Dave McCormick Discusses Immigration and Inflation During Visit to Allentown

U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick pledged his support for Social Security, law enforcement, financially challenged residents and more during a visit to Allentown on Tuesday.

The Republican businessman is in a neck-and-neck race with incumbent Democrat Senator Bob Casey in November. He visited the Syrian Arab American Charity Association in Allentown to answer questions and explain his positions.

“He’s now returned to Pennsylvania to hopefully serve as our United States Senator,” said former Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin. “And I’m sure he’ll do an excellent job.”

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick arrives in Allentown to meet with members of the Syriac and Greek Orthodox communities at the Syrian Arab American Charity Association on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

Former Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin introduces Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick during a meeting with members of the Syriac and Greek Orthodox communities Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, at the Syrian Arab American Charity Association in Allentown. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick speaks with Linda Swankowski and Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan during a meeting with members of the Syriac and Greek Orthodox communities on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, at the Syrian Arab American Charity Association in Allentown. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

Michelle Jarrouj-Weaver, wearing black, speaks with Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick during a meeting with members of the Syriac and Greek Orthodox communities Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, at the Syrian Arab American Charity Association in Allentown. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick (center) speaks during a meeting with members of the Syriac and Greek Orthodox communities at the Syrian Arab American Charity Association in Allentown, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

Linda Swankowski asks Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick a question during a meeting with members of the Syriac and Greek Orthodox communities on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, at the Syrian Arab American Charity Association in Allentown. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

Abraham Gawad (left) and Lehigh County Sheriff Joe Hanna (center) speak with Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick during a meeting with members of the Syriac and Greek Orthodox communities Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, at the Syrian Arab American Charity Association in Allentown. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

Husmi Yacoub asks Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick a question during a meeting with members of the Syriac and Greek Orthodox communities Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, at the Syrian Arab American Charity Association in Allentown. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

Show caption

1 by 8

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick arrives in Allentown to meet with members of the Syriac and Greek Orthodox communities at the Syrian Arab American Charity Association on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)

Expand

Social security and the cost of living

McCormick stressed the need to protect Social Security for seniors, especially as inflation makes it harder to survive on a fixed income.

“My father is 86 … (and) he called me the other day and said, ‘I love you, son. I think you’re going to be a great senator. If you touch Social Security, I’m not voting for you,'” McCormick said. “So this is a big deal for our seniors.”

He also said rising costs for groceries, for example, are a burden on the state’s residents in general as wages stagnate.

McCormick attributed these problems to government overspending and “the war on fossil fuels,” which he said the government could solve by cutting spending on things like subsidies and solar energy, expanding the state’s natural gas use and adopting a balanced-budget legislative body.

“Our government must be financially sound,” he said.

Inflation has become a key issue in the race, with McCormick criticizing Casey and Democrats for overspending, while Casey pointed to corporate “greedflation” as the cause of rising prices.

Law enforcement

McCormick said law enforcement was essential to public safety and criticized efforts to dismantle police departments. He also criticized district attorneys like Philadelphia’s Larry Krasner for “allowing violent criminals onto the streets” and sanctuary cities, which he linked to an increase in violent crime.

“That combination of things has to be resolved,” McCormick said. “It has to be resolved. The only way to resolve it is to replace the prosecutors, to have officers who support law and order.”

Allentown Police Officer Evan Weaver praised the candidate for his support, adding that McCormick would do well as a senator.

“We need the support of our elected politicians, and I think we’re going to get it from him,” he said.

“What we need are elected officials who have the courage to stand up and speak on our behalf,” added Lehigh County Sheriff Joe Hanna.

Immigration and International Affairs

Attendees asked McCormick on Monday for his views on immigration and issues outside the United States, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the humanitarian crisis in Syria.

McCormick said he wanted to secure the border by funding a border wall and funding the United States Border Patrol. He would also like to designate Mexican drug cartels as terrorists and use the military to “take out” cartels.

“That’s the most important thing you can do to keep the people in this area safe right now,” he said.

When asked if McCormick would consider lifting sanctions on Syria to ease the humanitarian crisis, the candidate said he would favor more targeted sanctions that put pressure on governments rather than civilians.

Abraham Gawad, a Whitehall Township resident and SAACA member, asked McCormick how he would address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Gaza.

“If 25 people from Detroit came and killed someone, do you think you would blow up Detroit?” Gawad said.

McCormick responded by calling the conflict a “tragic situation,” including Hamas’s attack on Israel last October and the harm done to women and children in Gaza. He ultimately blamed Hamas for being the source of the conflict and said it must be destroyed while minimizing harm to civilians.

“Hamas has integrated itself into the civilian population (with) schools and hospitals,” McCormick said. “So if you’re Israel and you’re trying to reach Hamas, it’s very difficult to do that without civilian casualties.”

How participants experience the visit

Gawad said McCormick didn’t really answer his question, but several other attendees praised the candidate for his visit.

Lehigh County Republican Committee Vice Chair Linda Swankoski said it was great to see and hear McCormick, and she especially praised his military experience in the U.S. Army.

“I think he has a lot to offer,” she said.

Michelle Jarrouj-Weaver, the director of the SAACA food bank, said she agreed with much of what McCormick said. She appreciated McCormick’s stance on the cost of living and law enforcement, especially since Weaver is her husband.

“We don’t need poorly trained police,” she said. “We need people who are skilled, well-trained, well-educated, and we need money for the police.”