NOVI, Mich. – A man can be heard calling the protesting crowd at Rep. Dave Trott's town hall "un-American" this past weekend in Novi.
During the heated session Saturday, Trott (R-MI 11th District) was met with an outcry of angry residents who made it clear they did not agree with the repeal of the Affordable Care Act and demanded answers about border control and other security issues.
STORY: Rep. Dave Trott discusses healthcare, border control in heated town hall meeting in Novi
After Trott left the stage, someone can be heard on a hot mic saying the following:
"We're gonna take that part where they're booing funding the military, and I'm going to get somebody to write a story. We're gonna promote the shi** out of that. It's un-American crap."
Local 4 and ClickOnDetroit reached out to Trott's office to see if they know who might have made this comment.
UPDATE: A Trott office spokesman said political strategist Stu Sandler is the one heard making this comment to associates.
Sandler released this statement Tuesday afternoon:
I was shocked and appalled at the majority of the audience that booed Congressman Trott when he stated "I support more funding for our military."
Our troops deserve better equipment and more pay. Half of the planes in the Navy have difficulty flying, the Marines need more amphibious ships, our air force needs more pilots to state a few needs for more funding. The fact this crowd booed viciously at the suggestion for more military funding was terrible and it upset me.
I was not aware there was a microphone on. I was talking to friends and not the Congressman. I fully stand by the comments I made. After the event, I reached out to several people who were just as shocked and appalled. Media chose to cover it.
Indivisible Groups demand apology from Trott
Michigan Indivisible Groups released the following statement:
Michigan Indivisible Groups from the 11th District are demanding an apology from Congressman David Trott (R-Commerce Twp.) regarding comments he and his team made over a hot mic as he debriefed with staff after his Saturday town hall.
On the recording, captured by WDIV-TV in Detroit, Trott’s team plotted ways to frame the town hall crowd as “un-American,” and confessed to “bouncing” constituent questions that were submitted on cards before the event began despite promising not to.
“Congressman Trott needs to apologize to his constituents right away. Bragging about screening our questions after promising not to is the kind of typical Washington politician doublespeak that people are fed up with. And calling an entire crowd of concerned citizens ‘un-American’ is no way for an elected official to treat their constituents,” said Mark Barbieri, whose son has Type 1 diabetes. “I am literally fighting for my son’s life and to be called ‘un-American’ is beyond the pale.”
A Trott team member, who appears to be political adviser Stu Sandler, was captured on audio saying: “We’re going to take that part where they’re booing funding the military. I’m going to get somebody to write a story. We’re going to blow the s*** out of that. It’s an un-American crowd.” This was in response to a negative reaction from the crowd after Trott falsely asserted that the military is the “weakest it’s ever been.” The recording also picked up Trott asking his team if there were “any questions that [they] bounced.” His staff responded that there were “a couple.”
“I can’t believe that a member of Congress would disparage our men and women in uniform as weak. And neither could the rest of the crowd of constituents, which is why we booed Congressman Trott. Now he’s trying to spin that the entire crowd was ‘un-American.’ That could not be further from the truth and should be condemned. The residents of the 11th District deserve an apology, as do all the brave service members fighting for our freedom. I hope that Congressman Trott does the honorable thing and does apologize right away. His constituents deserve it,” said David Hamilton, a resident of Troy.
Watch and listen (warning: there is explicit language):
Sign up for ClickOnDetroit breaking news alerts and email newsletters