The Congressional Democratic reaction this week to President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress clearly showed the challenges facing the party as they try to block the administration’s effort to take control of the power of the purse from Congress.
Senate and House leaders asked their members to sit quietly, let Trump dig his own policy hole while Democrats would pounce with a well-delivered opposition response.
Well, the second part went well, but many Democrats went rogue. While some skipped the address, one representative was tossed out within the first couple of minutes, other Democrats held so-called bingo or auction bidding signs, with few others deciding to walk out mid-way through the President’s address.
Republicans were quick to use the rebellion moments to attack the opposition party, with examples airing on Trump-friendly media.
Meanwhile, Democratic, independent and moderate Republicans voters are most likely saying to themselves — “Doesn’t anyone have a plan out there?”
Yes, sort of. There appears to be many plans. They just have to settle on something and quick.
Christian Paz, a senior politics reporter at Vox, said Democrats may have come up with a single message — “Trump can’t be trusted with the economy, he’s steering the country into dangerous territory, and he’s not focused on the kitchen-table issues the American people care about.”
Democrats just can’t find the best way to send this message out to the American public.
Here’s a suggestion from Paz — “Big presidential speeches tend to draw the immediate attention of highly engaged Americans who tune in. Everyone else will be exposed to it, and the Democrats’ reactions, in shorter clips online, via commentary on podcasts and livestreams, and through news reports in the aftermath.”
At least 22 Democrats did put out a coordinated social media video with a variety of members of Congress reading word-for-word, attacking the President’s policies. At least they stayed on message.
MSNBC anchors Michael Steele and Symone Sanders-Townsend on Tuesday both agreed that Democrats should be pumping out commercials on social media and other outlets attacking the administration’s unhinged policies.
If not now, when? Has anyone seen any DNC or other commercials? Exactly.
Meanwhile, Chris Murphy, D-Conn., has left behind his bipartisan deal-seeking efforts to spend more than $1 million on social media platforms and is “flooding the zone on television and podcasts, positioning himself as the tip of the spear of Democratic Party efforts to oppose Trump in Washington.”
Maybe the opposition needs to create its own version of Doge (Dept. of Government Efficiency), hire a bunch of media savvy young people and start pumping out memorable Lincoln Project-style social media mini commercials to reach a broader audience.
Maybe they can call it PONY (Protecting Our Nation with Youth).
Gives a whole new meaning to the term “Dog and Pony Show.”
Opposition plan?
- DAME Magazine — Yes, Democrats Can Take Control of the Conversation
- Indivisible — EXPLAINER: How Senate Democrats Can Delay & Defy Trump’s Agenda with Procedural Hardball
- NBC News — ‘We have become the party of the status quo’: Chris Murphy makes his case to lead Democrats forward
- Office of Rep. Jeffries — LEADER JEFFRIES ON GMA: “COSTS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GO UP AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL BE HURT”
- Vox — The Democrats’ response to Trump is splintered — but getting better
