Presidential contenders use Baltimore riots to intro political talking points

[Natural Citizen]

The Baltimore riots, spurred by the death of Freddie Gray in police custody, have allowed those vying for the presidency to hone their messages on policing methods, race relations and family values. Not all politicians benefit from the exposure, though.

Republicans and Democrats alike jumped at the opportunity to get publicity from the national media, which has flocked to Maryland after unrest broke out into looting and riots Monday night. Their attempts to address the situation have had varying levels of success.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), the first to jump into the presidential arena, issued a statement that focused on the need for law and order and condemning the violence in Baltimore.

"Every case deserves justice, and the facts surrounding Freddie Gray's death should be thoroughly and impartially investigated. But rioting and mayhem are not the answer,” he wrote. "While we continue to pray for a peaceful conclusion to the events in Baltimore ‒ and pray for the families of those injured ‒ I hope we all remember that our nation's law enforcement consists of thousands of heroic officers who deeply respect the dignity of each person they serve to protect. Targeting law enforcement for violence is wrong, and it cannot be allowed to persist.”

Another Republican contender, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, blamed the Baltimore community’s lack of fathers and morals for the violence.

“The police have to do what they have to do, and I am very sympathetic to the plight of the police in this,” he told conservative talk radio host Laura Ingraham on Tuesday.

“There are so many things we can talk about,” he added, “the breakdown of the family structure, the lack of fathers, the lack of a moral code in our society.”

Paul was criticized for a tasteless joke ‒ which PoliticusUSA.com called “racist” ‒ he made during the interview, telling Ingraham that he was on an Amtrak train that rolled through Baltimore Monday night.

“I’m glad the train didn’t stop,” he said, laughing.

Real estate tycoon Donald Trump, who is exploring a bid for the Republican nomination, blamed President Barack Obama for the violence in a tweet, which drew irate responses on social media, according to the New York Daily News.

Another potential Republican candidate, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, commented on the Baltimore unrest, which he called “heartbreaking”from Puerto Rico, the New York Daily News reported.

“Look, when you have a situation where nursing homes that are under construction to deal with frail elders are burned to the ground ‒ there has to be a commitment to the rule of law and to law enforcement,” Bush said. “And at the same time it needs to be balanced with the fact that if there is this case, it ought to be investigated as quickly as possible so that people know that the system works for them."

Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton, who declared her candidacy on April 12, made comments about the Baltimore riots at a New York fundraiser on Tuesday.

"Baltimore is burning," she told campaign donors, according to New York Magazine. "The tragic death of another young African-American man, the injuries to police officers, the burning of peoples' homes and small businesses. We have to restore order and security. But then we have to take a hard look as to what we need to do to reform our system."

Former Gov. Martin O’Malley (D-Maryland) is expected to run for president. He is reportedly planning to announce his candidacy in Baltimore, where he served as the city’s mayor for two terms. O'Malley cut a trip to Europe short to return to his hometown, tweeting, “I’m saddened that the City I love is in such pain this night. All of us share a profound feeling of grief for Freddie Gray & his family,” and “We must come together as one City to transform this moment of loss & pain into a safer & more just future for all of Baltimore’s people.”

Continued - Presidential contenders use Baltimore riots to intro political talking points

 

[invisible]

Former Gov. Martin O’Malley (D-Maryland) is expected to run for president.

And there it is, yet again. This is seriously scary! This guy is extremely dangerous! I cannot ring the alarm bell loudly enough here. I feel o'malley is an even worse threat than clinton.

 

[Natural Citizen]

And there it is, yet again. This is seriously scary! This guy is extremely dangerous! I cannot ring the alarm bell loudly enough here. I feel o'malley is an even worse threat than clinton.

Sanders will be the biggest threat, believe it or not. He doesn't have a chance at a nomination but the more attention that he gets, the better it will be for Clinton. And he's getting some attention because he's saying what a lot of people want to hear.

Like this...

Noted critic of economic inequality, corporations and the rich, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders said he was running for president to buck the system in which billionaire families were able to buy elections and candidates.

The Supreme Court’s “disastrous” decision in Citizens United created the situation in which “billionaires are literally able to buy elections and candidates,” Sanders argued. Billionaire families, he charged, are spending “hundreds and hundreds” of millions to back candidates, “often extreme right-wing” ones.

Sanders brought up the Koch brothers, major Republican donors, who he said were spending $900 million in the coming election to campaign for abolishing Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

“I wonder now, in this day and age, whether it is possible for any candidate who is not a billionaire, or who is not beholden to the billionaire class, to be able to run successful campaigns,” he said. “And if that is the case, I want you all to recognize what a sad state of affairs that is for American democracy.”

Continued- Enter the Sand-man: Socialist Bernie Sanders blasts billionaires, corporations in presidential bid announcement

 

[invisible]

I have a different theory. I think that clinton is really just ultimately running interference for o'malley. I think he's that dangerous, and so establishment-backed, that clinton will just be used as a lightning rod to draw the fire and take the flack. In the meantime, o'malley is right behind her, just waiting to step up and take the lead. The media has always been completely behind this guy in MD and always given him a free pass, and they will push him hard when the time is right, just like they were spreading santorum in 2012. He'll blindside everyone by coming out of nowhere just before IA and NH. It'll be just about the same playbook as obomba in 2007. A young, good looking guy with a lot of charisma, with a "cool" factor to draw the youth vote because he is or was in a crappy band. I tried to warn people about this guy back when he was on the City Council running for Mayor, and turned out to be completely correct. I have a sinking feeling that I just might be right this time as well. I suppose the next year and a half or so with prove me right or wrong on this one, but I'm again going to keep ringing the alarm bell as much as possible. Be VERY scared of this guy!

 

[Natural Citizen]

I don't know too much about O'malley. I'll have to check him out and see who is making him relevant. Thanks, invisible.

 

[invisible]

He's corrupt to the core, and as authoritarian as they come. Just as much so as clinton, except that all of the scandals have been VERY carefully swept under the rug. He appears clean, unless you were watching very carefully during his early political career, and reading closely between the lines. I highly doubt that you'll find any media-reported dirt on him, but I was personally there at the time, and believe me, he's just as corrupt as clinton, and just as establishment-backed.

 

[Natural Citizen]

He's corrupt to the core, and as authoritarian as they come. Just as much so as clinton, except that all of the scandals have been VERY carefully swept under the rug. He appears clean, unless you were watching very carefully during his early political career, and reading closely between the lines. I highly doubt that you'll find any media-reported dirt on him, but I was personally there at the time, and believe me, he's just as corrupt as clinton, and just as establishment-backed.

Well, this is an interesting editorial...

More than half of US voters want a fresh-faced Democrat in 2016 presidential race

 

[invisible]

The shilling will only continue to get louder.