The seven candidates for chair of the Democratic National Committee laid out their plans to lead the political party, including impeaching President Trump – a rallying cry even House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has said is not yet warranted.
One of the top contenders in the race, Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., cited examples of actions Trump has taken in his first month in office that are worthy of being fired as commander in chief.
“I think that Donald Trump has already done a number of things which legitimately raise the question of impeachment. On day one, he was in violation of the emoluments clause,” Ellison said during a CNN town hall on Wednesday evening.
“It’s not just about Donald Trump. It’s about the integrity of the presidency,” said Ellison, known for his progressive stances as a Democratic lawmaker. “So yeah, I think we need to begin investigations not to go after Donald Trump, but to protect our Constitution and the presidency of the United States – to make sure that nobody can monetize the presidency and make profit off it for their own gain.”
Tom Perez, former labor secretary during President Barack Obama’s second term, said Trump’s “far-right agenda” is moving the country backward and offered to turn the U.S. in the right direction by unleashing a national strategy to give all Democrats the ability to affect public discourse.
“I lost my voice going all over the country and what I’m saying to people is ‘my voice may be crackly now, but when we take over by implementing this 50-state strategy and making sure the Democrats have a voice, that is how we return the power to the people,'” Perez said, his voice faltering throughout his remarks.
Perez has previously called for progressives to “hit him [Trump] between the eyes with a 2-by-4 ” and treat him in the same way Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell responded to the Obama administration.
Rock the Vote’s former president Jehmu Greene echoed Ellison’s sentiment of removing Trump from office, a call only three national lawmakers have raised to date.
“When he commits an impeachable offense, the Democratic Party has to be that last line of defense for your Constitution and for this country,” Greene said. “So I am on the side of holding him accountable.”
Pete Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend, Ind., said liberals must focus on real issues and keep the focus somewhat off of Trump.
“Donald Trump has gotten to be like a computer virus in the American political system. He ties up our minds and processing power with these equations that don’t have solutions and brain overheats and breaks down,” Buttigieg said. “Yes, we have to take the fight to him, but we can’t let him dominate our imagination.”
The DNC will hold a vote among its 447 members at its annual gathering in Atlanta on Saturday.
