Ahead of Donald Trump’s visit to Minneapolis and Duluth yesterday afternoon, DFL leaders spoke out about Trump’s failed leadership in a time of crisis. Speakers addressed the administration’s botched coronavirus response and the president’s lack of care and attention to the American people’s interests. The call featured key leaders including DFL Chair Ken Martin, Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, Majority Leader Ryan Winkler, Duluth Mayor Emily Larson, Duluth City Councilor Arik Forsman (At-Large), United Steelworkers Local 9460 President Deanna Hughes, and St. Mary’s nurse Chris Rubesch.
Excerpts from the call
DFL Party Chair Ken Martin: “There was one president on the debate stage last evening, and it wasn’t the person who flew in on Air Force One. Joe Biden demonstrated the leadership and the temperament that Americans around the country are looking for. Biden took the opportunity in the debate to speak directly to the American people. He spoke about families and how the crises facing our country are impacting them. He talked about the empty chairs at kitchen tables from family members who were lost to COVID-19. He talked about families struggling to get by because of the jobs moved overseas under his watch, under Trump’s watch. And most disturbingly, when Trump had the chance to disown white supremacy, he refused. And frighteningly, he didn’t just refuse. It called them to action.
“Even during this pandemic, as we all know, he’s still trying to repeal health care for millions, including protections for as many as four in 10 Americans with pre-existing conditions, all at the same time trying to ram through an anti-ACA Supreme Court nominee. So Minnesotans deserve a leader like Joe Biden, who would fight for working families, expand health coverage, and build an economy that works for everyone.”
Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan: “[Trump] called folks who passed away — over 200,000 folks in this country — ‘nobody’s’ and my brother Ron wasn’t a nobody. He was a somebody and everybody who lost someone, they were somebody’s, somebody. And so just the refusal to acknowledge that was, was deeply painful for me, and I know for many others across the country who are looking at that empty chair at the table. And really, his refusal to commit to an independent ruling on the results of the election were just incredibly, was incredibly alarming. And I don’t think we’ve ever witnessed anything quite like that. I will also just say his use of the term, his use of the word Pocahontas… dismissing the memory, frankly, of the real Pocahontas, but also that is why I knew that I couldn’t watch the debate with my seven-year-old daughter, because she would, you know, ultimately be faced with the kind of racism that comes directly from the President’s mouth. A seven-year-old little Anishinaabeg girl should not have to hear that, no one should have to hear that from the President of the United States.”
Duluth Mayor Emily Larson: “We have a white supremacist in the White House who cares only about himself, who says he is about law and order, but I can guarantee you is coming into my community, disregarding the laws of health and safety for Minnesotans. He only cares about laws that apply to himself. He pays taxes according to whatever laws and rules he thinks apply to him. He parses out core information about a coronavirus pandemic at a timeline that he thinks works best for him. I am not about him. I am about this community. I’m about the state I am about this country, and I am about Joe Biden.”
Majority Leader Ryan Winkler: “The entire Trump presidency has been a total crap show. And the fact that his failed leadership is leaving tens of thousands of Americans dead [who] would not otherwise be dead through COVID-19. The fact that he is unwilling to make a deal in order to bring money to people who are unemployed because of COVID, or help states deal with this problem has left this country much more dangerous. It has left this country in a desperate place to get him out of office.”
Duluth City Councilor Arik Forsman (At-Large): “But while President Trump has failed to rise to the occasion, we stepped up locally to do what we can. When he politicized wearing a mask and didn’t take any action, we passed a local ordinance here in Duluth. And as one of the authors of that, I received the death threat and believe it is because of the toxic political environment and hate that this President has nurtured and grown during his term. When small businesses shut their doors and risk financial ruin, we stepped up at the city and created loan and grant programs for industries like childcare and hospitality… And when the President failed to secure supply chains for critical PPE, we saw businesses like Frost River and Vikre here in Duluth that raise their hands, shifted their production away from what made them money, and did what they thought needed to be done in the community by making face shields and hand sanitizer.”
United Steelworkers Local 9460 President Deanna Hughes: “The President’s failure to take immediate action in responding to the coronavirus affected health care workers almost immediately. You know, the solution was to roll back CDC guidelines and policies that have been in place for years that were meant to protect our workers that work in health care… I think that American workers need a leader who cares about their workplace safety. American families need a leader who cares about their access to quality health care. You know, America needs a leader who cares about somebody else other than himself. And that’s why I believe that America needs Joe Biden.”
St. Mary’s nurse Chris Rubesch: “Health care is one of the central issues that’s going to be affected, even as people are voting. Thousands of Minnesotans, including my community members, my family members, and my patients depend on the health care that they receive from the Affordable Care Act. And even now, President Trump is trying to tear people away from that health insurance in the middle of a public health crisis. It makes no sense. People absolutely need this coverage now more than ever. And while we all adapt to these new norms of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Trump administration has clearly shown that there is no leadership to ensure there’s a plan to reopen schools and businesses. There’s no leadership in providing the healthcare leaders and the scientists the resources they need to help get us through this. And there’s no leadership in ensuring that workers like myself and the workers that Deanna represents have the PPE that they need.”