Closing Ranks
A masterclass taught by Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. (Elected Democrats and Democratic aspirants to office in 2020, take notes.)
As the Trump show goes on around them, newly-elected Democrats, veteran Democratic leadership, and 2020 presidential hopefuls are being increasingly drawn in to a circular firing squad.
At a time when it is more important than ever for Democrats to fight back-to-back against a near-constant bombardment from President Trump, that Democrats are instead turning against each other is sending the public a message that might be even louder than Trump’s.
There have been friendly fire incidents everywhere on the Democratic side, damaging reputations, relationships, and reelection chances alike.
Congressional members have been badmouthing each other on Twitter. A campaign staffer openly, and savagely, criticized a sitting member of their own party. There have been accusations of racism leveled against Democratic leadership. Alarms about growing anti-Semitism in the party are beginning to sound. Democratic plans don’t seem to be ready for primetime, and they don’t reflect the will of the electorate.
No one has emerged as a clear successor to former President Barack Obama.
Public confidence in Trump seems to be eroding, but Democrats aren’t polling much better. Trump may be losing on immigration, but Democrats aren’t exactly winning.
Trump, whose approval ratings should be much higher considering the strong economy, seems to be alienating moderates and independents with his outbursts on Twitter, whether they are planned or unplanned.
Democrats, whose approval ratings should be much higher considering Trump, seem to be alienating moderates and independents with a far-left ideological laundry list of grievances that will definitely raise taxes on the middle class, if nothing else.
The public infighting can’t be helping much, either.
One of the the main problems is that social-media savvy Democrats have become almost too adept at whipping their fans into a frenzy on Twitter. Twitter likes it when people rage against the machine. Twitter does not like it when people compromise with the machine. That’s boring because everybody does it.