Krishnamoorthi, Rice compare stances on wars in Ukraine and Middle East
Democratic Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg and Republican challenger Mark Rice of Chicago differ in their views of many of the nation’s issues, not least of which being the current conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
While Rice is a first-time candidate, Krishnamoorthi is seeking his fifth term as representative of Illinois’ 8th Congressional District.
In a joint interview with the Daily Herald, Rice described himself as supportive of U.S. assistance to Ukraine in its war with Russia, as long as it is accompanied by more oversight on the spending than he recognizes today.
But Krishnamoorthi said that’s at odds with Rice’s response to a WTTW questionnaire in which he said he didn’t support the providing of either money or military supplies to Ukraine.
Rice characterized such responses as an error he said he would look into.
“I don’t think I’ve ever said that we shouldn’t defend Ukraine at all,” Rice said. “I just don’t want to waste the money.”
Rice also said he’s giving former President Donald Trump the benefit of the doubt in his claims that he can end the war quickly if elected to the White House again.
“The world feared Donald Trump,” Rice said. “They do not fear our current administration at all.”
Krishnamoorthi said he disagreed strongly with any suggestion of conditional support for America’s allies. He believes China’s leader Xi Jinping is watching the U.S. response in Ukraine as an indication of how it would react to an invasion of Taiwan.
“If we think we can walk away from Ukraine and it doesn’t endanger our national security, we’re dead wrong,” Krishnamoorthi said. “They’re fighting a war so that we don’t have to. And as Donald Trump would do, basically capitulate and allow Vladimir Putin to take over Ukraine, he will then set his sights on potentially NATO countries. And in that case we will be directly embroiled in a very dangerous conflict.”
The candidates’ responses on the U.S. position on defending Israel were closer.
Rice said he’s a Jewish American who’s been to Israel many times and lost a friend to the Oct. 7 terrorist attack by Hamas while another spent time as a hostage. Krishnamoorthi described America’s commitment to Israel as “ironclad,” but said he wants to see a ceasefire-for-hostages deal come to fruition, humanitarian aid rushed into Gaza, and a two-state solution developed over time.
Rice alleged Krishnamoorthi receives financial support from the nonprofit Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) in Chicago and endorses it on its website. He said he was offended by that and Krishnamoorthi’s silence on a Congressional vote to condemn antisemitism.
Krishnamoorthi responded that he doesn’t receive a dime from CAIR. He was among more than 50 local, state and federal officials featured on the organization’s website to acknowledge its 20th anniversary.
Krishnamoorthi added the 8th District is one of the most diverse in the nation, and that it requires a discussion of the issues in a calm fashion. He acknowledged that he has received protests by some people, as is their right.
“I believe that we need to remember that we’re all Americans and that we need to band together here to confront our common challenges, even at the same time that we have a civil discourse about what’s happening abroad,” he said.
The 8th District is roughly centered in Schaumburg and includes areas of northwest Cook, northeast DuPage and northeast Kane counties.