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President Donald Trump on Thursday used a taxpayer-funded trip to Illinois to openly advocate for electing Republicans to Congress — blurring the line between official and political events in the heat of the midterm campaign season.
“You’ve got to vote Republican, folks, you’ve got to vote Republican,” Trump said during the speech at the Hot Strip Mill in Granite City, Ill. — a steel plant that had recently reopened. “Vote for these two congressmen, they know what we’re doing. They know what they’re doing. They’re tough and they’re smart.”
Trump didn’t name the lawmakers, but three Illinois Republicans accompanied him during his tour of the steel plant, according to the White House: Reps. Mike Bost, Rodney Davis and John Shimkus. Bost represents the district Trump traveled to on Thursday and has been one of the most fervent Republican supporters of the president’s tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.
* Umm…
Trump headed to deep red southern part of Illinois, where he celebrated the reopening of a steel mill in Republican Rep. Mike Bost’s district.
Trump won Madison County bigly, but the region has several elected Democrats. It used to be mostly Democratic, but now it’s a swing area. Hardly “deep red.”
President Donald Trump and U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis had plenty of praise for one another Thursday as the president visited an southwestern Illinois steel mill where laid-off workers recently went back to work.
Trump acknowledged Davis, a Taylorville Republican, and U.S. Reps. Mike Bost and John Shimkus during his speech to several hundred employees and supporters at the mill in Granite City, with the president calling the trio “very special people.”
“They fight for you, those three people fight for you all the time,” Trump told the crowd. “In fact, they fight so much that I sometimes say ‘I don’t want to take their call today.’” […]
Davis had nothing but positive things to say about Trump when talking about the event, praising Trump as a “very friendly, very jovial (and) affable person” willing to meet with lawmakers to discuss issues affecting their constituents.
* Gatehouse…
But Davis, asked separately if Rauner should have attended, did not criticize the governor.
“Anybody that wants to try and get a politician in two places at once is only playing politics,” Davis said.
* Illinois News Network…
Davis, R-Taylorville, talked about the impacts of the foreign steel tariffs before the event.
“When you look around this room and this building today, just a few months ago this plant was shuttered and the folks that are sitting around us excited because they have a job because this decision to really focus on the steel industry, it’s for them this matters most,” Davis said. “Because just a few years ago when the Obama administration was asked to help when they see a country like China try to decimate our domestic steel industry, they didn’t help. This administration did and these families are back to work, that’s what matters the most.”
* Tribune…
The steel plant is in the congressional district of Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Bost of Murphysboro, who arrived with Trump on Air Force One. He’s facing Democratic challenger Brendan Kelly, the St. Clair County state’s attorney.
* Alton Telegraph…
Large groups of supporters and protesters of President Donald Trump met just down the street from one another in Granite City as the presidential motorcade swept in for a speech on trade at U.S. Steel’s Granite City Works plant.
More than 1,000 people lined 19th Street, waving flags and signs, while an anti-Trump rally in Civic Park attracted about 400, and two inflated Trump chickens.
And although only a block separated them, the two groups appeared to live in separate worlds.
At the park, the inflatable chickens were initially waiting for the arrival of a generator to inflate them, then the larger chicken — at more than 30-feet high — had to be moved. Organizers said the second chicken represented U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, who attended Trump’s speech.
* BND…
Before Trump even arrived in the St. Louis-area, the United Steelworkers Union showed its support for Bost’s Democratic opponent in November.
“Mike Bost betrayed our nation when he voted for the Fast Track Authority. This not only hurts Steelworkers — it has devastated Southern Illinois,” said Steelworkers District 7 Director Mike Millsap. “U.S.W. members are proud to stand with our brother, Brendan Kelly, who will put the workforce of Southern Illinois first.”
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jul 27, 18 @ 10:57 am
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anyone looked at the correlation between lay offs at steel plants and oil prices? I think Rich is rightly pointing out that when oil/gas prices rise, steel plants do well.
Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Friday, Jul 27, 18 @ 11:01 am
Trump most definitely did name all 3 congressmen by name, at the very beginning of his remarks. WaPo is a joke. Can’t even get simplest facts right.
Comment by get real Friday, Jul 27, 18 @ 11:05 am
When Trump is done, there won’t be anything left in Southern Illinois.
Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Jul 27, 18 @ 11:05 am
If the economy stays great it’s smart for these guys in these districts to attach themselves to Trump.
Comment by Grand Avenue Friday, Jul 27, 18 @ 11:07 am
I was surprised at the GC protesters, or at least the way they were presented by the local news channel down here. You’d think they would be a bunch of young #resistance types, but the ones interviewed on the tee-vee were all farm owners protesting the trump tariffs. Commodities prices and lost market share isn’t a topic I usually associate with those protesting the orange philanderer.
Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Friday, Jul 27, 18 @ 11:09 am
Get out of your bubble Precinct Captain and look at economy. The facts are raining on your narrative
Washington (CNN)President Donald Trump thinks he’s overdue some credit for steering the strongest economy on the planet — and he’s probably right.
“These numbers are very, very sustainable — this isn’t a one-time shot,” Trump said on Friday, speaking from the South Lawn of the White House after news that the US economy grew at a 4.1% annual rate in the second quarter of the year.
Fresh from a trip to the Midwestern heartlands, the President is making the very best possible case for his administration as the pace heats up ahead of the midterm elections. He’s belting out a strong economic message with a fervor that Democrats have yet to match this election cycle.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/27/politics/donald-trump-economy-trade-gdp-growth-credit/index.html
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Jul 27, 18 @ 11:09 am
@360 - Steel plants weren’t doing all that well the last time oil spiked in 2014. A lot of the steel used in pipelines is manufactured in Canada and Russia (Evraz is the biggest supplier and their main plants are in Saskatchewan and Alberta).
Comment by Chicagonk Friday, Jul 27, 18 @ 11:12 am
===Can’t even get simplest facts right.===
It must be contagious. Yes, Trump named the three Congressmen present, but then he did tell the crowd to vote for “these two.” I’m still chuckling about that.
Which two?
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Jul 27, 18 @ 11:12 am
Aww, rep. Rodney “we need to be more civil” Davis embracing the model of civility, Trump. Cute.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jul 27, 18 @ 11:20 am
@Lester Holt’s Moustache
There are several active Indivisible groups in the Metro East. I don’t think I have ever seen anyone under the age of 30 at their events unless they’re younger kids brought by their parents. They’re mostly moms and retired teachers and yes, farmers.
Comment by Colossus Friday, Jul 27, 18 @ 11:26 am
Chicagonk, that particular steel plant in Granite City has supplied pipe to oil companies for a very long time.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jul 27, 18 @ 11:27 am
thank you chicagonk
Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Friday, Jul 27, 18 @ 11:30 am
I would just like to see a graph of layoffs matched up with oil prices.
Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Friday, Jul 27, 18 @ 11:31 am
Stay tuned next week when Davis is back to criticizing tariffs that hurt farmers in his district…
Comment by lollinois Friday, Jul 27, 18 @ 11:33 am
Any reporters ask about that 4.1 GDP in the second quarter?
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jul 27, 18 @ 11:38 am
Trump didn’t “blur the line” between official and political events. He illegally charged U.S. taxpayers for a campaign rally for House GOP members. Just because he will never be punished for it doesn’t make it legal activity. You’re still speeding even when you don’t get a ticket for it. WaPo needs to cut the mealymouthed stuff already.
As for the Illinois folks attending… so nice that Rodney Davis and aspiring Bill Mitchell replacement Dan Caulkins could find time to attend this Trump pep rally celebrating less than a thousand jobs outside their district benefitting from tariffs on steel at the same time Trump’s policies are inflicting economic anxiety and pain on the thousands of farmers and ADM employees who actually live in the Davis-Caulkins districts.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Friday, Jul 27, 18 @ 11:48 am
Was Russian steel included in the tariff?
