Panetta rips Trump’s speech to Congress, calls words ‘dangerous’

Though President Donald Trump's address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday got a favorable reception from many American viewers — according to polls — it didn't impress many Democratic lawmakers, including U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta, who called his message "divisive and dangerous."

In an hour-long speech Tuesday, Trump talked about defeating terrorism, controlling illegal immigration, creating jobs, replacing Obamacare and rebuilding infrastructure. The address was a departure from the firebrand rhetoric he used during his campaign and largely seen as more tempered than his Jan. 20 inaugural speech.

"My administration wants to work with members in both parties to make childcare accessible and affordable, to help ensure new parents have paid family leave, to invest in women's health, and to promote clean air and clear water, and to rebuild our military and our infrastructure," Trump said.

A CNN poll found that most viewers of Trump's speech viewed it favorably, and about 7 in 10 said the speech made them feel more optimistic about the direction of the country.

However, the 20th Congressional District congressman told The Pine Cone that while Trump was "measured in his tone," the president "maintained the same divisive and dangerous message he used throughout his campaign."

"The president continued to rely on his destructive narrative that immigrants pose a threat to our communities," Panetta said. "The reality is that our community is stronger because of the contributions made by people willing to come to this country and contribute to our society."

Protecting workers?

Trump said that "protecting" American workers "also means reforming our system of legal immigration," which could include adopting a merit-based immigration system. The current method "depresses wages for our poorest workers, and puts great pressure on taxpayers."

"I believe that real and positive immigration reform is possible, as long as we focus on the following goals: to improve jobs and wages for Americans, to strengthen our nation's security, and to restore respect for our laws," Trump said.

Democrats groaned when Trump announced he'd directed the Department of Homeland security to create an office to serve American victims of crimes by immigrants. Several people whose family members were murdered by illegal immigrants were on hand at the speech.

Panetta, though, was apparently among the Democrats who gasped at the thought.

"The president's idea for a Victims of Immigrant Crime Engagement department instills fear in and encourages discrimination against immigrant communities," Panetta said. "Serious and violent criminals must be held accountable for their actions, but targeting peaceful, hardworking members of our communities is wrong."

‘Hard work and compromise'

Trump also said he plans to send Congress a budget "that rebuilds the military, eliminates the defense sequester, and calls for one of the largest increases in national defense spending in American history." The budget will also increase funding for veterans.

Administration officials have said the plan would cost $54 billion. Panetta also took issue with the idea, saying Trump didn't mention how it would be funded.

"Keeping our country safe is of the utmost importance," Panetta said. "However, increasing the defense budget at the expense of other crucial programs such as those that support education or protect our environment is damaging."

Pointing again to Trump's vagueness, the freshman congressman said he "made grand promises on healthcare, defense, and infrastructure, but failed to say how he was going to pay for those plans."

Trump talked about unity and both parties working together. When Panetta was asked if he believed that would happen he said, "I think that he's learning that he cannot govern solely through executive orders. Long lasting legislation that affects our nation takes hard work, compromise, and humility."

Similarly, Panetta said there was one thing he liked about Trump's address.

"I do agree with one thing he mentioned last night, and that is that it is long past time for Democrats and Republicans to work together to construct policy," he said.