‘That ain’t what America is!’: Stephen A. Smith warns Dems are doomed if they embrace socialist, promise ‘free stuff’

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith warned on Monday that Democrats will be electorally doomed if they embrace the politics of presumptive Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani of New York City.

Mamdani is a democratic socialist and has pushed for a slew of left-wing policies during his campaign, such as city-run grocery stores, a $30 minimum wage, free buses and free childcare. Smith, on “The Stephen A. Smith Show,” argued that socialism conflicts with America’s capitalistic values and that socialists would not generally be viable candidates.

WATCH:

“Ladies and gentlemen, let me be very, very clear: If the Democratic Party becomes the likes of Zohran Mamdani — who, by the way, I like, not trying to throw any shade on him or anything like that — but if the Democratic Party becomes him, you have no chance,” Smith said. “You have no chance — on a national basis in terms of the presidency. In Senate seats, seats in the House — you have no chance. You have no chance. I want to be very, very clear about that.”

“You might have a democratic socialist sprinkled here and there — but that ain’t what America is! America is about capitalism! America is about dollars and cents! America is about an economy, a flourishing economy, okay!?” he continued. “And you know what it’s not about!? Free stuff. Somebody gotta say it, so I’m gon’ say it!”

Mamdani has received backlash from some Jewish leaders over his anti-Israel views. Ahead of the Democratic primary, he garnered endorsements from fellow democratic socialists Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

While 36% of American adults perceived socialism at least somewhat positively, 60% perceived it at least somewhat negatively, according to Pew Research Center in 2022. Moreover, only 6% perceived socialism very positively, while 32% perceived it very negatively.

In contrast, 57% of American adults perceived capitalism at least somewhat positively, while 39% perceived it at least somewhat negatively, according to Pew.

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