Rahm Emanuel: Appeal To Gangsters’ ‘Values’

CBS EVENING NEWS interview with Rahm Emanuel:

CBS: When seven-year-old Heaven Sutton was killed last month, caught in the crossfire, the mayor had a message for the gangs. After Heaven Sutton was killed, you said it`s not about crime, it`s about values.

EMANUEL: Yes.

CBS: What do you mean?

EMANUEL: We`ve got two gang bangers, one standing next to a kid. Get away from that kid. Take yourself to the alley, don`t touch the children of the city of Chicago, don`t get near them. And it is about values. As I said then, Scott, who raised you? Where were you raised? And I don`t buy this case where people say they don`t have values. They do have values. They have the wrong values. Don`t come near the kids. Don`t touch them.

CBS: What promise can you make to the people in the city who do worry about their safety and the safety of their children?

EMANUEL: I will make a pledge, because the most important thing I care about is when you have violence in the city, even if you`re not a physical victim, a child growing up in part of that neighborhood is a victim. And I want you to think about your safety. Us adults, your pastor, your parents, your principals, we`ll take care of those problems. Your police chief. That`s our problem. You think about your studies. That`s how I`ll measure it.