GREEN BAY, Wis. — Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Rick Crosson, Democratic candidate for Congress in Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District, today responded to President Donald Trump’s remarks at a rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, in which Trump said of Iran, “Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego,” and called it “a very small price to pay.” On Wednesday at a second rally, Trump doubled down, saying, “I said it the other day: Let them hit a missile into San Diego or Los Angeles.”
Crosson, who served 20 years in the U.S. Army, called the comments disqualifying and called out the silence of his own general election opponent, Rep. Tony Wied.
“Every service member, every member of Congress, every federal judge, and every president takes an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Everyone who has ever raised their right hand and sworn to it should be appalled by what the President of the United States said this week, twice, at political rallies, in front of cheering crowds, and should be condemning it loudly and publicly. Los Angeles is home to nearly 4 million Americans. San Diego is home to another 1.4 million. These are not abstract cities. They are home to American families. They are also home to significant American military installations, including Naval Base San Diego, where our Navy SEALs train, and the tens of thousands of active-duty service members, veterans, spouses, and children who live in both metros. When a president suggests a foreign enemy strike those cities, he is suggesting an attack on the civilians and the service members alike, on the military he commands, and the country he has sworn to protect.”
Crosson continued, asking the question so many in his district ask daily, “Where is Rep. Tony Wied in all of this? This is a congressman who held a press conference just this week to tell us how committed he is to supporting the men and women in uniform. The Commander-in-Chief invited a foreign enemy to attack an American city that houses tens of thousands of active-duty service members, and our sitting representative has nothing to say about it. If you cannot speak out when the president of your own party publicly invites an attack on American military families, you cannot credibly claim to stand with the men and women who serve, nor are you qualified to hold public office.”
“The people of Northeast Wisconsin know what representation is supposed to be. It looks like calling out abhorrent actions in this country, no matter which party is in power. It looks like standing up for every American city and every American, regardless of how they voted. I took the oath to the Constitution 20 years ago, and I honor it every day, and I will honor it as your representative in Congress. It’s time for Tony Wied to show the same honor and courage to his oath.”
Rick Crosson is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel with 20 years of service and the Democratic nominee for Congress in Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District. He comes from a multi-generational military family. His grandfather, father, Rick, and his son have all served, with his son recently completing his fourth combat deployment. More information is available at RickCrosson.com.
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