Comment by Publius Friday, Jul 27, 18 @ 12:06 pm
LP, LP, LP, you are so checkers vs. chess. Trump’s economic policy is to pick winners and losers. The winners are very happy right now, but the losers are still figuring out they are being left off the Trump train. Wages are still stagnant, farmers are at tremendous risk of losing markets, and prices are ebbing up. Southern Illinois is not prime Trump train territory. The benefits of the tax increase will burnout. What we have left is an increased deficit that will force decreased spending on programs and services Southern Illinois needs.
Enjoy your ill-founded bliss.
Comment by Norseman Friday, Jul 27, 18 @ 12:09 pm
Pick winners and losers?
How so?
Ill founded bliss?
Sorry just rooting for a good economy, higher wages, lower unemployment that will create less dependence on social services for able bodied, working age people.
That is something everyone should be rooting for.
Sometimes brinksmanship about tariffs works like with the EU trade deal last week.
We will see what the future brings but it is better to try fix unfair trade practices that hurt the American economy and our workers than to punt on first down
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Jul 27, 18 @ 12:18 pm
I’m glad that those workers are back to work. But I am confused by some Republicans that are fully embracing steel tariffs while at the same time raising concern for the Ag industry tariffs which is result in the industry needing federal aid as a result of Trump’s policies.
Comment by SuburbanRepublican Friday, Jul 27, 18 @ 12:19 pm
“Anybody that wants to try and get a politician in two places at once is only playing politics,” Davis said.
“Where’s Rodney” is an expert at this game.
Comment by Anon221 Friday, Jul 27, 18 @ 12:24 pm
He doesn’t even like it when we try to get him in one place at once, if that place is a town hall meeting.
Comment by TooManyJens Friday, Jul 27, 18 @ 12:32 pm
They did a poll, found out their districts liked Trump and based on that went to his rally. Not rocket surgery here.
Comment by Fax Machine Friday, Jul 27, 18 @ 12:49 pm
===Sometimes brinksmanship about tariffs works like with the EU trade deal last week.===
Lol. Trump created a crisis and then claimed to solve it. Tell me, what was in this so-called deal with EU? Politico, Reuters, the Economist and others are all reporting that Europe gave up nothing and Trump caved. Junker called Trump’s bluff and Congressional Republicans demanded that Trump stand down on more escalation. Germany won big, what did Trump get for the U.S.?
So much winning.
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Jul 27, 18 @ 12:57 pm
Rodney Davis, hard at work providing Betsy Dirksen Londrigan with fodder for campaign ads and mailers. I hope she’s paying attention.
Comment by Nick Name Friday, Jul 27, 18 @ 1:35 pm
Anon @11:38:
I’m assuming no, because the President was in the state yesterday, and the GDP number came out today.
Timeline only goes one way.
Comment by Concerned Observer Friday, Jul 27, 18 @ 2:21 pm
It’s becoming increasingly clear that Trump did, in fact, know that Russian agents were to meet with his campaign officials, including his son, re information on “the Clintons,” as Trump put it about when the son brokered the meeting. (thereby more evidence that he knew what was up then.) there are so many Trump campaign officials hovering in traitorville that it’s astounding the so called defense party….Republicans…is mostly ignoring it. And the announcement about the financial picture is not really what it seems. Most economists say Trump painted a statistically rosy picture of what is happening, focusing on a high point that is deceptive. Meanwhile, wages are not going up the way he predicted. the tax cut is helping the 1%. Dems can show it’s the economy and you are stupid if you believe Trump. Oh, and Rep. Jordan ignored a pedophile, and none of you Republicans in Congress are doing anything about him, so I’m thinking the oppo machine has lots to fire up.
Comment by Amalia Friday, Jul 27, 18 @ 3:11 pm