Katherine Clark: ‘Politicians Are Supposed To Work For The American People, Not The Other Way Around’

yesterday

During a Congressional Democratic press briefing on Wednesday, House Minority Whip Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA) spoke about President Trump’s first 100 days in office.

Transcript

00:00Thank you so much. What an honor and privilege to be here with Leader Jeffries, Leader Schumer.

00:06Thank you for bringing us together and with my incredible Democratic colleagues in the House and the Senate.

00:14Fighters, each one of them.

00:16A hundred days ago, Donald Trump came to this Capitol.

00:20He swore an oath, spoke to the American people, and promised to bring down prices.

00:26And then he started a trade war with our allies, and prices went up.

00:32He said we'd be a rich nation again.

00:36Then he collapsed the market, and trillions of dollars in savings have been lost.

00:42He promised a glorious destiny for Americans.

00:46Then he executed an agenda of, by, and for the billionaire class.

00:53And now supermarkets are warning they may not be able to stock their shelves.

01:00Republican politicians promised the American people they would have more.

01:05More money in your pocket.

01:07More opportunity for your family.

01:09More confidence in your future.

01:11But all we have seen is them take.

01:15Take away health care.

01:17Take away Social Security.

01:19Take away Veterans Benefits.

01:22Take food away from children and seniors.

01:26That's not what anyone voted for.

01:29We look at the polls, but also go out and ask people for yourself.

01:35You'll hear the same thing that we're hearing.

01:38Ask my constituent, whose husband is in final stages of dementia, whose financial survival depends on Medicaid.

01:47Ask the mom in my district whose son was born with spinal muscular atrophy.

01:52A proud college graduate who relies on Medicaid not just to stay alive, but to live a full life.

02:01Ask the veterans that I've met in town halls and round tables and in Dunkin' Donuts across my district.

02:08They can't get an appointment at the VA right now, and they are scared and think we have forgotten them.

02:16Ask the seniors who cannot get someone to pick up the phone at Social Security.

02:22In red, blue, and purple districts, Americans are saying, this is not about politics.

02:28This is not about an ideology.

02:30This is about the fact that politicians are supposed to work for the American people, not the other way around.

02:38And we see the Republicans in Congress choosing their careers, their political survival, over that of their constituents.

02:51Listening to Donald Trump and Elon Musk and their donors, instead of their own voters.

02:59Their voters are speaking clearly.

03:01They oppose tax cuts for the rich.

03:04They oppose cuts to Social Security.

03:07They oppose cuts to veterans' benefits.

03:09They want the representatives they elected to lower their cost of living, to make sure they can afford groceries, go to the doctor, and stay in their homes.