South Central Reporter

U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) has recently to voiced criticism of President Trump regarding the rising COVID-19 death toll, prompting an Illinois representative to say that elected leaders should focus on finding solutions instead of blaming the president.

"It is incredible to me that we have elected leaders who seem more focused on blaming our president than they are on finding real, workable solutions to dealing with this virus,” said state Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City) in an email.

“Countries across the globe are having the same kind of problems we are. This irrational focus on partisan politics is not helpful,” Wilhour said.

U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth

Last week Duckworth tweeted, “Donald Trump’s basic responsibility is to keep Americans safe. The rising death count shows that he’s failing. Instead of spending his time deflecting blame, he should start listening to Governors & giving them the supplies they need to fight the #COVID19 public health crisis.”

Some returned her criticism on Twitter. Second City Cop @SecondCityCop wrote, “So tell us then Tammy, who is responsible for the murders of all the brown and black people on a daily basis in Illinois? Would it be @GovPritzker or @chicagosmayor?”

On April 24 Duckworth also took another swipe at Trump for his leadership.

“This is a tough country and we’re strong people. But you know what'd be really helpful? If we had real leadership at the White House to coordinate efforts like getting medical supplies out to states and implementing widespread testing. That’s not what we’re getting,” Duckworth tweeted.

Three days later, Duckworth also said on Twitter it is the Federal Government’s responsibility to help states in a national crisis. 

“This is a ridiculous statement from someone who is supposed to be the President of the UNITED States of America. We are in all in this together and it’s literally the Federal Government's job to help every state weather a national crisis,” Duckworth said.

That tweet was in response to Trump's: “Why should the people and taxpayers of America be bailing out poorly run states (like Illinois, as example) and cities, in all cases Democrat run and managed, when most of the other states are not looking for bailout help? I am open to discussing anything, but just asking?”

Wilhour said the federal government is not responsible for every aspect of state’s emergency response.

“We also must get away from this idea that the federal government should be solely responsible for every aspect of our response to every emergency situation,” said Wilhour. “No matter who is in charge, the federal government is ill equipped to be all things to all people in an emergency.”

Wilhour said elected officials should not be blaming others.

“Of course, there are things we can do better, and we will learn from any mistakes, but it is categorically unhelpful for elected leaders to constantly be pointing fingers,” Wilhour said. “It is even more egregious when that finger pointing is unwarranted as is the case with the administration’s relatively solid handling of this crisis."

Senator Duckworth is a former U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and decorated combat veteran who lost both legs serving her country in Iraq. She has served as Illinois' junior U.S. Senator since 2017, after representing Illinois' 8th district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2013 to 2017.