A Wisconsin Democrat faced significant backlash after publicly criticizing the increase in crime beyond major cities. State Sen. LaTonya Johnson’s remark, urging to “f— the suburbs,” was heavily discussed on the “Outnumbered” panel, where no one held back in expressing their opinions.
During a state Senate floor discussion on allocating more funds for the police, Johnson asserted that crime was spreading to peaceful suburbs and used the issue of missing babies in cities to support her claim. Her remarks drew comparisons to the “basket of deplorables” moment and were strongly criticized by “Outnumbered” co-host Kayleigh McEnany.
McEnany argued that dismissing suburban residents and treating them as an inferior population was both politically inept and unfair. She emphasized the significant voting power of suburban women, which played a crucial role in President Biden’s election victory. McEnany challenged the idea of abandoning the suburbs, suggesting that it would be a mistake for politicians to ignore this influential group.
Ian Prior, a senior adviser at America First Legal, highlighted the importance of addressing crime comprehensively and globally. He criticized Johnson’s comment as extremely risky and attributed the spread of crime to the progressive “soft on crime” programs supported by lawmakers like her.
Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, speaking on the Senate floor, criticized Johnson for her lack of decorum and argued that crime would continue to expand unless politicians showed genuine concern for their communities. Nesheiwat stressed that the lack of accountability for criminals was a significant factor contributing to the spread of crime into suburbs.
Fox News’ Julie Banderas described Johnson’s comments as “ignorant” and pointed out that many people, including herself, had moved from cities to suburbs during the pandemic. Banderas emphasized that suburban residents understood the significance of cities but chose to live in suburbs for various reasons. She defended the intelligence of suburban moms, dads, and all suburbanites, highlighting that disparaging them was an insult to all Americans, regardless of their residence.
In summary, the Democratic senator’s remarks drew widespread criticism for their dismissive attitude toward suburbs and the intelligence of suburban residents. Various panelists and commentators expressed their disagreement, highlighting the importance of addressing crime and treating all citizens equally and with respect.