US Senate 2022: McCrory weighs in on Israel/Gaza

CHARLOTTE – Whenever former statewide politicians — elected to state office, handling state concerns — run for federal office, they must make the leap over to the realm of federal policy. This is the case for Pat McCrory, the former 7-time mayor of Charlotte and former Governor of North Carolina Pat McCrory, as he stakes federal policy positions in his bid for the Republican nomination in the 2022 U.S. Senate race.

McCrory weighed in Thursday on the Israel/Gaza conflict as he seeks to distinguish himself from his main competitors, both of which have multiple terms in congress handling federal and foreign policy issues under their belts, pledging his support for Israel to defend itself and calling on the Democratic primary candidates to go on the record on the issue [Emphasis Added]:

“For nearly two weeks, the world has watched as violence has erupted between Israel and Hamas.  There can be no equivocation by America:  we must stand with Israel.  As one of our closest allies, Israel has a right to defend itself against Hamas and their acts of aggression.

It’s time for my Democrat opponents to let the voters know if they stand with Israel or with Hamas.  While Chuck Schumer may try to hide, I won’t let Cheri Beasley, Erica Smith and Jeff Jackson do the same.  We are running for the United States Senate, these issues are now before that body, and voters deserve to know our position on this critical conflict.

My answer is simple:  I stand with Israel.  And I call on my Democrat opponents to tell North Carolinians – finally – which side they’re on.”

The Israel/Gaza conflict is as loaded as it gets, it cannot be viewed in a vaccum, but the fundamental politicization of the current fighting is based on very real precepts of what constitutes acceptable behavior and ‘resistance.’

Beyond the historic turf war, the here and now boils down to this: Israelis, their allies, and observers in the West (engaged and disinterested alike) don’t find rocket salvos purposely aimed at civilian populations to be acceptable. Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Iran, however, know they have cover from their bad guy allies, and activists and media on the Left, to wage a holy war against Israel while being cast in the righteous victim role.

That’s why it is so important that North Carolinians hear from the Democrats where they actually stand on this issue.

McCrory will first have to get to the general election to really hold their feet to the fire on such issues, with a lot of primary campaign road ahead and two well-connected opponents.