GOP challenger to Sen. Bob Casey recounts IDF go to, deems Israel-Hamas war ‘test’ for American leadership

5 minutes, 48 seconds Read

[ad_1]

Dave McCormick, a Republican candidate vying to oust longtime Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., described to Fox News Digital his go to with IDF forces upon coming back from a short 36-hour journey on the bottom in Israel, deeming the expertise a testomony to the necessity for “solidarity” after Hamas’ October 7 assault because the battle poses a critical “test” to American leadership. 

McCormick, a West Point graduate, fight veteran and Bronze star recipient, informed Fox News Digital by cellphone he was nonetheless digesting what he deemed an “emotional” day and a half spent visiting an Israeli group alongside the Gaza border the place dozens had been killed on October 7, in addition to assembly with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana. 

He recounted the “emotionally wrenching” expertise of assembly with the households of Israeli hostages alongside his spouse Dina Powell McCormick, a former deputy nationwide safety adviser in former President Trump’s administration who labored on the Abraham Accords. 

“We have six daughters between us – that, just putting ourselves in their shoes and listening to their stories,” McCormick stated. “Today is, I believe, day 90 of the hostages being gone. And these are families that are just still trying to figure out, you know, the possibilities of getting their loved ones home.” 

RUSSIA MOVES FORWARD WITH IRAN DEAL TO PURCHASE BALLISTIC MISSILES, REPORT SAYS

McCormick and his wife speak with IDF officials

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick in Israel. (Dave McCormick Campaign / Fox News Digital)

McCormick stated additionally they watched the IDF compilation of the Hamas assault footage, which he says “highlights the incredible evil – evilness and viciousness – of Hamas, and just reinforces the obvious: Hamas has to be eradicated.”

“There’s no living side by side with this kind of evil, genocidal behavior,” he added.

Recounting conferences with IDF officers, he stated, “We literally looked over the shoulder and saw how some of those military operations are working and just the level of precision and care going into trying to minimize innocent casualties from innocent civilians.” 

“Seeing it firsthand just absolutely reinforced the need for solidarity on behalf of America, solidarity with the Jewish people in Israel, solidarity with the forces of good versus evil, solidarity and standing against this horrific, horrific genocidal attack. And then also, just the necessity of eradicating Hamas,” McCormick stated. “You hear some of the dialogue here in America and you know, there’s no two sides of this story. There’s only pure evil that needs to be eliminated. And then you can’t possibly live side by side with a group of people that orchestrated this kind of horrific attack. So those were the two takeaways – solidarity and the need to support Israel in its steps she’s taking to eliminate Hamas altogether.” 

McCormick in Israel

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick views photograph proof of Hamas’ assaults on southern Israel. (Dave McCormick Campaign / Fox News Digital)

Also referencing the rise in antisemitism within the United States since October 7, in addition to the congressional testimonies of the presidents of Harvard, UPenn and MIT failing to condemn calls for the genocide of Jews on their campuses, McCormick argued that the Israel-Hamas war serves as an “inflection point” and check to the morals of American life. 

McCormick at scene of Hamas attack

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick visited an Israeli group devastated by Hamas. (Dave McCormick Campaign / Fox News Digital)

“This is a moment. It’s a test. It’s sort of an inflection point in both what’s going on in America, but what’s going on in the world. And it’s a moment where there’s a need for leadership to stand up with complete moral clarity on what’s going on and why America needs to play a very active leadership role in the world,” McCormick informed Fox News Digital. 

MCCORMICK LANDS MAJOR ENDORSEMENT THAT COULD PREVENT ANOTHER CHAOTIC SENATE PRIMARY IN PENNSYLVANIA

McCormick and Israeli officials

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick meets with Israeli officers.  (Dave McCormick Campaign / Fox News Digital)

“We’ve had a progressive ideology that sort of hijacked some of the underlying principles of what makes America special, the notion of meritocracy, the belief that America has been a force for good in the world, and we’ve had very weak leadership that hasn’t been able to step up and call balls and strikes on what’s right and what’s wrong,” McCormick stated of the United States. “And my opponent, Bob Casey, has been a very clear example that he hasn’t demonstrated moral clarity. He hasn’t stepped up and been willing to call out members of his own party, people like Summer Lee who he’s endorsed, or CAIR, the organization that he had been very strongly supportive of that has come out with such antisemitic behavior.”

McCormick in Israel with rainbow

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick sees a rainbow on Israel journey.  (Dave McCormick Campaign / Fox News Digital)

Fox News Digital reached out to Casey’s workplace for remark, however they didn’t instantly reply. The senator did problem a press release on Oct. 7 saying that the U.S. “must stand with Israel and its right to self-defense.” He additionally despatched a letter to the leaders of a Senate Appropriations subcommittee in December calling for extra funding for the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights to allow them to handle rising ranges of antisemitism.

McCormick, nevertheless, charged that Casey “wasn’t quick to call out” the three school presidents who’re “educating some of our best and brightest.” He additionally accused the Democrat of supporting the Obama and Biden administrations’ insurance policies that he stated weakened the United States’ place within the Middle East. 

Dave McCormick at Western Wall

Dave McCormick visited the Western Wall in Israel. (Dave McCormick Campaign / Fox News Digital)

“The original sin as it relates to what’s going on in the Middle East with Israel is the treatment of Iran,” he stated. “And this, you know, began under the Obama administration. That sort of weakness and complicity has carried through the Biden administration, and it’s been wholeheartedly supported every step of the way with Bob Casey and three votes, different votes for in support of the Iran deal.”

McCormick with IDF

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick meets with IDF officers.  (Dave McCormick Campaign / Fox News Digital)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP 

McCormick added that U.S. leadership should “start with the recognition that Iran is at the core of promoting this dangerous ideology and underwriting terrorist groups around the Middle East.” 

Those teams embrace Hamas and Hezbollah, who proceed to assault Israel, in addition to Houthis in Yemen who’ve attacked vessels within the Red Sea.

“So I think that’s the moment we’re in and that’s the need for leadership, the need for clarity of right versus wrong,” McCormick stated. “Of America – what’s special about America with all its dark chapters, what makes America the best, most unique country in the world and the most exceptional country in the world.”

[ad_2]

Source hyperlink

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *