Solving the problems of contaminated water in Flint has to remain a local, state and national priority for the foreseeable future, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton told city residents gathered in a Baptist church Sunday afternoon.
"Clean water is not optional. my friends. It’s not a luxury," she said."This is not merely unacceptable or wrong. What happened in Flint is immoral. Children in Flint are just as precious as children in any part of America."
Pastor Kenneth Stewart told his congregation that hope is alive in Flint.
"Right now, Flint is in a different season. That same season you once enjoyed will come back again," he said. "Flint is in a position now that hope is alive. Hope is a feeling that whatever you wanted or desired, you can have."
Clinton said she's been meeting with Michigan's congressional delegation to make sure that the federal government kicks in at least $200 million to fix the city's lead-damaged infrastructure.
Clinton, the former secretary of state and first lady, left the campaign trail in New Hampshire a day before the pivotal primary election to highlight the Flint water crisis yet again, framing the issue as one of failure, especially by Republican leadership in Lansing.
"We don’t know how many children have been affected by lead poisoning," she said. "We know that even a single child suffering from lead poisoning due to the state’s neglect is one child too many. We need action now."
Clinton has been pounding on the Flint water issue for weeks, calling on both the state and federal government to make the situation right. She even suggested Sunday that Flint residents be given the opportunity to do the work to replace the city's pipes or that workers with the federally-funded Americorps program could come in and help try to solve the problem.
And she spoke about being a new grandmother and how she would feel if the situation was happening to her family.
"For me, this is a personal commitment. I will stand with you every step of the way. I will not for one minute forget about you. I will do everything I can to help you get back up, get your strength and resilience flowing through this community again," she said. "Do not grow weary doing good. The road is long and I know there will be a lot of bumps along the way. But this is the most important work we’re ever called to do."
Clinton has been focusing on Flint for weeks, giving multiple interviews on the subject, bringing the issue up during a Democratic debate and sending two aides to Flint to meet with Flint Mayor Karen Weaver. On Jan. 30, she called for one of the Democratic presidential debates to be held in Flint before Michigan’s primary election on March 8. And the Democratic National Committee agreed, announcing that CNN will broadcast a debate in Flint on March 6.
"For nearly two years, Flint’s water was poisoned, for nearly two years, mothers and fathers were voicing concerns about the smells and the colors of the water ... the rashes of those who were bathing in it. And for nearly two years, you were told the water was safe," she said.
And while Pastor Stewart said that in nine months "the United States of America is going to give birth to a president ... and I hope it's a girl," and the enthusiastic congregation rose in agreement, not everyone was a Clinton fan in Flint. A few yard signs for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump were seen on Carpenter Street leading up to the church.
And a semi-truck was parked about a half mile from the church with a hand-painted message, complete with a drawing of Trump, which read: "Vote Donald Trump for president. Make America Great Again,"
And the Michigan Republican Party said Clinton was exploiting the crisis in Flint for political gain.
“Families and residents in Flint deserve better than being used as political pawns by a Presidential candidate," said Michigan Republican Party chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel in a statement. "This visit is not an act of benevolence; it is a calculated campaign tactic - an attempt to grab headlines by a struggling campaign."
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