Hillary Clinton partners with Flint mayor on city water initiative

[riversedge]

Last edited Sun Mar 6, 2016, 01:13 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: mlive.com




Hillary Clinton partners with Flint mayor on city water initiative




Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton smiles as she gets a smattering of applause and a standing ovation from hundreds of Flint residents next to Flint Mayor Karen Weaver before speaking about the Flint water crisis Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016 at the House of Prayer Missionary Baptist Church in Flint. Jake May | MLive.com



Roberto Acosta | [e-mail] By Roberto Acosta




updated March 06, 2016 at 12:13 AM


FLINT, MI – Mayor Karen Weaver will be joined by Chelsea Clinton to announced a water initiative just a few hours ahead of the the March 6 Democratic presidential debate in Flint.

A press conference has been scheduled for Sunday afternoon at Mott Community College, 1401 E. Court St. to announce the "Flint WaterWorks" initiative, in partnership with Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

"Flint WaterWorks is a new program which will provide Flint youth with jobs distributing clean water, healthy food and nutrition information and services to families in need," reads a statement from the city.
..................................

Clinton visited House of Prayer Missionary Baptist Church in Flint last month to discuss the city's ongoing water crisis, as did fellow candidate Bernie Sanders who held a community forum Feb. 25 at Woodside Church on the city's east side.

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Read more: http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2016/03/hillary_clinton_partners_with.html#incart_most-commented_news_article

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So glad to see the folks of Flint getting some help

[AlbertCat]

1. I wonder what their biggest concern is.

Getting the water problems fixed...


or the way it makes Clinton look.

[RoccoR5955]

3. When she gives Flint

some of her millions to fix their problem, then, and only then will I believe that she cares about their water problems. So far she has not even funded getting them bottled water.
You figure it out from there.

[Buzz Clik]

9. "You figure it out from there." No thanks. We'll let you wander around logical fallacy land.

[RoccoR5955]

41. logical fallacy

my buns!

[glinda]

38. I think the Gov had relations with Nestle or something anyways to funnel $ to them.

[riversedge]

7. being cynical about Hillary trying to help Flint Residents says

more about you. I am sure that those affected by this crisis appreciate the help.

[AlbertCat]

15. says more about you.

I don't think so in this instance.

But you go ahead and all yourself that if it makes you feel superior.

I wonder if Clinton is helping them in her capacity as SoS or Senator from NY?

[RoccoR5955]

42. Speaking and making promises

does exactly what?
Please tell me, because apparently I am too stupid to know what merely speaking somewhere does to help people who need a vital resource to live.
Thank you in advance.

[RoccoR5955]

45. As Yoda said:

"Do. There is no try."
She has the resources to at least make a down payment on a new system. Why is she not doing something if she cares about these people? She could be calling her banker buddies, and telling them that they should build a new pipeline or whatever in her name. Is she doing anything besides talking, and getting her picture taken?

[NastyRiffraff]

22. You just can't help yourselves, can you?

You're all like Pavlov's dogs, mindlessly reacting. Whenever you see a positive post about Hillary Clinton, you have to trash it. Yes, this is meant as an insult, just to save you from pointing that out.

[AlbertCat]

25. You just can't help yourselves, can you?

Well, you may have forgotten all about it, but she does have a huge untrustworthy rating. So I'm skeptical. Especially when she swoops in like some deus ex machina.

[RoccoR5955]

43. What in the world

is talking about something, and making promises, while not doing anything? Doesn't Clinton have the resources to actually DO SOMETHING, and not just talk about it? For cryin' out loud, she's a multi millionaire. You might think that she would contribute some of her OWN personal funds, if she really cared about the kids in Flint? Well maybe you wouldn't, but I would.

[passiveporcupine]

47. Can I borrow this

the next time I see a Hillary supporter pooping in a 'Yay Bernie' thread? Cause I just left a thread like that. No reason to do it, except...well, you know!

There are a few members who do this regularly every day here, just waiting for the next good news Bernie thread. But this isn't a "yay Hillary" thread, unless she actually does something positive, and I haven't seen that yet. So far all it is, is a photo op, and a gratuitous one at that.

At least in this case, there is something legitimate to talk about concerning this OP.

FLINT, MI – Mayor Karen Weaver will be joined by Chelsea Clinton to announced a water initiative just a few hours ahead of the the March 6 Democratic presidential debate in Flint.

Oh, do tell...what incredible timing.

Now, if the initiative spells out some positive action that Clinton is participating in...something tangible she is actually doing, then good for her. Until then...I'm reserving my opinion of what this whole Flint thing is a about...but if she is truly trying to be altruistic, her timing stinks.

