On Monday, MSNBC’s Chris Hayes hosted a town hall-style discussion with Bernie Sanders regarding the GOP’s “healthcare reform” plan, which many are effectively calling “Trumpcare.”
The discussion focused around President Trump’s promise to bring jobs back to America’s coal mining towns. Hayes spoke to a man identified as “Phillip” who had just been hired as a coal miner in West Virginia after a stint of being unemployed. Phillip talked about his time being laid off, but is thankful to be working “underground” in the coal mines again.
“I just hope that it lasts,” he said, adding that coal miners don’t do the work “because it’s a glamorous job,” but for the benefits it offers — benefits that only come with coal mining in his particular county.
When Sanders brought up the subject of climate change, Phillip didn’t applaud. Admitting that he didn’t “really know the technical stuff” because he’s not a scientist, he understandably defended the industry that provides him with his only livelihood.
Trump said "everybody" would be covered under his plan. Now his own staff estimate 26 million more people will lose coverage if it passes. pic.twitter.com/hsdcPs599j
— Our Revolution (@OurRevolution) March 14, 2017
“I don’t think that it’s coal; it’s everything,” Phillip said, referring to climate change. “It’s cars, it’s people…”
He then rattled off some questionable science before Hayes refocused the discussion to Trump’s promises, of which the audience seemed to have realistic expectations. Later in the segment, Hayes directly asked Phillip, who was a Trump voter, if he thought the President would make good on his promises.
“I don’t what the future hold for coal miners,” Phillip said after expressing cautious hope.
But when Hayes asked him what he thought about the current political climate, Phillip’s answer was troubling.
“I don’t really know a lot about politics … I don’t know what Donald Trump’s gonna do for the rest of the country, but as far as West Virginia, that’s what he promised us, that’s what matters to me. Because I’m a West Virginian, I’m proud to be a West Virginian, and [I voted for Trump] only solely because he said he was going to help us, he was going to put the coal miners back to work, and we’re going to have healthcare and this and that…”
“We need healthcare,” Phillip, the Trump supporter, exclaimed. “Everybody in this room needs free healthcare.”
“You’re looking for him to deliver on those promises, particularly on healthcare?” Hayes asked.
“Absolutely,” Phillip replied.
Watch the video above.
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