Candidates show different responses to recent police shootings
After the recent police shootings in Charlotte, North Carolina and Tulsa, Oklahoma which resulted in the death of two African- American men, both presidential candidates took to the campaign trail to address the killings. Speaking to supporters in Orlando, Florida, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton called the deaths of African- Americans at the hands of police officers “unbearable,” and called for reform to prevent such killings.
The Republican candidate, Donald Trump, presented a variety of responses. Addressing a predominately black church congregation in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Trump suggested the officer involved in the Tulsa shooting “choked,” and added, “they can’t be doing what they’re doing.” However at a town hall event later that day, Trump said he would reinstate “stop-and-frisk,” to address the violence in black communities. Face the Nation moderator John Dickerson appeared on CBS This Morning to discuss both candidate’s responses.
“In the African- American community, the notion of stop-and-frisk as a remedy to a situation in which young black men are being killed by police is not popular.” Dickerson said. “It’s essentially a turnout mechanism for Hillary Clinton.”
Dickerson described the Republican nominee as being in “two places” on the issue and warned that Trump should move on to the next issue after his comments were condemned by the Fraternal Order of Police for his comments on the Tulsa shooting.
With only days until the first presidential debate betweenthe two candidates, Hillary Clinton has decided to take a break from the campaign trail to prepare. Donald Trump has campaign stops scheduled in Pennsylvania and is showing no signs of leaving the trail. Dickerson stated that Trump’s “improvisational” approach to the debate is what voters saw from him during the primaries.
“It worked out very well for him in the primaries, the [general election] debates are a very different kind of thing.” Dickerson said.
Finally, a recent poll came out with Clinton slowly regaining her lead over Donald Trump. Clinton, however continues to under-perform with young voters and women. In the important battleground states North Carolina, Nevada and Ohio Trump has a slight advantage. Dickerson, however, noted that a state like Pennsylvania is what voters should keep an eye on in the weeks heading into the election.
“Democrats have won [Pennsylvania] since 1988.” Dickerson said. The Face the Nation moderator added that it will be a tough win for Donald Trump.