Impeach Trump Rally - Silver Spring, Maryland June 16, 2019 More than three-quarters of the Democratic base want an impeachment. A third of the Pelosi’s caucus agrees. But Nancy Pelosi has reasons for not impeaching Donald Trump. And those reasons are rational. Still, impeaching Trump may be risky. The Democrats were able to win in 31 Republican or Republican-leaning districts in 2018. As a result, they hold a majority in the House. If these districts flip back, Democrats could lose the House. Pelosi fears a backlash from Independents and moderate Republicans. She does not want voters to blame Democrats for attempting to “steal” the Presidency.
Pelosi has warned that impeachment would further polarize the country. Increased polarization could make it harder to govern the country. And it could make it harder for Pelosi to keep her caucus united. Democrats in Republican-leaning districts could refuse to vote for impeachment.
To combat the impeachment pushback from Republicans, Democrats must have a united front. Otherwise impeachment could emphasize the weakness of the Democrats in confronting the Republican noise machine. And Democrats must show some ability to message consistently and compellingly. Regrettably, Democrats seldom show these skills. (Democrats might consider hiring experts to supplement their skills.) Recently, the House Judiciary Committee allowed a witness, Hope Hicks, to testify behind closed doors. Hicks, Trump’s former aide, is a pivotal witness to his wrongdoing. Democrats undermined their efforts to convince the public that impeachment is a proper remedy.
Pro-impeachment Democrats argue Trump has committed impeachable acts. And thus, the Constitution requires the House to impeach. Pelosi dismisses this argument. Senate Republicans, who would have to try an impeachment, are joined at the hip with Trump. Pelosi sees no chance of 20 Republicans joining the Democrats to convict and remove Trump.
Some Democrats want to impeach Trump (even without removal) to hold him accountable for past conduct and to curb his future bad behavior. They note that the investigative approach has stalled. Trump has obstructed the appearance of witnesses and refused to provide documents. So far the Democrats have been unable to forge any workarounds. Further, Trump, as Pelosi points out, has no shame. She feels it is unlikely impeaching Trump will do anything more than incite him to behave worse.
A growing number of Democrats contend that impeachment proceedings could be a tool to help defeat Trump. The impeachment would present a steady stream of damning evidence against Trump. This drumbeat of negative information could start before the Democrats had selected their nominee. It would help counter Trump’s inevitable attempts to define the Democratic nominee. An impeachment hearing, covered daily by the media, might be the only way to grab the microphone from Trump’s hands.
Pelosi has not persuaded her caucus or base that impeachment has no political benefits. Instead, she has cited Bill Clinton’s impeachment as an example of how it could backfire. But Clinton’s impeachment is a model of how not to conduct an impeachment. Within two months of receiving the Independent Counsel’s report, the Republicans voted to impeach Clinton. The Republicans failed to convince the public Clinton deserved impeachment for a sexual encounter. Pelosi is bothered about a possible backlash more than excited by a political opportunity. Democrats are facing a President who has committed crimes against the country and the Constitution. Considering either politics or their Constitutional duty, Democrats must impeach.
Pelosi says she is not opposed to impeachment. Indeed, she has vociferously called out Trump’s wrongdoing. But she still wants to wait until there is more public support for impeachment. Pelosi and the House Democrats risk appearing weak and indecisive if they delay impeachment for too long. Nonetheless, House Democrats must increase public demand for impeachment while combating any backlash.
Pelosi has warned that impeachment would further polarize the country. Increased polarization could make it harder to govern the country. And it could make it harder for Pelosi to keep her caucus united. Democrats in Republican-leaning districts could refuse to vote for impeachment.
To combat the impeachment pushback from Republicans, Democrats must have a united front. Otherwise impeachment could emphasize the weakness of the Democrats in confronting the Republican noise machine. And Democrats must show some ability to message consistently and compellingly. Regrettably, Democrats seldom show these skills. (Democrats might consider hiring experts to supplement their skills.) Recently, the House Judiciary Committee allowed a witness, Hope Hicks, to testify behind closed doors. Hicks, Trump’s former aide, is a pivotal witness to his wrongdoing. Democrats undermined their efforts to convince the public that impeachment is a proper remedy.
Pro-impeachment Democrats argue Trump has committed impeachable acts. And thus, the Constitution requires the House to impeach. Pelosi dismisses this argument. Senate Republicans, who would have to try an impeachment, are joined at the hip with Trump. Pelosi sees no chance of 20 Republicans joining the Democrats to convict and remove Trump.
Some Democrats want to impeach Trump (even without removal) to hold him accountable for past conduct and to curb his future bad behavior. They note that the investigative approach has stalled. Trump has obstructed the appearance of witnesses and refused to provide documents. So far the Democrats have been unable to forge any workarounds. Further, Trump, as Pelosi points out, has no shame. She feels it is unlikely impeaching Trump will do anything more than incite him to behave worse.
A growing number of Democrats contend that impeachment proceedings could be a tool to help defeat Trump. The impeachment would present a steady stream of damning evidence against Trump. This drumbeat of negative information could start before the Democrats had selected their nominee. It would help counter Trump’s inevitable attempts to define the Democratic nominee. An impeachment hearing, covered daily by the media, might be the only way to grab the microphone from Trump’s hands.
Pelosi has not persuaded her caucus or base that impeachment has no political benefits. Instead, she has cited Bill Clinton’s impeachment as an example of how it could backfire. But Clinton’s impeachment is a model of how not to conduct an impeachment. Within two months of receiving the Independent Counsel’s report, the Republicans voted to impeach Clinton. The Republicans failed to convince the public Clinton deserved impeachment for a sexual encounter. Pelosi is bothered about a possible backlash more than excited by a political opportunity. Democrats are facing a President who has committed crimes against the country and the Constitution. Considering either politics or their Constitutional duty, Democrats must impeach.
Pelosi says she is not opposed to impeachment. Indeed, she has vociferously called out Trump’s wrongdoing. But she still wants to wait until there is more public support for impeachment. Pelosi and the House Democrats risk appearing weak and indecisive if they delay impeachment for too long. Nonetheless, House Democrats must increase public demand for impeachment while combating any backlash.
