Cortland mayor: Trump uses ‘fear-mongering’ to appeal to voters

Mayor Brian Tobin (photos by Peter Blanchard/Cortland Voice)

CORTLAND, N.Y. — Mayor Brian Tobin says the rhetoric of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump promotes exclusion and falls short of the leadership qualities sought in a presidential candidate.

Tobin’s comments come in response to the Republican presidential nominee’s speech Thursday at the Republican National Convention.

Trump, who spoke for nearly 80 minutes, described himself as the “law and order candidate” who would bring peace and security to the United States. He also reiterated his plans to build a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border if elected.

After watching Trump’s speech, Tobin said that the businessman’s plans to keep certain groups out of the country is a form of “fear-mongering” that has been a consistent theme throughout his campaign.

“When you start drawing lines and pushing people out, that’s not the American way,” Tobin said in an interview Friday.

He also said that Trump’s claim that President Obama is to blame for a destabilized Middle East is misleading.

“He’s throwing shade at the Democrats, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton when they’re dealing with problems that somebody else gave to them,” Tobin said.

Tobin also took issue with Trump’s claim that “he alone” will fix the nation’s problems.

The Democratic National Convention is slated to begin Monday in Philadelphia.