Trump plans an elaborate July 4th party in D.C. Critics say spare us another campaign rally.

[riversedge]

Trump plans an elaborate July 4th party in D.C. Critics say spare us another campaign rally.
Democrats charge the president is politicizing the celebration of a nonpartisan holiday meant to honor the nation.


https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-plans-elaborate-july-4th-party-d-c-critics-say-n1021276?cid=sm_npd_ms_tw_ma


June 29, 2019, 7:00 AM CDT
By Hallie Jackson

WASHINGTON — On Thursday, the country will celebrate 243 years of independence — but this year's festivities are already setting off a different kind of fireworks.

That's because of President Donald Trump's plan to add more bells and whistles to Washington's usual celebration: music, military demonstrations and — notably — a speech he'll make, likely from the Lincoln Memorial, according to a White House official. The Washington Post reports there may even be an Air Force One flyover.

It's right up the president's alley, and he's encouraging attendees to come with flags in hand, predicting last week in Orlando there will "hundreds of thousands" of people on hand.

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But the president's critics accuse him of trying to hijack what is typically a nonpartisan celebration.
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Democrats are concerned that the president will use his platform — and taxpayer money — to politicize the day. House leaders, including Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, worry that the events will give an "appearance of a televised, partisan campaign rally on the Mall at public expense," as they put it in a letter to the administration.
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"It's not about politics in the partisan sense — it's about democracy, it's about freedom, it's about individual liberties, it's about pursuit of happiness," he added. "Not about politics, not about polarization, not about focusing on differences. It's about one nation under god indivisible. And it's sad that the president's turning it into — in my opinion and the opinion of many — a political rally.”


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Andrea Melanger agrees. "I think he just likes to feel celebrated," she said. "And so, you know, it's probably just feeding more of his ego. I don't think we need to spend money on that."

[Tech]

1. This might be the final straw for me. Adding Speaker Pelosi's number to my phone.

[riversedge]

2. good advice.