WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) joined CNN’s The Situation Room, where she slammed Republican efforts to rig our elections and Donald Trump’s admission that he doesn’t care about Americans’ financial situation. Below are excerpts from the conversation:
On Democrats’ Fight for Free and Fair Elections:
"We know we're in a fight for the American people. And what the American people are telling us is that they are not making it economically. [That’s] the terms I'm hearing from small business owners; from the mom who described that her husband has lost his job and is now selling plasma so they can afford childcare in this country.
"And what we are seeing is an effort by the Republicans to further rig the system against them. They are going to cheat and use every tool they can come up with in order to retain power. And we are going to fight back with the same fury and intensity. The gloves are off. There is no pretense here. They are decimating Black political power in order to retain power and keep a system that works against the American people.
"So we are going to be strategic. We are going to be as aggressive as they are. And we are going to fight for the American people at this moment."
On Republicans Working Against the American People:
"They know they are losing. The president's numbers on the economy? He has 70% disapproval. And they are doing nothing to change that through the policies that they are putting in place, whether that's the price of gas or groceries or housing or energy. They are doing nothing.
"So they decided on this course, and we have to meet them because we cannot let them continue to work against working people in this country by stealing elections.
...
"This is so beyond party politics...this is about the American people.
"And right now, we're seeing attacks on Black communities and their voting power. But this is about the voting rights of everyone.
"What we are seeing is an effort from the Supreme Court down to statehouses across the South to take away the political power of voters in order to continue to rig this economy against them.
"So this transcends party. This is about who will rise up in this moment. Who is going to stand up for the fundamental right to vote and for an economy that should be working for opportunity for the American people? That’s the Democrats."
On the GOP’s Billionaire-First Agenda:
"Every single election comes down to this: Do you see my family? And are you going to fight for me?
"And what we've seen from Mike Johnson and House Republicans and this president is not only are they not fighting, they are actively and aggressively hurting them. They've stripped away their health care and jacked up the price. They're closing rural hospitals as a result. They've taken away veterans' benefits, food programs, all of that. Now we're seeing gas prices through the roof.
"All of it, to follow along and give money and tax cuts to the billionaire class. That is what Mike Johnson stands for. And he will turn a blind eye to corruption, to overtly racial redistricting, in order to retain power and to retain power for the very wealthiest of Americans.
"So we are in communities. We are talking to voters. We are fighting for their right to have opportunity, to have a solid floor and no ceiling on their success. And that starts with securing the right to vote.
"You can have the president of the United States, yesterday, say he doesn't think about Americans' financial security. We get the message. He is not looking out for the American people, and they are drowning. They are saying to us, 'We are not making it in this economy.'
"We are going to fight for them at every turn, and we are going to fight to preserve fair and secure elections."
On Trump Breaking His Promise of Lower Costs:
"This is the fundamental betrayal of people who supported him.
"He told them he'd lower costs on day one. What has he done? He's imposed tariffs that have ruined the soybean market for farmers across this country. He's taken away people's healthcare, and we haven't even seen the worst of those cuts hit home yet. But we're already seeing hospitals close — people's premiums skyrocket. He's taken away food programs from people. He's dismantling our public schools.
"But what is he doing with full pursuit, that's taking up all his time and energy? Building a ballroom. $1 billion is what he proposed to the American taxpayer, when they are working so hard and have no breathing room. That's where his priority is.
"Everything comes back to: How does Donald Trump personally benefit? It is the Gilded Age in his mind.
"He hasn't done one thing in Iran to help move us farther away from them ever obtaining a nuclear weapon. But what he has done is brought this [war] home once again to working families. $1 billion a day that could be going to help people reduce the cost of rent and mortgages, expand housing, groceries, energy bills, childcare.
"These are the issues the American people need us to be working on, and they are living in some world where it is all about the very wealthiest Americans. He's taking Elon Musk over to China. It is always about — from the day he was sworn in — that billionaire class and how the Trump family and Donald Trump can do better and bring his wealthy donors with him."
To watch the full interview, click HERE.
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