(Source: MIRS.news, Published 10/18/2024) (GRAND RAPIDS) – Vice President Kamala Harris said Friday that former President Donald Trump is an “unserious” man, but that the consequences of him returning to the White House are “brutally serious.”
Harris talked about Trump’s suggestion on Sunday to employ the military to handle what he called “the enemy from within” on Election Day, a comment that U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing) and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer mentioned in their pre-program speeches.
Beth Manning, an attendee at the event, said the “enemy from within” comment is top of mind for her going into this election.
“That’s a dangerous statement. I’m not looking at it just as him attacking journalists or governors or senators, I’m looking at him attacking the people . . . that’s a target for us, and I don’t want to be a target for your political game,” Manning said.
Harris said Donald Trump makes big promises and always fails to deliver.
In the pre-program, U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-Grand Rapids) said the D in Democrat stands for “deliver.”
“Kamala Harris, our country’s ‘Mamala,’ is bringing that same ‘no drama-mama’ energy,” Scholten said.
Scholten said no candidate is winning the White House without winning West Michigan. In July, this was a sentiment Scholten knew well when she was the first Democrat of Michigan’s Congressional delegation to call for Biden to drop out of the election.
Stephanie Morris, a Portage resident, said she wasn’t pleased with Scholten’s statement in July. She said Democrats at the time should have backed the person they “were supposed to back.”
“I couldn’t stand there and do this job,” Morris said. “I think he handled it better than I would have.”
Regina Trotter, an attendee at the rally, is a registered voter in Scholten’s district. She said she thanks Scholten for calling on Biden to pass the torch.
“I think it was time for him to step down and let someone else that can pull the votes in,” she said, before adding that she thinks Biden could have pulled the same crowd size that Harris did at Riverside Park in Grand Rapids today.
“If you are exhausted on the campaign trail, it raises real questions about whether you are fit for the toughest job in the world,” Harris said, referring to the Trump campaign’s statement that he’s been exhausted.
Speaking of division in the Democratic Party, Harris wasn't interrupted today by pro-Palestine protesters during her Grand Rapids event. Whether through a feat of thorough security or just that no one planned to repeat the tactic used at her Aug. 7 rally is not clear. However, a handful of protestors stood outside the park’s entrance and used chalk to write on the driveway to the venue such statements as: “Stop the genocide,” “Their blood is on your hands,” “Arms embargo now” and “genocide enabler.”
Beth Meadows, a Zeeland resident, said she’s not voting for Kamala Harris; she’s voting for her daughter, who’s about to turn three. Not literally, but on behalf of her daughter and her future.
Her top two most important issues are reproductive rights and taxing the rich, Meadows said. She said she’s “absolutely” more excited to vote for Harris than Biden, but she would have voted for him if he was still the nominee.
“I am so worried about the election. I just don’t believe there’s any other option,” Meadows said.
Meadows said she’s excited for the election to be over, but she doesn’t think the end is until inauguration day to see if there’s backlash similar to Jan. 6, 2021.
Harris implored attendees to take advantage of Michigan’s early voting options, specifically calling on them not to wait to return their absentee ballots.
“Fill it out and return it today, because folks, the election is here. The election is here, right now,” Harris said.
When asked about the level of fatigue that voters may be feeling from all of the ads, campaign events and more, Morris said; “Most of us have fast forward and pause.”
Morris said she’s tired of lies, and that’s her top issue when voting.
“It’s just gotten pathetic. You can't even have a conversation with people,” Morris said.
But Morris said she hasn’t voted for Democrats her whole life. She said she didn’t vote for Independent Ross Perot in 1996, but she does remember voting “for one of the Bushes.”
Six Governors In the 616
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey took the podium in the pre-program. When Whitmer’s name was called, she received the loudest applause of all the pre-program speakers.
Their appearance was stop two of the three-day Michigan leg of the Driving Forward Blue Wall bus tour that has taken the governors through the Midwest.
Whitmer said the Biden-Harris administration allows legislators to work across the aisle to “fix the damn roads.
“You think I don’t hear you cursing me under your breath when you’re driving, but Big Gretch has a message for you: you’re welcome,” Whitmer said.
Rep. Carol Glanville (D-Grand Rapids) and Kristian C. Grant (D-Grand Rapids) were both seen at the event.
Harris was introduced by a union carpenter who is a member of Carpenters Local 687. He said because of Harris, he can retire with dignity.
The crowd sang Happy Birthday to her since her 60th birthday is in two days.
