Trump Greeted by Protesters During Fundraising Event

Trump Greeted by Protesters During Fundraising Event
by David Greene

Angry New Yorker’s outside Cipriani’s as Republican donors attended a $1,000-a-plate breakfast.–Photo by David Greene

President Donald Trump returned home briefly for a victory lap as he attended three campaign fundraisers in Manhattan, just hours after Senate Republicans passed the first tax overhaul in 30 years–and a day after the bombshell development into the probe of Russia meddling probe, that former national security adviser Michael Flynn pled guilty to lying to the F.B.I. and shaking the foundation of the White House.

Attending a breakfast sponsored by the Republican National Convention, hundreds of demonstrators, many members of 1199 SEIU, began gathering hours before POTUS arrived at a breakfast at Cipriani’s on East 42 Street, on Saturday, December 2. Many carried signs and chanted slogans like, “Lock him up,” a reference to Trumps famous slogan about Hillary Clinton.

In an invite for the rally sent out by the union that represents the healthcare industry, the flyer stated, “We are under attack. It”s no secret that President Trump and his donors are no friends of healthcare workers and working people. Now he is coming to New York to raise cash from his big money donors to continue his campaign to dismantle affordable healthcare for all, take away rights of immigrants and tax working people while giving tax breaks to the very rich.”

A half dozen dump-trucks from the Department of Sanitation were loaded with sand and blocked the front entrance to the upscale eatery. Police used metal barricades to completely close off 42nd Street and ordered sporadic traffic closures across the borough as “The Donald” arrived at the Wall Street heliport and was whisked-away to his three events by Presidential motorcade.

“Lorenzo” from Astoria, Queens said of the president’s arrival, “He came down the street and turned the corner and went in the side entrance. We yelled out “shame” and the crowd booed him.”

Dozens of members of 1199 SEIU demonstrate President Donald Trumps visit to Midtown.–Photo by David Greene

“I’m here because of the GOP tax bill,” Lorenzo explained his reason for attending dressed as the ‘Grim Reaper’ continuing, “It’s going to do a lot more harm then there telling the public. This bill is going to hurt a lot of people in the long run.”

Trump attended three fundraisers where donors paid between $1,000 to $50,000 a plate and the “Trump Victory” events were expected to raise $6 million.

Lorenzo from Astoria was so upset with the GOP tax plan he dressed as the ‘Grim Reaper’ at the anti-Trump rally.–Photo by David Greene

Hours earlier, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell stated, “We have an opportunity now to make America more competitive and to keep jobs from being shipped off-shore and provide substantial relief to the middle class.”

Asked about the amendment that was delivered at 8:30 p.m., with handwritten provisions to the law scribbled in the margin, McConnell defended the process, firing back, “This was done through the regular order, the Democrats had plenty of notice, Chairman (Orrin) Hatch can attest to all of the multiple hearings, mark-up’s, open amendment process, everybody had plenty of opportunity to see the measure. You complain about process when your losing and that’s what you heard on the floor tonight.”

Calling it “a win for America,” Senator Lisa Mercowski of Alaska was first against the bill, then stated her reason for now supporting it, “We’ve been trying to open the 10-02 area for responsible oil and gas production for close to 40 years now and we have come to a good place tonight. We recognize that we still have a little bit of process yet to go, to get this over the finish line, but this is good for Alaska and more importantly, its good for the country.”

In a portion of a statement issued by Mayor Bill de Blasio, the mayor said, “The voted for a tax increase for 87 million households. They voted for a $25 billion cut to Medicaid. They voted too kick 13 million people off their health insurance. They voted to give wealthy companies a tax break at the expense of cities’ police officers, firefighters and teachers.”

Before getting on Air Force One for his trip to New York, Trump insisted once again to reporters there was “no collusion” between his campaign and Russia, before getting on Twitter and telling supporters, “had to fire General Flynn because he lied to Vice President and the FBI.”

A half-dozen dump trucks from the Department of Sanitation as well as the NYPD and Secret Service guard the front entrance to Cipriani’s.–Photo by David Greene

Congressman Elliot Engel issued a statement of the latest revelations, stating, “Far too many questions still remain unanswered about the Trump Russia scandal, such as who was involved with instructing Flynn to speak with the Russians directly, about what and why. Frankly, it seems that more evidence is uncovered every day about collusion between Trump campaign and the Kremlin, and I’m glad that Special Counsel (Robert) Muller is investigating these very serious allegations.”

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