President Donald Trump's tweet attacking MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski contributed nothing to people trying to change the "tone of civility" in Washington D.C., Rep. Debbie Dingell said Friday.
"It was disrespectful, distasteful, discourteous, disappointing," the Michigan Democrat told CNN's "New Day" program. "It shouldn't have happened. We're trying to change the tone of civility in Washington, and he did not contribute an ounce to trying to change the tone."
There were many Republicans who spoke out against Trump attacks against Brzezinski and co-host and fiance, Joe Scarborough, and Dingell said she'd like to see more of a contribution to people changing the tone of Washington's discussions.
However, she does think the tweets marked a distraction, and Trump may have meant for that to happen.
"Quite frankly, I think it's a total distraction, and may be a deliberate total distraction about what we need to be talking about, which is a healthcare bill that could harm millions of Americans across the country," said Dingell. "As we head home for the Fourth of July, what the people in my district, the people back home are not going to be talking about that tweet the way they're going to be talking about how frightened they are over what could happen if the Senate passes the healthcare bill."
Modifications are being worked out on the healthcare bill, but Dingell said she's not optimistic.
"I know that Sen. Mitch McConnell is capable of trying to co-opt a miracle," said Dingell. "I think a lot of senators will be going home to people scared to death about legislation that will eliminate or remove protections that have been put in, protections for pre-existing conditions, removal of lifetime caps that people have had, a reduction of Medicaid that helps children."
The Affordable Care Act is not perfect, she conceded, and she wants Democrats and Republicans to work together to improve it.
"More than 90 percent of the people are OK with where their health insurance now," said Dingell, but still premiums and deductibles are too high."
"We need to take this to the next step," she said. "People are paying too much for prescription drugs. We've got to do something to lower costs in this country and we've got to work together."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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