A restaurant in Philadelphia has banned GOP Senate candidate Dave McCormick after his campaign misled them about an event. The event was supposed to raise awareness for autism, but instead, it turned into a political campaign stop. This upset the restaurant’s owner, who felt tricked.
Mike Sfida, the manager of Max’s Steaks, agreed to host the event because it was said to be about autism awareness. Sfida’s niece and nephew both have autism, so he felt strongly about supporting such a cause. However, things changed when he saw signs supporting Donald Trump being hung outside his restaurant. To his surprise, McCormick showed up, gave a campaign speech, and handed out sandwiches.
Sfida, clearly upset by the trickery, said, “We didn’t sign up for that at all. Zero.” He allowed the event to finish but made it clear that McCormick and his team were no longer welcome. “You’re not welcome back,” Sfida told the Philadelphia Inquirer. Sfida could have asked them to leave immediately, but he decided to let them finish the event before sending them off.
In 2020, a similar situation happened, the Trump campaign used video footage of people without their permission in ads. For example, footage of nurses from New York City was used in an ad about COVID-19, making it look like they were endorsing Trump’s handling of the pandemic. The nurses were not happy about this, and it led to strong criticism of the campaign. It’s a tactic that many feel is dishonest and disrespectful.
McCormick’s event also upset local Republicans like Sheila Armstrong, who had contacted Sfida on behalf of her nonprofit organization, Cooking4Autism. Armstrong is a member of the far-right group Moms for Liberty, which has been labeled an extremist group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Armstrong claimed she was an education advocate and that the event was always about autism, though it clearly served political purposes.
Stay up-to-date with the latest news!
Subscribe and start recieving our daily emails.
After leaving Max’s Steaks, McCormick’s bad day didn’t end. He went across the street to East Bethel Baptist Church, where a fundraiser was being held for its food ministry. The church’s leader, Rev. Thomas Edwards Jr., told McCormick’s team to leave because he didn’t want the campaign to misuse photos of his congregation. Edwards expressed his distrust, saying,
“You can Photoshop. You can make things seem like they aren’t. Maybe they’re going to post we’re eating dogs or eating cats, like in Ohio. Forgive me if I’m wrong. I don’t trust these people.”
Edwards even joked that he was afraid they might twist things and make false claims about his church. His comment highlights how much people distrust politicians, especially when itfast seems they aren’t being honest.
McCormick’s team later apologized for the confusion, with a spokesperson saying, “We certainly apologize for any confusion.” But the apology does little to change the fact that people felt misled. In politics, trust is essential. When voters feel like a candidate is lying or bending the truth, it makes them less likely to support that person.
The Republican Party, especially under Trump, has had a history of using deceptive tactics. During Trump’s presidency, he often spread misinformation, such as claiming that the 2020 election was stolen, without any proof. These kinds of actions damage public trust and make it harder for people to believe in the democratic process.
Featured image via Screengrab
