ARLINGTON, Va. – Actress Bellamy Young of the hit ABC series Scandal said Hillary Clinton supporters should vote Democrat “up and down” the ballot because President Obama was not able to reach his “full” potential in office with a Republican-led House in 2011 as well as Senate in 2014.
“I think another thing that’s huge this year is voting Democrat up and down the ticket because I spent eight years wanting to wring some necks because Barack Obama has not been able to be completely the full president he has in his heart, the potential to be. So let’s get Democrats up and down the board so all these amazing nuanced, thoughtful plans Hillary Clinton has spent her lifetime crafting can be put into place and we can make a better world,” she said during a recent stop at the Clinton campaign’s office just outside D.C.
Young, who plays the first lady on Scandal, told campaign volunteers that the testimonials of Hillary supporters at the Democratic convention made her “appreciate the depth” of Clinton’s “commitment” to public service.
“You guys know it’s hard because you’re on the front lines, right? If you don’t love what you are doing you put it down and you walk away at some point, and Hillary Clinton has never walked away from anything in her life. This election is the strangest election I have ever seen,” Young said before campaign volunteers began canvassing in the swing state.
“I want to live in a world of love and inclusion, and so I stand with her. You guys, today is like a canvassing day, right? We’re heading out to change people’s lives — to change people’s minds to build our future. Thank you for that,” she added.
In an interview at the campaign office, PJM asked Young if she agrees with Donald Trump’s proposal to allow individuals and families to deduct childcare expenses on their taxes.
Young said she is “diametrically opposed” to the GOP nominee’s views on childcare, women’s rights, fair pay and the minimum wage.
“It’s hard for me because Trump’s plans change a lot, and so I never know what to think or believe. The majority of his tax plan is helping the wealthy — the repeal of the estate tax would save his family $14 billion, or something insane. The 14 wealthiest people in America would save $15 million per year, so in terms of his thoughts on childcare, women’s rights, fair pay, the minimum wage, I am diametrically opposed to what his thoughts are,” she said.
During her time in Virginia campaigning for Clinton, Young met with a small gymnastics business called More Than Cheer in Loudoun County that has hit some roadblocks while planning to franchise.
“Hillary has decided to be the small-business president because two-thirds of all new jobs come from small businesses in America. So I was really there talking to them about what their experience has been and what would help them in the future in terms of streamlining the process and what Hillary can add to her plan for small businesses — just really getting it from their mouths,” she said.
Christopher Eckles, a campaign volunteer living the Washington, D.C. area, encouraged Clinton supporters to canvas and make calls for Clinton.
“They should get everyone they know that is not registered to be registered — whatever proper identification you need to take — we should take this very seriously. We cannot dismiss the fact that whatever the Trump campaign may be saying or doing — regardless of the rhetoric in the press, we have to be serious about this nation if we want to improve,” he said.
James Anderson, a campaign volunteer originally from Florida, said he endorsed Clinton so she can continue President Obama’s policies.
“Our main objective is to get the Senate turned back Democratic and try to get this Republican Congress turned back Democratic so we can really move this country,” he said. “I think [Republicans] have set us back a good decade. We need to really get control of this country — things are just going bad. We need to restore our democratic values.”
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