As Democrats nationwide pull back on criticizing Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in the wake of Saturday’s attempted assassination, state Attorney General William Tong promised to continue to speak out about the high stakes of this year’s election.
“Saying that we’re in a fight for our democracy is not wrong, it’s true,” he said in New Haven on Monday. “We’re going to continue to do that.”
Tong offered that take during a press conference outside Nica’s Market on Orange Street.
He joined U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro for the presser to speak out about rising food prices over the past four years, and about what state and federal government can do to help grocery store customers keep money in their pockets.
DeLauro began Monday’s presser by reflecting on the shock and sorrow of Saturday’s political violence at a Trump campaign rally in Butler, Penn., where a 20-year-old gunman located outside of the venue injured Trump, killed a spectator, and critically wounded two others. Secret Service counter-snipers then shot and killed the gunman.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with former President Trump and his family, and I’m glad to understand that he’s doing well,” DeLauro said.
At the end of the presser, DeLauro and Tong were asked to respond to critiques by some Republicans, including Ohio U.S. Sen. (and Republican Vice Presidential-hopeful) J.D. Vance, that Democratic campaign rhetoric that paints Trump as an existential threat to democracy is in part to blame for Saturday’s violence.
In response to Saturday’s shooting, incumbent President Biden rushed to pull all television ads and cease official outbound communications, including fundraising appeals and news releases. Right as the Republican Party kicks off its nominating convention in Wisconsin.
Tong began his response by lamenting the “horrifying scene” of Saturday’s violence and resulting chaos. He described the tragedy of the death of Corey Competore, a 50-year-old former volunteer firefighter and Trump supporter who was shot to death at the rally while trying to protect his wife and kids.
“If you go to a rally and exercise your First Amendment rights, you should go home safe. I think all of us can agree on that,” Tong said.
In regards to Vance’s critique, Tong continued, “Let me just say, though, that this is not gonna stop a robust debate in this country about where we should be headed. I’m not gonna take criticism from J.D. Vance or anybody else like J.D. Vance about demonizing or vilifying others, thank you very much.
“We’re not gonna stop doing our jobs, which is to protect and defend the people in this state and our way of life. As your attorney general, I’m going to continue to do everything I can within my authority, using this platform, working with Rosa and others, to make sure that we protect and defend and uphold the rule of law and our democratic institutions.”
That’s when Tong that it’s true, not false, to say that “we’re in a fight for our democracy.”
One can make that argument “in a respectful, productive, thoughtful way, but we’re going to continue to do our jobs. And I’m not going to let anybody tell me that we shouldn’t do that, because that’s what we’re called upon to do in our roles and our responsibility as leaders.”
Tong: "If you go to a rally and exercise your First Amendment rights, you should go home safe. I think all of us can agree on that."