Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called for unity and for Americans to “rally together” to fight the coronavirus during a speech at the Democratic National Convention on Monday night.
Before her speech even began, however, Whitmer was caught mouthing an expletive on a live feed.
“It’s not just ‘Shark Week,’ it’s ‘Shark Week [expletive mouthed,]’” Whitmer said, to laughter in the room.
She added that she had “learned about the hot mic,” explaining why she had not actually said the word, MLive reported.
Gov. Whitmer (D-MI) jokes before going live: "It's not just Shark Week … it's Shark Week *mouths expletive*" pic.twitter.com/KSndbTvLZi
— The Recount (@therecount) August 18, 2020
In her actual speech, delivered from a United Auto Workers chapter in Lansing, Whitmer praised essential workers in the state for being the “MVPs” of the pandemic. She also attributed the ability of auto workers to shift production to personal protection equipment to former President Barack Obama and his administration.
“In 2009, the Obama-Biden administration inherited the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression — the auto industry on the brink of collapse, a million jobs at stake — but President Obama and Vice President Biden didn’t waste time blaming anyone else or shirking their responsibility,” Whitmer said. “…President Obama and Vice President Biden saved these auto workers’ livelihoods. Then these workers did their part to save American lives. That’s the story of this great nation.”
Whitmer continued, saying that “action begets action.”
“When we work together, we can accomplish anything,” Whitmer said. “After all, democracy is a team sport, especially now.”
The Michigan governor went after President Trump, saying he is “a president who fights his fellow Americans rather than fight the virus that’s killing us and our economy.” She also praised presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA).
“Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will lead by example. It’ll be science, not politics or ego, that will drive their decisions,” she said. “They know the health of our people goes hand in hand with the strength of our economy. They know action begets action.”
Whitmer closed her speech by thanking essential workers and calling for healing in the country.
“Generation after generation, our nation has been defined by what we do or what we fail to do,” Whitmer said “…Let us find strength to do the work.
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Jordyn Pair is a reporter at The Michigan Star and Star News Digital Media. Follow her on Twitter at @JordynPair. Email her at [email protected].
Photo “Gretchen Whitmer” by NBC.
