Candidates Spar on Abortion, Gun Control andn Immigration at League Forum
- Category: On Our Radar
- Published: Thursday, 13 October 2022 15:51
- Joanne Wallenstein
Jamaal BowmanCongressman Jamaal Bowman and candidate Miriam Flisser exchanged views at a candidates’ forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Westchester on October 11, 2022. The two are running to represent Congressional District 16. Bowman, the Democratic Party candidate is in the midst of serving his first term. He was challenged in the Democratic primary in June 2022 by Catherine Parker and Vedat Gashi and emerged with more votes than Gashi and Parker combined.
Flisser did not have a primary challenger.
On October 11, 2022 the two answered questions posed by Kathy Manning of the LWV. With almost two years of experience under his belt in Congress, Bowman was able to cite specific legislative achievements in response to many of the questions while Flisser related her professional and personal experiences and opinions. Bowman voiced his support of progressive legislation on gun control, voting rights, education and housing, while Flisser expressed a more conservative agenda for limitations on gun control, an aggressive military, a strong border and some limitations on a woman’s right to choose.
Flisser is a pediatrician in Bronxville and Bowman was an educator before he was elected to Congress in 2020.
The two diverged most sharply on the subject of abortion and gun control.
Miriam Flisser
About the right to an abortion, Flisser said, “I am a NYS licensed physician. I feel that NYS should provide proper supervision. It should involve timing, it should involve the personnel who should be doctors and if this happens to a young woman it should involve adult supervision.”
Bowman said, “It’s deplorable that the Supreme Court made this decision. It was supposed to be settled law and they overturned it. We need ethics reform at the Supreme Court to make sure that justices are held accountable for what they said at the hearings. I support expanding the court and imposing term limits. People like Clarence Thomas who have made a mockery of the court in recent years need to be held accountable for their actions.
The two also disagreed on gun control.
Bowman said, “We need a ban on assault weapons. We need to close gun show and online loopholes. We (the House) passed gun control reform legislation that has not passed the Senate. However we did expand background checks, on those 21 and under, closed the domestic violence loophole and expanded mental health supports in communities and schools. We have done some work but there is lots more to do.”
In her response, Flisser seemed to voice support for gun owners. She said, “We are a nation of laws. Going after law abiding citizens because we are in a crime crisis is not the solution. Don’t put law abiding citizens in the spotlight when we are in a gun crisis.”
Bowman asked for a rebuttal and corrected Flisser, saying, “The gunmen in Sandy Hook, Columbine, Uvalde and Buffalo were law abiding citizens. We have a problem with guns and we need to deal with it.”
Responding to a question about America’s role on the international front, here is what the candidates said:
Flisser said, “The U.S. must remain leaders of the world. It is important that we re-establish our leadership presence.”
Bowman said, “The pathway to peace is diplomacy not colonialism or imperialism. It is not racism and discrimination. We are the strongest nation on earth. We need to use that strength to bring people to the table for diplomatic solutions. We have lost our way because of our perspective on military might and on policing the world.”
About immigration, Bowman said, “I support amnesty for immigrants who are here illegally. Immigrants drive our economy. We have always welcomed people who need asylum. I went to the border with FEMA – where we invested more in police that we did in supporting these families…. The Border Patrol told me that the vast majority of the people who come here are not criminals. They are here to seek a better life.”
Flisser said, “When I came to this country we had to show we had a relative to support us. Now little girls are abused on the way in. We must repair this. The boys are recruited into criminal behavior. I think we need a comprehensive review. This must be overhauled. It is a complete failure.”
