Last updated on September 25th, 2023 at 02:05 pm
Senate Democrats are considering a strategy of collaboration with President-elect Trump, which if acted upon would send the Democratic base into a state of total rebellion.
The New York Times reported on the Senate Democratic strategy in dealing with Trump:
On infrastructure spending, child tax credits, paid maternity leave and dismantling trade agreements, Democrats are looking for ways they can work with Mr. Trump and force Republican leaders to choose between their new president and their small-government, free-market principles. Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, elected Wednesday as the new Democratic minority leader, has spoken with Mr. Trump several times, and Democrats in coming weeks plan to announce populist economic and ethics initiatives they think Mr. Trump might like.
Democrats, who lost the White House and made only nominal gains in the House and Senate, face a profound decision after last week’s stunning defeat: Make common cause where they can with Mr. Trump to try to win back the white, working-class voters he took from them, or resist at every turn, trying to rally their disparate coalition in hopes that discontent with an ineffectual new president will benefit them in 2018.
Bernie Sanders has made comments about working with Trump, and so have several other Senate Democrats, with the notable exception of Sen. Elizabeth Warren. By all accounts, Warren understands and gets where the base is at.
The strategy that Schumer is proposing is the exact opposite of what Democratic voters want from their Senators. Democrats want to stand up to Trump. They are not seeking to legitimize and normalize him. If Senate Democrats collaborate with Trump, they will make a difficult Senate map impossible to overcome.
The mythical “white working class voters” that supported Trump are never going to vote for Democratic Senators and candidates.
In the modern polarized and heavily partisan environment, if Senate Democrats work with Trump, white working class voters will still vote for Republican candidates during the 2018 midterms. Donald Trump is the least popular President-elect since 1992. Cozying up to him in any way will only further alienate the Democratic base.
If Democrats work with Trump, the voters that supported Trump will give him all of the credit, and still vote Republican in November 2018.
By collaborating with Trump, Senate Democrats will turn their own base against them.
The Democratic base wants to be fought for. The idea of working with Trump is s recipe for another midterm election disaster for the Democratic Party.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
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