Quell impeachment talk, activists advise Dems
Liberal groups try to coordinate response to Russia inquiry
Democratic lawmakers are being advised by a network of liberal activists trying for the first time to coordinate the party’s message on the special counsel investigation of President Trump’s Russia ties.
A core piece of advice: Do not “invoke impeachment.”
The guidance comes from a memo funded by about three dozen groups, including MoveOn.org, Stand Up America, American Bridge and End Citizens United, that are trying to help lawmakers navigate the politics of a complex issue. The federal investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia could pose a risk to Trump’s presidency — but it could backfire on Democrats if they are too eager to capitalize on it in the coming weeks.
Democratic efforts to impeach Trump have been limited to a few members such as Rep. Brad Sherman of California, who introduced articles of impeachment this year for Trump’s alleged interference in the FBI’s investigation into his campaign’s contacts with Russia.
Lawmakers returned to Washington after the summer break, struggling to balance the need to give special counsel Robert Mueller the space to conduct his investigation with the need to prepare for the worst — including the possibility that Trump could try to fire Mueller, whom the president accused of conducting a “witch hunt.”
Liberal activists have run paid advertising to target vulnerable House Republicans and prepared an “emergency rapid response” that would trigger immediate rallies in most U.S. states should the president try to fire Mueller. The effort includes an online search tool directing individuals where and when to commence protests.
“Our response in the minutes and hours following a power grab
Activists prepared an “emergency rapid response” that would trigger rallies in most U.S. states should the president try to fire Robert Mueller.
will dictate what happens next, and whether Congress — the only body with the constitutional power and obligation to rein Trump in from his rampage — will do anything to stand up to him,” the groups said in an advisory that includes a virtual map pointing activists where to assemble.
The rapid response effort includes more than 180 locations around the nation and has a telephone campaign underway to alert those in key congressional districts about the contingency plan.
A digital ad campaign last month in the districts of 19 vulnerable House Republicans in New York, Pennsylvania, California and elsewhere demanded they protect the investigation from White House influence. The campaign was financed by a group called Stand Up America, a liberal grass-roots advocacy group funded by more than 12,000 small donors.
Trump and White House officials tamped down talk of firing Mueller. Last month, Trump said, “I’m not dismissing anybody.” His chief counsel, John Dowd, told USA TODAY that firing Mueller has “never been on the table.”
House Speaker Paul Ryan, RWis., and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., expressed confidence in Mueller and said he should be allowed to do his job.
Nearly half of voters, 48%, say it would be wrong to remove Mueller, compared with 22% who say it would be appropriate for Trump to dismiss him, according to a recent Politico/Morning Consult poll.
The liberal groups’ memo advises Democrats on the best way to talk about the Russia inquiry.
The memo, by the polling firm Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, says Democrats should stress the need to protect the investigation, draw a line against pardons and stress the national security implications of Russian meddling in the 2016 election while avoiding talk of impeachment. Another group, called Defend the Republic, uses the memo to push regular talking points to television surrogates and party officials.
“Be aware that new events may significantly change the landscape,” the memo says. “Voters show a strong inclination to shift their position as new facts emerge.”