Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer highlighted Joe Biden’s work to save Detroit’s automakers and criticized President Donald Trump’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic during a live address to the Democratic National Convention Monday.
Whitmer introduced herself as “that woman from Michigan,” a derisive nickname bestowed on her by Trump earlier this year, while making her speech live from a United Auto Workers union hall in Lansing. In alignment with a recent push by the Biden campaign to tout his impact on the 2009 auto bailout, Whitmer said the former vice president “saved” Michigan auto workers who went on to help manufacture ventilators and personal protective equipment to respond to the coronavirus.
Whitmer contrasted Biden’s efforts during the last major recession facing the United States with the current situation under Trump. The national unemployment rate is slowly declining as the economy recovers from business shutdowns across the country but still sat at 10% in July, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics data released last Friday.
“In 2009, the Obama-Biden administration inherited the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression,” Whitmer said. “The auto industry on the brink of collapse, 1 million jobs at stake. But President Obama and Vice President Biden didn’t waste time blaming anyone else or shirking the responsibility, they got to work.”
Biden is putting more resources into digital and television ads highlighting his Build Back Better Agenda, which includes a plan to create 1 million auto jobs. The plan calls for more federal investment, government purchases and tax incentives to lift up automakers and connected businesses that supply them.
“Joe Biden knows how to help Michigan’s economy bounce back because he’s done it before -- helping rescue the auto industry and helping lead our country through the longest uninterrupted stretch of private sector job growth in American history,” said Eric Hyers, Michigan state director for the Biden campaign.
Whitmer criticized Trump for not having a national strategy to deal with the coronavirus. She said Trump “fights his fellow Americans” rather than the virus that killed 170,000 Americans. The governor specifically mentioned the death of 5-year-old Skylar Hebert, a Detroit girl killed by COVID-19 in April.
“We took this pandemic seriously in Michigan,” Whitmer said. “We listened to medical experts, we planned. With a lot of work from auto workers -- and too little help from the White House -- we executed our plan. We saved thousands of lives ... Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will lead by example. It will be science, not politics or ego, that will drive their decisions.”
Michigan Republican Party Chairman Laura Cox said Whitmer’s “partisan colors were on full display,” in a statement. Cox said Whitmer’s policy is responsible for the death of Michigan residents in nursing homes.
“However, as we saw tonight, she continues to pass the buck and blame others,” Cox said. “But while Whitmer blames, Trump leads, and I look forward to our state awarding him with another victory this November.”
The governor’s remarks were featured on the first night of the convention during a section of the program focused on the COVID-19 pandemic. The governor has gained national attention since implementing aggressive executive orders to contain coronavirus outbreaks and being among the shortlist women politicians considered to be Biden’s running mate.
Whitmer is a national co-chair of Biden’s presidential campaign. She endorsed him before Michigan’s March Democratic primary.
READ MORE ON MLIVE:
Gretchen Whitmer says Michigan is ‘definitely a tossup’ in 2020 presidential race
Trump, Biden take different approaches to campaigning, amid coronavirus concerns in Michigan
Coronavirus, racial protest response could undermine Trump’s outreach to Black voters in Michigan
Trump campaign bus makes push for women voters in Michigan battlegrounds
In ‘must-win’ Michigan, Trump campaign takes fight door to door as polls show Biden with strong lead
"auto" - Google News
August 18, 2020 at 09:41AM
https://ift.tt/2Yammnc
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says Biden ‘saved’ Michigan’s auto industry in Democratic National Convention speech - MLive.com
"auto" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2Xb9Q5a
https://ift.tt/2SvsFPt
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says Biden ‘saved’ Michigan’s auto industry in Democratic National Convention speech - MLive.com"
Post a Comment