davidson said people should be worried about a potential draft; says “Lawler is okay with putting boots on the ground in Iran.”
Phillips-Staley echoed this frustration, saying “school loan debt is crippling.” She said she supports school loan forgiveness.
The candidates are collectively running on promises to restore democracy and to hold people accountable for the pain and cruelty they say the Trump administration has imposed. There did not appear to be a clear favorite among audience members, but the candidates unanimously agreed they would support whomever wins in the primary.
“Lawler is a fundamental affront to our checks and balances,” said Mike Sacks. “We don’t have to live this way.”
