A Minnesota Democrat wasted no time Monday in denouncing Donald Trump’s campaign, and said he would turn the country toward a “hateful” direction once he takes office next year.
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Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., was the first Democrat to deliver a floor speech since lawmakers left for the Nov. 8 election, and used that time to rip Trump’s decision to name former Breitbart News leader Steve Bannon as his chief strategist. Bannon has been called a racist, sexist and anti-Semite for Breitbart’s work under his control.
“Donald Trump’s hateful campaign has divided our nation,” McCollum said. “After the election, Mr. Trump promised Americans he would bind the wounds of division. His appointment of Steve Bannon as chief strategist to the White House is proof of the hateful direction in which he plans to take this country.”
McCollum slammed top House GOP officials for not speaking out about Bannon’s appointment. She said that was a tacit endorsement of Trump’s “campaign agenda of blatant sexism, bigotry and religious intolerance.”
It’s a sign of things to come, McCollum warned, and she stated her plan to stand against Trump.
“This is an un-American ideology,” she said. “It must be confronted here in the House and in our districts.”
McCollum earned a rebuke from Rep. Chris Collins, R-N.Y., who was sitting in the speaker’s chair, for her comments.
“The chair would remind members from engaging in personalities toward nominees for the Office of President,” Collins said after she was finished speaking.
Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., also took to the floor to tell Trump that Democrats on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce were not going to let him dismantle Obamacare without a fight.
Trump deputies have signaled the President-elect may ask lawmakers to repeal Obamacare on Inauguration Day as one of the first acts of lawmaking while he’s president. Pallone said that would be a massive mistake and insisted the Affordable Care Act is working, despite some issues.
“Democrats stand ready to work to improve and strengthen the Affordable Care Act, but we will continue to stand resolute against any effort to dismantle it,” Pallone said. “For the sake of the American people, we can’t get this wrong.”
