‘Reclaim compassion': Congresswoman Dexter gets emotional during town hall

Yahoo

3 days ago

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Congresswoman Maxine Dexter got emotional Thursday during a town hall with local veterans.
Dexter, alongside Congressman Mark Takano, addressed Veterans Thursday morning, working to ensure them that they and their families would receive the 'support, care and benefits that they have earned and deserve'
During the town hall, one veteran spoke to the pair about entitlement reform and the possibility of inheritance taxes, which future generations may not be able to afford.
In her response, Dexter started getting emotional while speaking on the opportunities that she had growing up and how moving forward the Democratic party needs to be more pragmatic in their approach to patriotism, but also how they need to push kindness and compassion for everyone.
'You can't work your way through college and pay for your housing in Portland, let alone, I grew up in Seattle. Like I could pay for my higher ed and pay for my rent, and have health care with my union. We don't see that for people anymore. That stability is not there. And so that is where my compassion is. It's not codependency. It's what we deserve as Americans to expect that everyone has a stable ground beneath them,' she said.
'The American dream is not just aspirational for the few who already have access to privilege, but for everybody. And that's why I'm serving, quite frankly, I gave up a career I love because my kids and your kids, and your grandkids deserve a future that has the same opportunity that I had to work my way. I am the American dream personified. It's not fair for people anymore. So I hear you. Freedom is something that we need to reclaim as Democrats, but we also need to reclaim compassion and loving your neighbor in a way that we aren't seeing right now.'
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