Democrats Don’t Know How to Respond to Trump Because he is Governing on Their Issues
Last Week Congressman Al Green, a Democrat from Texas was officially censured for his outburst during President Trump’s joint address. Sadly only 10 Democrats voted with the majority of Republicans in favor of the censure. I say sadly because it would have been nice if a majority in both parties would condemn the disruption and stand up for civility. Green violated decorum of the House by interrupting the program, and in his attempt to speak over someone who had the right to speak. The President had the floor as they say.
It was quite a sight, Green menacingly waved his cane in the air, yelling hysterically like a madman while the nation was listening to the President. The antics and the cane were reminiscent of another obstreperous Texas Democrat the late Congressman Preston Brooks. Well, the next day Green was rightfully censured, and after the vote he came down to the well of the House floor to hear the reading of the official censure, and dozens of House Democrats gathered around Green in solidarity and sang the civil rights anthem “We Shall Overcome.” This might be the low point for Democrats, they may have hit rock bottom.
Al Green’s hysterical outburst is emblematic of the feelings of his party. They are struggling like no other time in the 21st century. I have no doubt that his outburst reflects the true feelings of Democrats, and it’s understandable, they just don’t know how to respond to Trump, because he basically has taken their issues away from them. They are completely disoriented. It’s something rare in politics, but Trump did it. He has coopted Democrats traditional policy domain, and he took many of the groups that used to vote for Democrats, such as the white working class.
A few examples: Democrats used to be the anti-war party. After Vietnam they decided to become the party for peace, they reflexively called for cease fires and negotiations, even with communists and dictators and of course even against America’s interest. But now Trump is for peace, he wants to bring an end to the war in Ukraine. He rightfully understands that it is not in America’s interests to fund the bloody stalemate. He understands the futility of that war and he realizes that Russia is not a threat to the U.S. or even western Europe. No one can deny that it is in our interest to push for a peace settlement, because the longer the war goes on the greater the chance that it could lead to a wider war, the longer it goes on more Ukrainians and Russians will die and of course the longer it goes on the more money it will cost us. It already has cost us hundreds of billions of dollars. We don’t want Ukraine to get steamrolled, but we don’t want to help fund an unwinnable war for all of Ukraine’s territory. Frankly it’s a waste of taxpayers’ money. It may seem harsh, but it is really a territorial dispute, and a European problem. Which side of the border should the Donbas and Crimea fall on? Trump knows that it’s not in our interest to fight over that.
How do Democrats respond to Trump’s perfectly sound position. Do they say yes, we agree we want peace. Do they keep to their traditional beliefs as the antiwar party, and side with Trump? No, they oppose his efforts to talk to Putin and to try to end the war. Of course, to get an end to the war Trump knows, and Democrats know, that he will have to negotiate with Putin, and Trump also realizes that attacking Putin, by calling him a “war criminal” is counterproductive. The vilification of Putin makes no sense and is not in our interests. Also, Trump wants better relations with Russia because we may need their help in dealing with Iran. And it’s not in our interest to see Russia and China getting chummy, rather we want to drive them apart.
Another example of Trump invading the Democrats territory deals with the issue of trade. Democrats used to be for “fair trade”, and they were skeptical of “free trade”. I remember a time when they used to be skeptical of foreign based corporations, and when they wanted to renegotiate trade deals to protect workers and US industries among other reasons. Now Trump is doing just that. And when he pushes for reciprocal tariffs, meaning the same rate for both sides, Democrats object, and even claim that he is starting a “trade war’. Well, if both sides pay the same tariff how can Trump be blamed for starting a “trade war.”
Democrats have abandoned their fair-trade position for a free trade position, the status quo, where our products and companies are forced to pay higher tariffs in many cases than their foreign competitors.
Cutting waste in government is another issue that Trump has taken over from Democrats. I remember Bill Clinton’s Reinventing government initiative. Even President Carter tried to cut waste from government, and the left leaning New York Times, praised his efforts. Even big spender President Lyndon B. Johnson decried waste in government.
Trump through DOGE, Department of Government Efficiency, which originated in the Obama administration, is looking to cut waste and inefficiency from the federal bureaucracy. He, through Musk and his team of nerds have founds lots of waste. Have Democrats praised their good effort so far? No. And come to think of it I cannot think of one prominent Democrat who has denounced the waste at USAID. Now you can say well Democrats do not want to cut spending even waste, but in the past they have. Now Trump is for it, so they are against it.
But I think over the years the biggest demand or requirement from Democrats has been that we can never shut down the Federal Government, no matter what. It’s a cardinal rule. Civilization will collapse if the Federal Government shuts down, even for a day. They argued it is necessary to keep it open because shutdowns would do real harm, maybe even killing kids and senior citizens.
No matter the reason, no matter the political goal, we must keep the government open. Well, now spending runs out tomorrow and to keep the government open Congress must act. The Republican House has passed a funding measure, and it is now with the Senate. Republicans are in the majority but need 8 more Democrats to vote with them, just to allow a vote on a stopgap funding measure. They don’t have to vote for it just to allow a vote. If 8 Dems don’t go along the Federal Government will be shut down Friday night. Historically Democrats have opposed shutdowns. Now what do they do? We shall see.
Democrats for years have been touting electric vehicles. They have claimed that they are necessary to save the environment. They so much believe in the necessity of electric cars, (EVs), that they pushed mandates and tax breaks to get people in them. So, it was odd yesterday hearing so many on the left accuse Trump of trying to sell them, or at least Tesla’s EV’s at the White House. They claim that he was doing it to enrich Musk. Well, if electric cars will save the environment, then shouldn’t Democrats be happy that Trump is selling them. So great is the threat to the planet, that I would think that even lining Musks pockets should be overlooked. And I would point out that as far as helping to enrich Elon Musk who owns Tesla, well, it was Democrats that pushed mandates and tax breaks for buying EVs, not Trump. Wouldn’t Musk be the biggest beneficiary of those policies. Yet now Democrats accuse Trump of helping to enrich Musk, that is rich.
On issues of war and peace, trade, waste in government among others, Trump took control. He took their issues and now Democrats don’t know how to respond. They are very frustrated. Al Green’s outburst represented how Democrats feel.
But on the bright side for Democrats, all of those college kids and professor are still with them.
David Shephard is the author of two books. Elections Have Consequences, A Cautionary Tale.
Norton’s Choice: An Inside Politics Exposé: Shephard, David: 9781892538802: Amazon.com: Books
