Migrant crime and carjackings ‘don’t matter to that many Americans,’ left-wing think tank VP tells Democrats
The Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) summer meeting featured a speaker who urged Democrats not to adopt President Trump’s tough-on-crime approach, dismissing crimes like migrant crime and carjackings as issues that “don’t matter to that many Americans.” Insha Rahman, the vice president for advocacy and partnerships at the Vera Institute of Justice, presented the results of a poll commissioned by Vera’s political advocacy arm, highlighting the types of crimes that respondents believed would have the most personal impact.
The poll, funded by the George Soros-backed think tank, revealed that gun violence, homelessness, public drug use, muggings, assaults, opioids, fentanyl abuse, retail theft, carjackings, and migrant crime were top concerns for Americans. Rahman cautioned Democrats against focusing on sensational crime stories like migrant crime and carjackings, urging them to instead address issues like mental health, visible homelessness, and other factors that contribute to random incidents that instill fear in communities.
Despite a significant portion of Americans expressing concern about certain crimes, Rahman emphasized the importance of not taking the bait and diverting attention from more pressing issues. She encouraged Democrats to champion policy proposals like cashless bail and to avoid discussing local crime statistics, even if they show improvement, to prevent Trump from taking credit for any decline in crime rates.
Rahman stressed that being tough-on-crime only reinforces the Republican brand and does not build a positive image for Democrats. She advised Democrats to lean into the crime debate, calling out Trump’s actions and attributing any decrease in crime to their efforts. Furthermore, Rahman highlighted Rep. Summer Lee, Sen. Tammy Baldwin, and Democratic Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott as exemplary messengers for a safety-focused approach to the crime debate.
In response to tough-on-crime Republicans, Rahman criticized Rep. Jamie Raskin’s dismissal of the DC crime crackdown as a distraction, pointing to his comments about graffiti in the nation’s capital as unhelpful. The Trump administration has lauded the DC crime crackdown as a success and has floated the idea of implementing similar measures in other Democrat-run cities.
Overall, Rahman’s presentation underscored the need for Democrats to focus on addressing root causes of crime, such as mental health and economic issues, rather than getting caught up in sensationalized crime stories. By advocating for meaningful policy solutions and positioning themselves as champions of community safety, Democrats can effectively counter Trump’s tough-on-crime narrative and build a positive brand for the party.
