(WWJ) The opposition came out in droves in Michigan Tuesday, speaking out against President Joe Biden, who's visiting the state to drum up support for his $3.6 trillion "Build Back Better" infrastructure plan.
WWJ's Jon Hewett reports a large and loud crowd gathered for a rally at M-59 and Michigan Ave. in Howell, down the street from where Biden was set to speak.
"In fact, the presidential motorcade just rolled through here literally about five, ten minutes ago....right through the heart of this four-corner rally," said Hewett.
"Easily several thousand people here who have gathered out today to make their voices heard, many still carrying Trump flags as well as dressed in the Make America Great Again hats and shirts."
A man with a megaphone chanted "Trump won! Trump won!" to cheers from the masses at the even that went on for about five hours.
One sign read: "Stop the spending"
The crowd included John Dunn of Howell. "(Biden is) going after our bank accounts; everything we've made our whole life, he wants that, too. There's just nothing he can do right for me."
Meshawn Maddock, Co-Chair of the Michigan Republican Party, who helped organize and was on hand for the event, summed up protesters' gripes with the president.
Related
"This is middle America right here, and these people were promised no new taxes by the Biden Administration and Gretchen Whitmer," Maddock said. "No new taxes on the middle class...and yet that's exactly what is coming their way right now."
"People feel feel it, they can't afford to fill their tank with gas, they can't afford the food prices, they're afraid of food shortages. So people are afraid, and I think they're bringing out a lot of new people that are really angry at Whitmer and Biden, and to be honest I'm really surprised that he picked this location. I think he's getting bad advice," she said.
"These are Republican voters here, but these are also just fed up Americans."
While it was a decidedly lopsided crowd against Biden's visit, a handful of supporters of the president did show up across the street.
Among them was Judy Daubenmier, chair of the Livingston County Democratic Party.
"You know, his Build Back Better program really has popular support, and I think the other side is so desperate, and that's why they're out today," she said. "Because they know if that passes it'll do wonderful things for the average American family."
**Please note: Video below is unedited and contains strong language.
Biden stopped at the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 324 training facility for operators of heavy equipment, where he spoke at around 3:30 p.m.
Biden contends that his infrastructure plan will help the middle class, including blue collar workers, especially by creating jobs. And the president promised it will be paid for by taxing only the wealthiest Americans, who make more than $400,000 a year.
Dunn isn't buying it.
"You believe that?" he asked Hewett. "It always goes out. If you tax the rich it comes to use, too. That's just a fact; that's the truth."
Related
Related
