New York City Mayor Prospect Mamdani's Radical Background: Bill Maher Raises Concerns, "Never witnessed such an extreme candidate"
Bill Maher Discusses Zohran Mamdani's Controversial Positions
Bill Maher, the late-night show host, recently discussed the rise of New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani on the August 1 episode of "Real Time."
Mamdani, a democratic socialist, has faced criticism for his past social media posts and political stances related to terrorism, policing, and Israel. The controversy surrounding Mamdani has caused concern among Jewish leaders and some Democrats.
One of Mamdani's most contentious issues is his apparent defense of Anwar al-Awlaki, a Yemeni-American imam linked to the 9/11 hijackers and later a senior al-Qaeda leader who encouraged violence against Americans. Mamdani's comments suggesting that FBI surveillance contributed to al-Awlaki’s path to joining al-Qaeda were deeply offensive to 9/11 victims' families and sparked criticism from figures like former Rep. Peter King, who accused Mamdani of rationalizing terrorism.
Another point of contention is Mamdani's advocacy for defunding the NYPD, which he has labelled as "racist." After a recent shooting killing an NYPD officer, he attempted to distance himself from these past statements, claiming they were made in frustration over George Floyd's death. However, this flip-flop was seen by some officials and experts as politically motivated and insincere, aggravating tensions with law enforcement and some constituents.
Regarding Israel and the Jewish community, Mamdani has denounced antisemitism, condemned the October 7 attacks on Israel as a “horrific war crime,” and promised to increase funding for anti-hate crime programs significantly. However, some Jewish leaders remain concerned due to his past supportive statements about Palestinians and criticism linked to Israel policies. Controversies have emerged over phrases like “globalize the intifada,” which some interpret as endorsing Palestinian resistance viewed by some as violent.
Maher argued that Mamdani is not a contrived candidate and could potentially become the mayor of New York. He refuted Rep. Jason Crow's statement that the criticism is based on a contrived villain or boogeyman, stating that it is based on Mamdani's actual quotes.
James Kirchick, another guest on the show, compared the lack of condemnation from Democrats regarding Mamdani to the cowardice shown by Republicans 10 years ago towards Trump. He claimed that Zohran Mamdani defends the expression 'globalize the intifada,' which explicitly means killing Jews.
A survey conducted by the American Pulse polling firm found that 30% of New York City voters support Mamdani's refusal to condemn the phrase "globalize the intifada" and his backing of the anti-Israel boycott movement.
In July, the New York Times reported that Mamdani told a group of business leaders he would not use the phrase "globalize the intifada" and would "discourage" others from using it. However, some Jewish leaders remain unconvinced, citing Mamdani's Marxist positions, including the abolition of private property, as evidence of his radicalism.
These concerns focus on perceived radicalism, security implications, and sensitivity to the Jewish community's experiences and fears. As the mayoral race heats up, Mamdani's controversial positions will likely continue to be a topic of discussion and debate.
[1] https://nypost.com/2021/02/03/nyc-mayoral-candidate-zohran-mamdani-defends-9-11-terrorist-anwar-al-awlaki/ [2] https://nypost.com/2021/05/11/zohran-mamdani-flip-flops-on-defunding-nypd-after-cop-killed/ [3] https://www.jta.org/2021/06/18/politics/new-york-city-mayoral-candidate-mamdani-says-he-would-increase-funding-for-anti-hate-crime-programs [4] https://www.jewishinsider.com/2021/06/24/zohran-mamdani-defends-globalize-the-intifada-amid-democrats-concerns-about-radicalism-and-political-implications-of-his-candidacy/
- Beyond discussions about Zohran Mamdani's controversial positions on terrorism, politics, and Israel, his stance on war-and-conflicts like his apparent defense of Anwar al-Awlaki, a key figure in 9/11, has been a major point of concern.
- In the realm of policy-and-legislation, Mamdani's advocacy for defunding the NYPD, along with his flip-flops on the issue, have raised questions about his sincerity and impact on crime-and-justice.
- Amidst the general-news surrounding Mamdani's mayoral campaign, his views on crime-and-justice, politics, and war-and-conflicts, particularly his support for phrases like "globalize the intifada," have stirred debates about his radicalism and its implications for the Jewish community.
