On my way to work this morning, I heard yet another political ad on the radio. But this one, for Representative Pete King (R-NY), stood out. For those that don't know, Pete King has been representing Long Island in Congress since 1993. This veteran member of the House must have quite a resume to tout for his 25 years of service. Which must explain the ad he is running about MS-13.
Yes, the Republican congressman from New York's 2nd Congressional District, which comprises parts of Nassau and Suffolk Counties, is concerned about MS-13, the El Salvadoran gang known as Mara Salvatrucha. Certainly the constituents of NY-2 might be interested in hearing about Rep. King's stance on tax cuts? Maybe his thoughts on affordable health care? Or creating jobs? Nope, apparently the pressing issue facing this suburban district, with a median household income of $82,197, is gang violence.
Were it not emblematic of a much larger and frightening picture, it would be laughable. A fixture of New York politics, King has sailed to victory every two years and is suddenly running ads for re-election, ads that seem to gloss over anything he has done during his time in office. Straight out of the Republican playbook, championed by the Racist-in-Chief himself, King is using fear-mongering tactics to rile up his base and scare them into voting.
Until now, King didn't have to think much about re-election. But this Blue Wave moment has caused even politicians in the "safest" districts to worry. King is now facing his first serious challenge: former liberal activist Liuba Grechen Shirley is hoping that opposition to the current administration, and an endorsement from the New York Times, can propel a decided underdog to victory.
Though NY-2 is deeply red territory, Shirley is talking to those voters about gun control, a federal minimum wage and Medicare-for-all. Apparently unable to wage a campaign against Shirley on the issues, King has decided instead to wage war against the boogeyman. Those voters may prove just savvy enough to listen to the upstart candidate on Tuesday.