Edited to add...just found the news on the announcement. OK, here it is

the Flint WaterWorks initiative was developed in partnership with Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, whose team helped the mayor establish the public-private partnership program.

The initiative is being started with a $500,000 contribution from J.B. and M.K. Pritzker to the Community Foundation of Greater Flint

So, other that sitting and talking about this "plan", where is Clinton's involvement? Where is she putting any money up to help it get started?

"For my mother and for me, this is not political," Chelsea Clinton said at a news conference. "It is deeply personal

Then why the strategic timing, just prior to the debate?

Then the Mayor goes on to laud Clinton for her inspiration in running with the Mayor's own idea? WTF?

This is all garbage. Pure undadulterated garbage. Photo op and campaign advertising.

http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/flint-water-crisis/2016/03/06/chelsea-clinton-flint-mayor-announce-new-jobs-program/81403878/

[NastyRiffraff]

52. Borrow whatever you like

Knock yourself out.

[FailureToCommunicate]

2. Not LBN. This is someone's twitter blog, not a "national news source"

[forest444]

6. Exactly.

I recently had an LBN thread locked because I added the term "vulture fund billionaire" in front of Paul Singer's name in the title (many have no idea who he is, though they really should).

And this guy's getting away with posting some twit's Twitter tweets as LBN!?

[FailureToCommunicate]

29. SOP for this person.

[forest444]

30. I'm intrigued.

Does he have friends in high places here on DU?

[FailureToCommunicate]

32. Don't know. But double standards for sure.

[forest444]

33. Thanks for the heads up, FTC.

Let's keep in touch.

[FailureToCommunicate]

34. ¡Hasta luego!

[cleopotrick]

4. This sure makes her look better than all the Sen votes against banning pollutants from entering our

water sources

[Buzz Clik]

10. Yeah. All those votes.

[Divernan]

17. Before Flint crisis, HRC voted against measure preventing ground water pollution

http://www.ibtimes.com/political-capital/hillary-clinton-spotlighting-crisis-flint-michigan-voted-against-measure-prevent

When the Democratic presidential contenders meet on Sunday for their debate in Flint, Michigan — where thousands of residents have been poisoned by polluted water — the candidates’ records on clean water policy are likely to be in the spotlight. Hillary Clinton seems eager for that discussion, recently telling NPR: “The idea that you would have a community in the United States of America of nearly 100,000 people who were drinking and bathing in lead-contaminated water infuriates me.”

But despite that rhetoric, the issue of clean water may be politically perilous for the leading Democratic candidate, thanks to her vote against banning a possible carcinogen at the center of one of the largest water pollution scandals in recent history.

Facing reports that a controversial fuel additive was contaminating water supplies across America, Clinton as a senator in 2005 opposed a bipartisan measure to ban the chemical — even though Bill Clinton’s Environmental Protection Agency had first proposed such a prohibition. At roughly the same time, one major company producing the chemical also tried to use provisions in a trade deal backed by Hillary Clinton to force local governments in the United States to let it continue selling the toxic compound.

Breaking with then-Sen. Barack Obama, Clinton joined 14 Republicans and 11 Democrats in voting against the measure to phase out MTBE, which passed the Senate by a vote of 70-26. When Clinton cast her vote against banning MTBE, she was in the midst of a re-election campaign in which she raised more than $74,000 from the oil and gas industry, according to data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics.

[Divernan]

18. The problems of polluted water will continue in Flint long after HRC leaves town.

Though the MTBE ban was not included in the final energy legislation, the new bill did include language discouraging the use of the chemical. Despite expressing concerns about MTBE, Clinton voted against the overall bill, which passed the Senate 74-26.

One Clinton critic says her vote against banning MTBE could be a vulnerability. Last year, Democratic operative Matt Barron cited Clinton’s vote as one of a handful of issues that could cost her in the presidential campaign as she tries to win over voters in rural areas.

Though MTBE was eventually phased out of domestic gasoline supplies over the last decade, the controversy over the additive continues to simmer. In recent months, concerns about MTBE contamination have once again arisen in states such as Kentucky, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

[Buzz Clik]

19. Non sequitur. Sorry.

[Divernan]

20. LOL. Obviously you never learned Latin.

[Buzz Clik]

23. LOL! Your article has NOTHING to do with Flint.

Flint uses surface water that was not treated with phosphorus and caused lead (Pb -- from the Latin plumbum) contamination; Clinton's vote concerned MTBE additives in gasoline, which Michigan already had banned before Clinton voted on the amendment.

non sequitur

[imari362]

27. Clean Water For ALL U.S. Citizens At ALL Times

Hillary....campaign for("I want the power&quot .....vote against ("I've got the power&quot

[Buzz Clik]

28. Yet another non sequitur.

Please try to stay on topic.

