Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) on Sunday said that the alleged kidnapping plot against her demonstrates “serious threats” from domestic terrorists as concerns grow over voter intimidation tactics at polling places on Election Day.
During an interview on CBS on Sunday, which came three days after 13 men were charged in connection with a plot to storm the state capital building in Lansing and kidnap the Michigan governor, Whitmer was asked whether she knows if this security threat is over and if she feels safe.
After saying that she has “always felt safe” under the protection of Michigan State Police, Whitmer said she’s concerned about “serious threats” in the weeks leading up to the November election.
“I do believe that there are still serious threats that groups like this group, these domestic terrorists, are finding comfort and support in the rhetoric coming out of Republican leadership from the White House to our state House,” Whitmer said. “And so I remain concerned about safety and integrity going up to this election.”
Later in the interview, Whitmer was asked about how she can work with Republicans on deep divisions in her state, given how the Michigan Supreme Court recently tried to limit her powers as governor on issues such as mask mandates.
Whitmer responded that it’s important in this election to “find common common ground” and that “there are decent human beings on both sides of the aisle, but we need a leader who can bring them together,” before adding that’s why she is “excited” about Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
When asked about a CBS poll finding that half of President Trump’s voters in Michigan think the President should encourage his supporters to go stand near polling places as watchers — which comes on the heels of Trump encouraging his supporters to go to the polls and “watch very carefully” — Whitmer said that the state is “prepared to make sure that this election goes smoothly.”
“We’re going to keep people safe as they go to the polls. And we will not tolerate anyone who’s trying to interfere with someone’s ability to safely vote,” Whitmer said. “We are still in the middle of a global pandemic, which is why we’re really encouraging people to avail themselves of the ability to vote absentee and drop off their ballots or to pop into a clerk’s office.”
Whitmer added that she’s “not worried” about violence on Election Day, despite the kidnapping plot against her this week.
Whitmer’s latest remarks come days after Trump tweeted that the Michigan governor “has done a terrible job” with her emergency restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which allegedly infuriated the 13 charged suspects involved in the plot to kidnap her.
Following the FBI’s announcement on Thursday, Whitmer had slammed Trump over his refusal to denounce right-wing extremist groups, particularly white supremacists, during the first presidential debate less than two weeks ago.
“Hate groups heard the President’s words not as a rebuke but as a rallying cry, as a call to action,” Whitmer said.
Watch Whitmer’s remarks below:
"I have always felt safe…but I do believe there are serious threats that groups like this group are finding comfort and support in the rhetoric coming out Republican leadership from of the White House," @govwhitmer says in the wake of a foiled abduction plot against her pic.twitter.com/6CVRTTL5MT
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) October 11, 2020
Can @govwhitmer work together with her Republican colleagues in the Michigan state legislature during a deeply divided political environment?
She says it's important to find "common ground" ahead of #Election2020 pic.twitter.com/Plx8LmrbBU
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) October 11, 2020
VIOLENCE ON ELECTION DAY? "I'm not worried, but we are preparing to make sure we do everything to keep people safe," says @govwhitmer of keeping voters safe at the ballot box on #ElectionDay in light of the foiled abduction plot against her pic.twitter.com/qfL7GgKMMH
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) October 11, 2020
Ya think? This story was also in the WP a couple days ago:
In light of what almost happened to Whitmer, I’m concerned for our Oregon governor, Kate Brown. She’s committed the same unpardonable sins as Whitmer, e.g. governing while female, imposing lockdowns on high COVID infection areas and generally looking after the health and welfare of the state. The veiled threats and vitriol on social media every time she makes an announcement are sobering and alarming.
“Work with Republicans”? (sigh) Well, it seems that it’s mandatory for every Dem to say this, even though Today’s Republican Party needs to be burned to the ground, and the earth sown with salt afterwards. Meanwhile, Republicans get away with “The only Good Democrat is a Dead Democrat” and a “cancel culture” that literally cancels people they disagree with. Preferably with a gun (Our Sacred Second Amendment!), but a rope will do and is actually preferred for … you know, those people.
Because they were all members of the group, so knew what plans were happening for where.
I think working with Republicans who don’t look upon compromise as a sign of evil, has worked well for our country but THESE GOP. Cock…er…Republicans, the ones who think Democrats are evil instead of wrong and whose loyalties lay with themselves and not the country, cannot be worked with. They must be voted out of office and someone voted in who wants and believes the country can succeed.
It’s not that our government CAN’T work, it’s that it’s loaded with hucksters who BELIEVE it can’t and want to be elected so they can PROVE it. This is our biggest problem.