Subject: RE: Coverage of Indiana call
From: "Price, Jenna" <[email-masked]>
To: "Helmstetter, TJ" <[email-masked]>, Comm_D <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2016 13:14:07 -0700

Donald Trump is 'dangerous,' say Indiana democrats<http://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2016/04/20/donald-trump-dangerous-say-indiana-democrats/83287740/>
KRISTINE GUERRA // INDIANAPOLIS STAR
As Donald Trump's supporters flocked the Indiana State Fairgrounds for a rally Wednesday afternoon, Indiana Democrats reiterated familiar criticisms against the Republican presidential front-runner.

The words "divisive," "disastrous" and "dangerous" were repeated several times as Rep. Andre Carson and Indiana Democratic Party Chairman John Zody brought up statements Trump has made about women, Muslims and other minorities. The two Democratic leaders held a conference call with reporters to say why Hoosiers shouldn't elect Trump - or any other Republican presidential candidate, for that matter.

Both Carson and Zody denounced the notion that the real-estate tycoon has hijacked the Republican Party. Trump is the result of "years of extreme ideology and divisive language coming out of the GOP," Zody said.

They also were quick to make connections to Gov. Mike Pence who, Zody said, governs "by ideology instead of ideas."

Over the last two years, Pence has found himself at the center of two divisive social issues: gay rights and abortion. The socially conservative governor signed into law an expansion of the state's abortion restrictions last legislative session, a year after he signed a bill that critics said would allow discrimination against the LGBT community.

Trump was widely expected to talk about Carrier Corp.'s plans to close its facility on Indianapolis' west side as the company moves operations to Mexico.

Earlier this week, the union representing the 1,400 workers - all who will lose their jobs - endorsed Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders for president.

Trump has made the Carrier plant closure a key talking point of his campaign and has repeatedly said he is best suited to bring jobs back to the United States.

Carson, who represents Indiana's 7th congressional district, said Trump is merely "pandering out of political expediency," and has yet to show any kind of cohesive policy on how the country can avoid shipping American jobs to other countries.

"I just think that this election year is critical," Carson said. "We just encourage Hoosiers to be engaged in the political process."

Indiana will play a meaningful role in the presidential primaries for the first time in years. By this time of the year, candidates usually have secured enough delegates to win their party's nomination even before Hoosiers cast their votes. National media reports have indicated that the Republican presidential race could hinge on the Indiana primary, which takes place May 3.

Clad in Trump's signature "Make America Great Again" hats and T-shirts displaying the business mogul's face and name, supporters began lining up at the state fairgrounds as early as three hours before Trump was scheduled to arrive. Many said they would rather not vote if Trump was denied the nomination.

Trump is the first presidential candidate to visit Indiana. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz will be a guest at the Indiana Republican Party's spring dinner Thursday. Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who has gained the support of majority of Indiana's 57 delegates, is expected to campaign in the state.

Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Sanders also are expected to come to Indiana.

###

From: Helmstetter, TJ
Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2016 2:35 PM
To: Comm_D
Subject: Coverage of Indiana call

http://www.wibc.com/news/local-news/carson-democrats-criticize-trump-during-his-indy-visit

Carson, Democrats Criticize Trump During His Indy Visit
Carson says Republican rhetoric of the past three years helped create Trump
Ray Steele<http://www.wibc.com/personalities/ray-steele>

Democrats are talking Donald Trump in Indy, talking him down, anyway.

During a conference call with reporters, Indianapolis Congressman Andre Carson and state Democratic Party Chairman John Zody criticized the Republican presidential front runner, with Zody saying Trump was welcome to come back to Indiana "after we elect a Democratic president."  Carson also brought up Trump's past criticism of Islam - Carson is one of two Muslims serving in Congress.

Trump holds a rally at the State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, his first in the state as a presidential candidate, and Carson says his rallies have featured some of the ugliest rhetoric he has ever heard in politics.  "He's inciting violence at his rallies, he's encouraging the crowd to beat up Black Lives Matters protestors, and he's waffling on whether to denounce the Ku Klux Klan.  Trump knows exactly what he is doing," Carson said.

The Congressman also said Trump was the result of, not the cause of, partisan rancor ever since the GOP's "autopsy" of their 2012 presidential election loss.  "The Republican Party has done nothing in the three years since it released it's autopsy to build a relationship with people of color or to make us feel welcome," Carson said.  The supporter of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign also didn't limit his criticism to Trump only. "You have (Ted) Cruz, who can try to distance himself from Trump's extremism, but in reality, he doesn't provide a reasonable alternative to the divisive rhetoric spread by the Republican Party," Carson said.  The congressman also criticized third-place candidate John Kasich for his anti-abortion positions as Ohio's governor.

@WIBCRaySteele<https://twitter.com/WIBCRaySteele>

TJ Helmstetter
Deputy Director of Regional and Specialty Media
Democratic National Committee
202.863.8022 - desk
973.464.9224 - cell
[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>