Pennsylvania — Today Oz is returning to public life after a week of stories highlighting his ties to extremism with an event with sitting Senator Pat Toomey. Here’s what to know ahead of this event:
- Oz has spent a lot of time spewing empty talking points about crime but has provided no real plans for how he would make Pennsylvanians safer. He has opposed steps to actually address crime, including the most basic common sense gun laws, and couldn’t even name a single new gun safety law he’d support. He recently held a roundtable on community safety and addiction, which convinced an expert on the panel not to vote for Oz because Oz showed he has no actual plan. Unlike Fetterman, Oz has never actually taken on crime or addressed public safety issues from his gated mansions.
Statement from Montgomery County Sheriff Sean Kilkenny about Oz’s attacks on crime, from a TV ad here: “I’m a county sheriff, veteran and Pennsylvanian. I’m sick of Oz talking about John Fetterman and crime. Here’s the truth. John gave a second chance to those who deserved it. Nonviolent offenders, marijuana users. He voted with law enforcement experts nearly 90 percent of the time. He reunited families and protected our freedom. And he saved taxpayer money. John Fetterman has the courage to do what’s right. Dr. Oz doesn’t know a thing about crime, he only knows how to help himself.”
- Oz replacing Toomey would doom future gun violence prevention laws: For all his flaws, Senator Pat Toomey was a key piece in passing the bipartisan gun reform act, which Oz has made clear he would have opposed. That’s why gun safety advocacy group Everytown, which supported Toomey in 2016, is spending millions on air in Pennsylvania this cycle to make sure voters know Oz is completely out of step when it comes to gun safety.
- Oz and Toomey have at least one thing in common, they have no interest in speaking with Pennsylvanians: Throughout his latest term, Toomey has come under fire for almost completely eliminating town halls and keeping his interaction with constituents to a minimum. This appears to be somewhat of an inspiration for Oz, who has virtually shut down public events over the past month, refusing to take questions from anyone but Fox News. Oz has consistently made it clear that he’d rather be anywhere besides Pennsylvania, and if he is elected to the Senate Pennsylvanians can expect to see even less of him.
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