Flint, Michigan is the tip of the iceberg, really.

[MineralMan]

Hillary went there. I hope she did some good with that trip, but Flint is just a symptom.

Republicans caused what happened in Flint. The same problems exist in many places, or problems just as bad. Republicans.

That is who we need to be fighting. We should not be damning a Democratic candidate for President who has expressed herself eloquently about the situation in Flint and has now visited that blighted city.

Such cities are more common than most of us think. They surround most old industrial centers. Hope is gone for the people who live there, and the Republicans have given people no reason to have any hope. Those who can have left already. Those who remain do not have the means to escape.

We should all be angry about Flint and the other blight-stricken cities and neighborhoods in this country. We have such neighborhoods in Minneapolis and St. Paul, too. That's where I live. I'm working on solutions, along with other Democrats. The Republicans are fighting every effort to help. Cities and neighborhoods all across this country are in crisis. They have been abandoned by those who can help them. Most are populated by people who have been forgotten.

Frankly, I celebrate any politician who goes to those places with a mind to help them. Help may be impossible in some of them. Some have died, but don't know about their demise. We must do something about this. Democrats must do something about this. The Republicans sure as Hell won't.

So, let's not condemn a Democratic candidate for President who ventures into one of these blighted cities. Let's not do that. Instead, let's cheer such efforts on.

Thanks!

[mcar]

1. K&R

[stonecutter357]

2. K&R!

[MineralMan]

3. Note: I will be away from my computer for a couple of hours.

I'm not ignoring, nor abandoning this thread. I will return later in the day. Right now, I have to call my 91-year-old parents at the accustomed time and then prepare dinner for myself and my wife. After dinner, I'll be back on DU, on my Kindle Fire, and will try to respond to replies to this thread.

I decided to post it, even though I must leave for a while. I think it is that important.

I look forward to your replies, everyone.

[Joe Turner]

4. Our disastrous trade policies are the real culprit

of Flint MI woes. If Detroit still made cars, bent sheet metal, made tools - like it used to - this crisis never would have happened. Flint would still have a prosperous tax base to keep their infrastructure up to date. Truth is, they don't have the money because the good paying jobs were sent overseas and the population has shrunk. Place the blame with all the free trade politicos in both parties for the degradation of our cities that once had thriving factories and good paying jobs.

[Thinkingabout]

6. How did this play into the decision of changing the water source and not

Treating the water? This appears to be a bad GOP decisions, they deserve the credit.

[Joe Turner]

9. My point is this would not have even been an issue

if Flint MI still had a strong manufacturing base. Rest assured there would have been the money and the political interest to keep this from happening. The current blame game makes for good politics I guess.

[Thinkingabout]

5. She sent some staff to Flint and a phone call, shortly water began to get delivered.

She took time to give attention to a very bad situation.

[Bluenorthwest]

7. Why is that? She's not an elected official. Are you saying the administration is not doing a good

job? Some private citizen has to pick up the slack? That makes no sense at all, Bush is not the President.

[Thinkingabout]

11. Perhaps she is not tone deaf, this is a terrible siruation, it concerns me

Also, I am not an elected official either, neither is Michael Moore, does not mean Hillary should not make phone calls and send someone on the ground to look at the situation.

[Arazi]

8. TBH, Rachel Maddow deserves the lions share of credit for covering Flint

and getting the information out there for many months before any politicians drew attention to it.

Most politicians are only now cravenly jumping on the bandwagon. Clinton looks very hypocritical for ignoring this crisis during most of 2015, then just now going to get some photo ops despite the people of Flint telling her they don't want her there.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511156958

It's even more hypocritical for her to suddenly be concerned with Flint when she's actively advocating for fracking which has tainted the aquifers and watersheds of entire states. She's certainly not rushing to Oklahoma for photo ops with the poor folks whose water has been contaminated by fracking.

Your OP is the most thoughtful nuanced explanation of why Hillary Clinton is going to Flint even as I completely disagree. This isn't anything more than a publicity stunt for her campaign. If she were consistent in advocating for everyone whose got contaminated water brought about by mercenary politicians that would be one thing.

She doesn't which exposes her as simply opportunistic trying to pull a John McCain stunt.

[FrenchieCat]

10. I don't think anyone is attempting to take any undue credit.....

as Sanders has also called for a criminal investigation on Gov. Snyder.....

I think neither are being opportunists,

I think both are Democrats that actually care....
Just like Obama has expressed concerned and sent dollars to assist....

Sometime it takes an entire village to save it...
and this may be just one of those times.

[Thinkingabout]

12. Good statement, Frenchy, thanks.