[Trust Buster]

5. You go girl.....

[Earth_First]

8. Excellent!

Hopefully this means that she has relinquished her affairs with the energy industry that she had when she toured Europe as SoS on behalf hydraulic fracturing for Chevron...

Gotta start somewhere, I guess!

[rury]

11. #Which Hillary

http://www.ibtimes.com/political-capital/hillary-clinton-spotlighting-crisis-flint-michigan-voted-against-measure-prevent

[MrMickeysMom]

16. Not this Hillary...

One month after Clinton voted against the MTBE ban, the Environmental Working Group claimed an EPA draft report had found MTBE to be a “likely” carcinogen, linking it to cancers like leukemia and lymphoma.

Maybe she's changed again.

[SunSeeker]

12. K & R

[KoKo]

13. Hillary Voted Against Measure To Prevent Groundwater Pollution as Senator in 2005

Hillary Clinton, Before Spotlighting Crisis In Flint, Michigan, Voted Against Measure To Prevent Groundwater Pollution

When the Democratic presidential contenders meet on Sunday for their debate in Flint, Michigan — where thousands of residents have been poisoned by polluted water — the candidates’ records on clean water policy are likely to be in the spotlight. Hillary Clinton seems eager for that discussion, recently telling NPR: “The idea that you would have a community in the United States of America of nearly 100,000 people who were drinking and bathing in lead-contaminated water infuriates me.”

But despite that rhetoric, the issue of clean water may be politically perilous for the leading Democratic candidate, thanks to her vote against banning a possible carcinogen at the center of one of the largest water pollution scandals in recent history.

Facing reports that a controversial fuel additive was contaminating water supplies across America, Clinton as a senator in 2005 opposed a bipartisan measure to ban the chemical — even though Bill Clinton’s Environmental Protection Agency had first proposed such a prohibition. At roughly the same time, one major company producing the chemical also tried to use provisions in a trade deal backed by Hillary Clinton to force local governments in the United States to let it continue selling the toxic compound.

Clinton’s campaign did not respond to International Business Times’ questions about her vote.

http://www.ibtimes.com/political-capital/hillary-clinton-spotlighting-crisis-flint-michigan-voted-against-measure-prevent

[secondwind]

14. She is a walking billboard... always looking for an opportunity

[Divernan]

21. Flint better get their Clinton cash in the form of a certified check

In 2008, the Clinton campaign ended up $25.2 million in the red, and stiffed over 500 vendors/providers/creditors $12 million for 4 years.

Clinton's debt reached its peak in June 2008 shortly after the former New York senator suspended her campaign. At that point, her presidential committee owed $12 million to almost 500 creditors and $13.2 million to the candidate herself, who dipped into her personal funds to help finance her campaign.

Campaign finance laws forced Clinton to forgive the amount she loaned her committee because she was not able to repay the funds by a required deadline.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/22/hillary-clintons-campaign-debt-finally-paid-off/

[PatrynXX]

24. yeah even though Sanders started the interest

naturally she's taking adventage of it. When MI is up 17 days from now or so will she hold to it??

[metroins]

26. Michigan votes on Tuesday nt

[silvershadow]

31. Disaster Politics.

Good on her for visiting. Let's up it translates into something more substantial than her tenure as a Senator.

[Buzz cook]

35. A reverse osmosis water purification system on every street

would be better than the thousands of plastic bottles of water. It would cost less and produce more.

The US military has a stock of large water purification systems which should be released immediately.

[Vilis Veritas]

36. I am glad that someone put this out there right before a debate...

I hope the people of Flint really do get some help.

But I fear this is more politics 101. "Mr Smith goes to Washington", anyone?

[Bassomar]

37. Unfortunately this looks like a lot of pandering. n/t

[riversedge]

46. Jobs for city resisidents is pandering?? Shameful comment from you.

[Bassomar]

50. Calling it what it is, sorry that you can't take it.

Sort of shameful comment from you.

[mcar]

39. A great idea

[left-of-center2012]

40. Publicity stunt - HRC will disappear after the primary

She still hasn't donated any water to Flint,
while using the residents as propaganda.

Typical Clinton tactics.

[RoccoR5955]

44. Agreed....

I believe that she has taken lessons from Karl Rove.

[dmosh42]

51. Just more bs from a pro!

[Lucinda]

48. KNR Thank you!

[Cavallo]

49. I will never believe someone pro fracking cares about clean water.