In Dem reply, former KY gov says Trump would ‘rip’ away care
WASHINGTON — Former Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear took a populist tenor in Democrats’ formal response to President Donald Trump’s speech to Congress on Tuesday, accusing him of planning to “rip affordable health insurance” from Americans and being “Wall Street’s champion.”
Seated at a diner in Lexington, Kentucky, Beshear assailed Trump for “ignoring serious threats to our national security from Russia, who’s not our friend, while alienating our allies.” Democrats have berated Trump for his repeated warm remarks about Russian President Vladimir Putin and questioning the value of NATO, the long-time Western alliance.
Beshear’s words and tone seemed a direct Democratic attempt to recapture the loyalties of working-class voters who helped power Trump’s election upset last November. Beshear, 72, wore no jacket or tie and spoke of his upbringing in a family of Baptist preachers that owned a funeral home.
His selection by Democratic party chiefs to deliver their response seemed aimed at the same goal. While far from a national figure, Beshear, whose eight years as governor ended in 2015, is best known for expanding health care coverage in his deep red state under former President Barack Obama’s health care law.