We must build on progress, O'Malley tells Linn crowd.
The United States needs to stop playing politics with the Keystone Pipeline and invest in energy technology, Democratic presidential candidate Martin O’Malley said Saturday night at the Linn County Democratic Hall of Fame Dinner.
O’Malley, who trails Democratic opponents Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders by double digits, has only 4.5 percent of likely caucusgoer support in Iowa, according to a Real Clear Politics average of polls released last week.
But the former Maryland governor still used his appearance to try to bolster that support, shaking hands and asking for votes from Iowans, jokingly saying Iowa is tied for his favorite between Maryland and New Hampshire.
While O’Malley stayed true to the usual pillars of his campaign speeches — raising the federal minimum wage, saving the American dream and investing in clean energy — he gave props to Vice President Joe Biden, who recently announced he wouldn’t seek the nation’s highest office following the death of his son, Beau.
“I think he gave us some pretty good advice. ... One of the things he said was that we need to be proud of what we have accomplished as Democrats, and we need to embrace the good things that Barack Obama and Joe Biden have done to move our country in a better direction,” O’Malley said. “And he called upon us to build upon that progress, and so we must.”
O’Malley touted recent numbers that show unemployment levels at 9.8 percent, the lowest since 2008, but said the United States still has work to do to with raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, ensuring qual pay for men and women and shrinking the gap between wealthy and the middle class.
He touched on parts of his political resume, including implementing gun safety laws while governor of Maryland, investing in public education and repealing the death penalty. He mentioned things he wants to do if elected president, such as implement immigration reform to give immigrants a pathway to full citizenship, strengthen unions and keep the minimum wage above the poverty line.
“Unlike Gov. Branstad, I actually pulled people together to invest more in public education,” O’Malley said.
O’Malley wasn’t the only Democratic politician in the room criticizing Iowa politicians. Joaquin Castro, a U.S. representative from Texas, whose twin brother, Julian, is rumored to be a potential running mate for Hillary Clinton, was the keynote speaker. He urged Iowans to boot Republican U.S. Rep. Steve King from office.
Castro, who has endorsed Clinton, slammed the Republican Party, saying tax cuts for millionaires and voter ID laws have worked to dismantle the country.
“This is the party that wants us to choose between our values. They think we have to choose between freedom and opportunity,” Castro said. “They don’t think it’s possible to raise the minimum wage and give workers a fair shot. They think we have to be stuck in the past. And the choice this country has to make is what party is going to best represent our values and keep America special?”
Inducted into the Hall of Fame were former Cedar Rapids Mayor Kay Halloran, Frank Reynolds, and Bob and Alice King.'
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