Mayor Peduto: 'Donald Trump Not Banned From Pittsburgh'
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Rather than ban Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto says he'd invite Trump for a visit.
Trump's controversial proposal of banning all Muslims is still making waves tonight and it's no surprise that it's Democratic mayors who are speaking up about his latest comments.
Mayor Bill Peduto says that Trump's comments represent an extremism that's not part of America.
"I think it's very unfortunate that campaigns are getting down to this base level of hate," Peduto said. "I don't support his unconstitutional act of trying to ban Muslims and I certainly wouldn't use the same tactic against Donald Trump. I'd say come to Pittsburgh - see the Muslims that work within our community who are helping to reinvent our economy."
"I'm hoping that now he's gone too far," says Allegheny County GOP Chairman Jim Roddey, "that we'll have one or two of the candidates emerge as the person we can rally around."
Roddey, speaking for himself and not the party, was not mincing words when it comes to Donald Trump, "Here's a man totally unqualified to be president who has jumped in the race and allowed himself to be in total control of the process now. Can you imagine Donald Trump with the football, the nuclear launch codes, he's libel to drop it the first week! Trump is not a serious candidate for the presidency."
But even Roddey acknowledges the real estate mogul is striking a chord with the angry disenfranchised voters who, "feel that politicians in both parties have betrayed them and they're fed up with politics and politicians. Sooner or later they will come to the realization that they need a candidate that can actually govern." And Roddey is hopeful that realization will come through the primary process over the next few months.
Trump is slated to be the keynote speaker at a Pennsylvania republican fundraiser at The Plaza Hotel in New York City on Friday.
The invitation long predated Trump's "ban all Muslims" speech this week so Roddey says the invitation will stand.
"They've invited him and to disinvite him might be a worse scenario. But I'll say this, he'll raise money. He'll draw a big crowd and they'll pay a lot of money and they'll all cheer and it will be a successful fundraiser."
But he worries about the campaigns those funds will help if Trump is on the ballot next November.
"Whoever is the nominee for any office running nationwide or statewide is going to be hurt if Trump is the nominee or still in the process as a third party candidate."
Incumbent Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey will not be attending the fundraiser citing a conflict in scheduling.
If Trump is the republican nominee Roddey says, "We're going to lose, no independents or moderate democrats are going to vote for Trump, and republicans need those moderates and independent democrats to win."
Roddey is looking to Florida Senator Marco Rubio or Ohio Governor John Kasich to emerge from the pack and provide a viable candidacy that can challenge the democrats adding, "it would be nice to have an adult in the room."
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