While the situation in Flint, Michigan continues to escalate, with the president declaring a national state of emergency and federal aid pouring in, GOP candidates continue to ignore or refuse to comment on the toxic situation.
It is unclear why Democrats, but not Republicans, have commented on the human rights crisis occurring in the Michigan town. Democrat Hillary Clinton has decried the situation while Senator Bernie Sanders has called for the immediate resignation of Governor Rick Snyder. Martin O’Malley has also called for justice in Flint.
On the Republican side? Radio silence. No candidates have made mention of Flint’s water crisis on their Twitter or their campaign websites. They are not talking about it at rallies nor writing op-eds in the local paper. At least two candidates have been directly asked about the crisis but both have refused to give any sort of comment of substance.
During a Tuesday morning rally in the hometown of John Wayne, Trump was asked about the Flint water crisis and he responded that it was a “shame” but that he shouldn’t (and wouldn’t) be commenting on the situation. Marco Rubio was also asked while in Iowa what he thought about the situation, but Rubio demurred, claiming that he had not been properly briefed on the situation. That is surprising, since it has been a major issue since early last week and the Democratic candidates addressed the event days ago.
Are the Republicans trying to protect one of their own? Do they have some other ties to this situation that have yet to come out? Is a true environmental issue too “Democrat”? It seems like a ripe enough time to come to the workingman’s aid and even jab at Obama for not providing more Federal assistance, and yet all of the Republican contenders sit idly by.
The situation in Flint, Michigan is completely unacceptable and for anyone to throw their hands in the air and say “I dunno,” is repugnant.
