How Mass. politicians reacted to the 1st presidential debate
"Why is it so hard for @realDonaldTrump to condemn white supremacy?"
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Massachusetts politicians had strong words in response to the first presidential debate between incumbent Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden on Tuesday night.
Members of the state’s congressional delegation, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, and Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey all weighed in during, and after, the acrimonious debate.
Below, how the Bay State Democrats reacted to topics addressed through the night, the first of three one-one-one debates of the 2020 general election.
Overall
Joe Biden spent the final moments of the debate urging Americans to vote. Donald Trump spent the final moments of the debate trying to suppress and discount those votes.
Vote like our democracy depends on it—because it does.
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) September 30, 2020
One of those candidates pays his taxes. The other spent decades defrauding us.
One wants to expand health care. The other wants to steal it away.
One disavows white supremacy. The other embraces it.
One loves America. The other loves only himself.
Enough. Vote.
— Joe Kennedy III (@joekennedy) September 30, 2020
Donald Trump is lying.
About everything.
— Joe Kennedy III (@joekennedy) September 30, 2020
Post debate spin by Republican analyst, “Trump clearly felt aggrieved about how he’s been treated the last 4 years, and came into the debate hot.” Are you kidding me? WE THE PEOPLE are aggrieved. 206,000 loved ones are dead!
— Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) September 30, 2020
Nearly 50 million Americans who don’t have enough to eat. Food lines stretch around the corner at food banks because of COVID-19. But not a single question from Chris Wallace tonight about hunger.
— Jim McGovern (@McGovernMA) September 30, 2020
🤡🤡🤡
— Jim McGovern (@McGovernMA) September 30, 2020
He won’t shut up because he’s a belligerent bully and a failed president who’s trying to drag America down the drain with his morally bankrupt presidency.
— Jim McGovern (@McGovernMA) September 30, 2020
We cannot take another four years of this.
Make sure you’re registered to vote. Make a plan. And VOTE!
We need everyone to do their part. https://t.co/8MbvgULCIu
— Lori Trahan (@LoriTrahanMA) September 30, 2020
Vote.
— Katherine Clark (@RepKClark) September 30, 2020
America’s future is equality and peace, not bile and hate.
— Katherine Clark (@RepKClark) September 30, 2020
White supremacy
Donald Trump fans the flames of racism, embraces white supremacy, and employs state violence against Americans exercising their rights. That’s Donald Trump’s America.
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) September 30, 2020
Donald Trump won’t condemn white supremacists because he is one.
— Ed Markey (@EdMarkey) September 30, 2020
Donald Trump is racist scum.
— Ed Markey (@EdMarkey) September 30, 2020
Not only is Trump racist, he’s a threat to our national security. The Proud Boys are a domestic terror organization. https://t.co/i3hgkQ7jtn
— Seth Moulton (@sethmoulton) September 30, 2020
Did he denounce the Proud Boys and we missed it?
— Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) September 30, 2020
Donald Trump says he didn’t say there were “very fine people on both sides.”
He did. pic.twitter.com/tnvTO1S9dq
— Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) September 30, 2020
Why is it so hard for @realDonaldTrump to condemn white supremacy?
He had multiple opportunities tonight – and simply can’t do it. Dividing Americans is literally his only plan.
He is not a president. He is a disgrace.
— Marty Walsh (@MartyForBoston) September 30, 2020
COVID-19 pandemic
America has been knocked down. Millions have lost their jobs, hours, pay, health insurance, or small business.
Americans are suffering, sick and scared, because President Trump didn’t have a plan to address this global health pandemic—and still doesn’t have one. #Debates2020
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) September 30, 2020
At every turning point of this crisis, Trump has failed the test of leadership—but he hasn’t failed alone. Republicans sat on their hands while COVID-19 spiraled out of control and took our economy along with it. This November, we need to hold them all accountable. #Debates2020
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) September 30, 2020
More than 200,000 Americans are dead.
That’s not just a number. It’s someone’s grandmother, someone’s father, someone’s best friend.
It’s my brother, Don Reed.
Trump has spent this pandemic lying, pointing fingers, and playing politics—leaving a nation behind to grieve.
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) September 30, 2020
Donald Trump has been criminally negligent as president and is responsible the deaths of more 200,000 Americans.
— Ed Markey (@EdMarkey) September 30, 2020
Donald Trump still has no plan to deal with the coronavirus. #TrumpLied200KDied
— Jim McGovern (@McGovernMA) September 30, 2020
Masks save lives.
— Lori Trahan (@LoriTrahanMA) September 30, 2020
Election results and peaceful transition of power
Donald Trump must agree to a peaceful transition of power. If he does not accept the results of this election, he will face an uprising like never before. pic.twitter.com/xCJX2G3AGS
— Ed Markey (@EdMarkey) September 30, 2020
Our president is delegitimizing our election on national TV. We will not let fascism win.
— Ed Markey (@EdMarkey) September 30, 2020
Donald Trump is trying to scare people and keep them from voting. AGs won’t let it happen.@JoeBiden wants every eligible voter to be able to cast a ballot.
That’s what this country is all about. #Debates2020
— Maura Healey (@maura_healey) September 30, 2020
Climate change
I support the Green New Deal and I’m voting for Joe Biden.
— Ed Markey (@EdMarkey) September 30, 2020
The movement for a Green New Deal is going to defeat Donald Trump and his fossil fuel cronies. We’re going to elect Joe Biden and fight to pass the aggressive climate action which we need. We will work together to deliver a just and equitable future for all children.
— Ed Markey (@EdMarkey) September 30, 2020
With Donald Trump defeated and Joe Biden in the White House, we will take bold and urgent climate action to save our planet and create millions of good-paying jobs.
— Ed Markey (@EdMarkey) September 30, 2020
Climate change is real. We’re seeing the effects of it in real-time.
Nothing has been done in the past three and a half years to tackle it.
We can change that on November 3rd.
— Lori Trahan (@LoriTrahanMA) September 30, 2020
Taxes
Raise your hand if you pay more than Donald Trump in income taxes.
— Ed Markey (@EdMarkey) September 30, 2020
Health care
Joe Biden wants to protect and expand health care. Donald Trump wants to take it away. It’s really that simple—no matter how much Trump rants, raves, and lies. #Debates2020
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) September 30, 2020
Donald Trump and the Republicans who stand with him want to force more than 100 million people with pre-existing conditions off their health insurance.
— Ed Markey (@EdMarkey) September 30, 2020
Donald Trump and Republicans are suing to eliminate the Affordable Care Act and kick 20 million people off their health insurance.
They don’t have a plan to replace it. #PresidentialDebate2020
— Lori Trahan (@LoriTrahanMA) September 30, 2020
Trump is in court right now trying to take away your health care.
— Katherine Clark (@RepKClark) September 30, 2020
My office is in court CONSTANTLY fighting against Trump’s attempts to strip health care from millions of Americans.
I’d like for that to stop.@JoeBiden will fight to make health care more affordable and accessible — not rip it away from those who need it most. #Debates2020
— Maura Healey (@maura_healey) September 30, 2020
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