Boycotting inaugural, Democrats head to sidelines for next four years

So far, nearly 66 members have decided to stay home on Friday. That’s more than a third of House Democrats, a sizable chunk of the group hoping to check the Trump administration for the next four years. And their opening move is a bad one.

By boycotting, Democrats have overpursued and perhaps lost an opportunity for long term gains. The cheap headlines and fleeting coverage have set a narrative that they won’t be able to escape. Democrats won’t just be the opposition. They’ll be labeled obstructionists and their ideas summarily dismissed.

On the campaign trail, Trump bragged about his willingness to cut deals. By refusing to stamp their tickets to the inauguration, Democrats have surrendered their chairs at the negotiating table. Trump might be petty — after all, he did attack a civil rights icon. But his memory isn’t short and he’s not likely to forget each of the Democrats who sat out his inauguration.

Anyone who doubts this ought to ask the 122 national security scholars who signed a letter criticizing the president-elect. Though experts in their field, none will enter the administration. They’ve been blacklisted. House Democrats will likely suffer the same fate.

Don’t expect the next president to make a distinction between Democratic National Committee brass and rank-and-file protesters either. Though he’ll attend, the second ranking Democrat, Rep. Steny Hoyer, gave his approval, saying he “understands” and believes the protest is “correct.” After those statements, Trump will be more than willing to confuse the part for the whole.

Perhaps it’s a principled protest, but the move’s a total mistake. In Trump, they could have found an unlikely negotiating partner, a Republican who donates to Democrats and supports many of their policies. Instead of capitalizing on that opportunity, the party has ensured they’ll be on the sidelines for the next four years.

Philip Wegmann is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.