Chicago City Wire

When Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., blasted President Donald Trump on Twitter over the COVID-19 pandemic and the rising death toll it left a local GOP club leaders disappointed.

Duckworth tweeted this last week: “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.”

Twitter user @SecondCityCop tweeted back to her, “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 ?”

GOP leaders in Illinois shared disappointment that Sen. Tammy Duckworth took to Twitter to blame the President for COVID-19 deaths. | Pixabay

Matthew Podgorski, the president of the North West Side GOP Club, told Chicago City Wire how he felt about the senator's message.

“I’m very disappointed in my Sen. Duckworth. She plays politics with the best of them,” he said.

Podgorski said that Duckworth is not stepping up to help solve the issues created by the coronavirus.

“She is a part of the problem as opposed to being part of the solution. She preaches one thing and then does another,” he told Chicago City Wire.

On April 24 Duckworth took another swipe at Trump for his leadership, and posted a video of herself being interviewed on MSNBC.

“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 shared on Twitter.

Three days later, Duckworth returned to Twitter to say what she believes is the federal government’s role 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,” she tweeted.

That tweet was in response to one from Trump who asked, “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?”

Podgorski said that many people are weary of the fighting. “I think a lot of people are sick and tired of the fighting. Get something done that’s productive. And by the way, let’s start re-opening the economy ASAP.”

Podgorski posed a question for members of Congress: “How many senators and congressmen have voluntarily taken pay cuts while average Americans are getting pounded?”