Harris Faulkner’s Comments on NYC Mayoral Candidate Cause Stir
Fox News host Harris Faulkner prompted a response from a former Democratic National Committee (DNC) spokesman after describing left-wing New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani as “away.”
Mamdani won against ex-Democratic official Andrew Cuomo and others, advocating for free childcare and transportation while urging tax increases in affluent, predominantly white neighborhoods. His platform also includes implementing leftist policies like establishing a government-run grocery store. Former DNC spokesman Jose Aristimno appeared on “Faulkner Focus” to suggest that Mamdani represents more fringe beliefs within the party.
“To start, I think Mamdani is an outlier. Some of my fellow Democrats might even agree,” Aristimno remarked, alluding to other progressive candidates. He noted that cities led by Democrats are shifting further left, mentioning Minneapolis candidate Omah Fate as a parallel to Mamdani. He firmly labeled both as socialists, even suggesting Mamdani leans towards communism.
Aristimno continued, indicating that while these voices may not dominate the conversation, they’re becoming more visible. The mention of figures like Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden during the 2020 election added context to his point about internal party dynamics.
In another interview, Mamdani declined to disavow the term “globalization of intifadas.” During his campaign trail, he expressed intentions to take action against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he were to visit New York City, defending the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel.
“I recognize that Republicans are framing Mamdani as a typical Democrat,” Aristimno conceded. “But I don’t back him. I support Eric Adams as a solid future for the Democratic Party.” He emphasized that Adams embodies what he views as authentic Democratic values.
Aristimno wrapped up by stressing that they aren’t trying to model New York City after places like Venezuela. “We need to embrace democratic principles with practicality,” he said. “While these radical ideas make for great headlines, they generally don’t translate to votes.”
