County leaders comment on speech
Butler County political leaders echoed reactions similar to those of members of Congress as they listened to President Donald Trump's State of the Union address Tuesday night.
For those who didn't catch the national address, congressional Republicans applauded the president and Democrats were largely silent, aside from some issues that transcended partisanship.
“I think it's a great speech. I think what he's speaking is in line with what we believe are Butler County values,” said Al Lindsay, chairman of the Butler County Republican Committee.
Many of Trump's comments during his speech touted facts and statistics detailing his accomplishments as president.
Many of them related to the economy, which he said has been steadily growing since he took office.
“I guess it's kind of what you'd expect. I'd definitely want to see some fact checking on some of those things,” said Catherine Lalonde, chairwoman of the Butler County Democratic Committee.
Lalonde said some of the statistics that touted reduction in numbers of people using assistance programs may be skewed by the large number of cuts to those programs.
Lalonde said the economy was on the rise during former President Barack Obama's time in office, which followed the Great Recession, and has continued through Trump's term.
“The economy is doing well, but I think it's especially doing well for people who are higher income earners or people who do have 401(k) (retirement funds) and have money in the stock market, but I think a lot of people don't,” she said.
Lindsay said Butler County has largely supported Trump during his election and throughout his first term, despite sleights by mainstream media.“The fact checking is so partisan,” he said. “It's hard to refute. The unemployment rates are so low. The unemployment rates for minorities are so low. The statistics are overwhelmingly in favor of what Trump's policies have been.”Lindsay said Trump's emphasis on oil and natural gas has been beneficial to the area, and he has been impressed by the many “help wanted” signs he has seen around town.“All you need to do is drive around Butler County and see all these signs looking for applicants for jobs,” Lindsay said. “I've never seen anything like this in my life than to see a billboard on the highway asking for applications for jobs.”Lindsay said he watched as Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi appeared to cringe and look uncomfortable behind the president as he spoke.“It must be very hard for the Democrats in Congress to sit there and listen to this because there is no refuting it,” he said.Lindsay said along with all the good things he heard from Trump during his speech, one moment that he found particularly moving was when the president recognized retired fighter pilot Charles McGee of the Tuskegee Airman, to whom the president gave an honorary promotion to brigadier general in 2019.Lindsay said he was moved that Trump honored the 100-year-old McGee. “It's hard not to get excited about that,” he said. “He's a great American hero.”
