Even as the clamor for President Donald Trump’s impeachment grows and public protest against his presidency intensifies, Democrats seem divided on the question of impeachment in an almost catch-22 situation.
Trump began his first week in office with a 36 percent approval rating — the lowest for any new president, and currently his overall average rating from over a dozen or so polls is wavering at 45 percent approving and 50 percent disapproving. However, some Democrats are still urging caution as they are not convinced they have enough evidence to push for an impeachment.
Even though there are several issues that could potentially cause trouble for Trump, ranging from a potential conflict of interest over his financial ties, his immigration travel ban, his alleged ties to Russia, presidents can’t be impeached for their unpopularity.
Reports suggest that there was no consensus in the Democratic Party when the public confronted them with questions around impeachment. Although several Democratic leaders such as California Rep. Maxine Waters, Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin and Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro have publicly called for impeachment proceedings to be initiated against Trump, there has also been opposition to the idea.
Leaders such as Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, for instance, said: "When and if he breaks the law, that is when something like that would come up. But that's not the subject of today." And, when asked a similar question at an event in Northampton, Massachusetts, Rep. Jim McGovern reportedly told those present from his constituency that it’s not the correct strategy.
Other Democratic leaders such as California Rep. Eric Swalwell, a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and Pennsylvania Rep. Brendan Boyle have been more direct while urging Democrats to remain tightlipped.
“Before you can use the ‘I’ word, you really need to collect all the facts…the ‘I’ word we should be focused on is 'investigations’," Pennsylvania Rep. Brendan Boyle said.
Similarly, while the Senate Democratic leadership affirmed the Republican-led Senate Intelligence Committee to probe Trump’s ties to Russia, the Democratic National Committee has instead called the scandal “bigger than Watergate" and has called for an independent, 9/11-style commission looking into Trump’s Russian ties.
The potential downside that some Democrats are anticipating is that in the presence of a Republican-controlled House and Senate, an “overzealous” opposition may lead to galvanizing more support for Trump. Republicans in both the GOP House and Senate campaign wings have reportedly already responded by political fundraising to defend the president, according to Politico.
“No president has EVER endured the level of disrespect shown to President Trump. (It’s sickening) Unprecedented obstruction from the left on his cabinet nominees. Mockery and scorn from the liberal media. And now the liberal elite are calling for his impeachment … IN HIS FIRST MONTH,” reads a National Republican Senatorial Committee email from last week, according to Politico.
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