Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) wants a Parental Advisory to appear on screen whenever President Donald Trump speaks on television.
“Whenever he appears on TV, there should be a disclaimer that says, ‘This may not be acceptable for children,’” Waters said Wednesday on BET following Trump’s State of the Union address.
What do TV guidelines include?
Television parental advisories are typically issued for programs that include crude, indecent language, extreme violence, and explicit sexual activity.
Waters said she believes the advisory is necessary because of Trump’s “behavior” over the past year. She also claims he is “terrible role model for our children.”
“Trump often works to convince dissatisfied elements in our society that all of their problems are caused by people of color,” she said.
Waters said examples include Trump’s comments about the protests that turned violent in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August, along with his alleged “s**thole countries” comments about African nations and Haiti earlier this month.
“One speech cannot and does not make Donald Trump presidential,” Waters said. “He’s not presidential and he never will be presidential. He claims that he’s bringing people together but make no mistake, he is a dangerous, unprincipled, divisive, and shameful racist.”
What did other Democrats say?
Waters was not the only Democrat to level harsh criticism against the Trump administration. Prior to Trump’s speech, other Democrats bemoaned what they call his stance on Muslims, transgender people, and the working class.
Rep. Joe Kennedy (D-Mass.) said during the Democratic response to the president’s address that Americans should reject the “chaos” of the Trump era and instead support the Democrats’ vision of “better deal for all who call this country home.”
Kennedy said Trump and Republicans have given average Americans “one false choice after another,” while the wealthiest people become the biggest winners.
Other key issues for Democrats are a minimum wage, paid leave for employees and affordable child care, Kennedy said.
Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) said that most economic factors have been strong “for eight years,” although few have enjoyed the benefits.
“The fact is that the economy still isn’t good enough for too many people,” he saidduring a State of the Union response for the moderate New Demcorats. “Not everyone has opportunity to earn a good life for them and their family. And policies which put health insurance out of reach, or which deliver huge tax relief to families that can afford to pass $20 million to their children, make things worse, not better.”
