LANSING–– While Donald Trump launched desperate tirades at his Battle Creek rally, Michigan Democrats held him accountable for his broken promises, highlighting his attacks on health care and his failure to bring back manufacturing to the state.
Here’s what they’re saying:
Michigan Democratic Party Chairwoman Lavora Barnes framed President Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Battle Creek as a “desperate” attempt to convince voters in swing counties to support his reelection campaign.
Hoadley, who is also running for Republican U.S. Rep. Fred Upton’s seat, said voters will turn back to the Democratic Party because Trump failed to secure the economic success he promised voters.
“In 2016 President Trump promised to bring change for the working people of Michigan. Three years later, here we are standing out in the cold without little to show,” Hoadley said. “We need better healthcare, long term care, and affordable prescription drugs. They haven’t gotten it done. We need clean drinking water, to hold polluters accountable, and to tackle the climate crisis. They are pretending that enough is being done.”
Jon Hoadley, who represents Michigan’s 60th district in Kalamazoo, followed Johnson, addressing the reasons for holding the press conference ahead of Trump’s rally.
“You have President Trump and the Trump-Pence administration come to Battle Creek making new promises about things to come. At the same time, we are struck in Michigan by the lack of promises kept,” he said.
Lavora Barnes, chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, concluded the press conference by reiterating the “broken promises” Trump had made to the people of Michigan.
“What he won’t do is tell you how time after time after time he’s broken promises he’s made,” she said. “He’s held rally after rally in this state promising no more plants will close down and he will revive Michigan manufacturing. We’ve seen plants in Warren, Dearborn and even right here in Battle Creek shutter.”
Earlier Wednesday, Michigan Democratic Party leaders added to the discord over the president and vice president’s visit.
“I’m here to turn Michigan and Calhoun County blue,” Bedford Township Supervisor Rande Johnson said.
They spoke out against the administration’s health care policy and called out the president for failing to bring jobs to Battle Creek.
“What we’re seeing when we’re talking to voters all over Calhoun County, all over the state, is that while there may be jobs, there aren’t enough jobs,” Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes said. “And there aren’t jobs that will actually pay the bills. There aren’t jobs that will cover the cost of prescription drugs and health care. People need more than one job to make ends meet and I’d like an economy where everybody can have one job to take care of their family and do the work they need to do.”
“We’re working every day, putting boots on the ground and knuckles on the doors to hold this president accountable for his broken promises,” Barnes said. “It worked in 2018 when Democrats throughout this state swept into office riding a blue wave of Michigan voters who rejected this failed president. And it’s going to work in 2020.”
“We’re standing out here today in the freezing cold for one reason: Because Donald Trump has come here to Michigan in a desperate attempt to cover for his broken promises and rally his dwindling supporters in a state he sees slipping through his fingers,” said Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes.
“When it comes to skyrocketing health care costs and slow job growth, Trump has broken promise after promise. And the Michigan Democratic Party is fighting to make these failures some of his last.”
“There’s a lot of anger in this state because of what the president has done,” Michigan Democratic Party Chairwoman Lavora Barnes said Wednesday ahead of Trump’s rally. “Folks took the streets last night to show their anger, to shout ‘impeach him.’ I’m excited by each and every one of them turning out to vote in November.”
