As Democratic leadership continues to fumble over special counsel Robert Mueller’s report and what to do with it, the party will look to its 2020 candidates on tonight’s primary debate stage for direction.
And they will look in vain.
Impeachment is on the Democratic Party’s mind and at the top of some members’ agendas, and it will undoubtedly become a frequent topic during tonight’s debate. The moderators are sure to ask about it, and if they don’t, the candidates will likely bring it up themselves. Impeachment, for or against, has become the new rite of passage for Democrats seeking national headlines and the support of the party’s more radical members.
But this seemingly simple yes-or-no question isn’t simple at all. It’s a complex political process that Democrats have turned into a moral obligation. Reduced to sound bites and attention-grabbing slogans, the “right” answer is always “yes.”
Most of the top candidates have openly called for Trump’s removal, and many of the others have at least called for a “serious conversation” about how to move forward. In a crowded race that is increasingly being defined by how Democrats line up against Trump, calling for the president’s impeachment isn’t inflammatory or unusual, it’s just standard.
Viewers tonight should expect a resounding “yes” from most if not all of the 2020 candidates. But when pressed, Democrats have thus far waffled and failed to provide substantive answers. Tonight will be much of the same. And that’s because impeachment is a mantra they know will never come to fruition.
Democrats’ vocal crusade is reminiscent of Republicans’ campaign against Obamacare, in which candidates promised over and over again to repeal and replace the government-subsidized health insurance. Words were worth precious little, though, when it came time to act.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., understands the unlikelihood of a successful impeachment, and the negative political consequences if it is tried. The other Democrats do, too, though few can afford to own up to it in public.
This leaves an obvious disconnect between the candidates’ rhetoric and Congress’ actions. If Trump’s alleged crimes are so obvious, as many Democrats have claimed, why does party leadership believe the impeachment case is insufficient?
The 2020 candidates are walking a tightrope, attempting to placate the Democratic base by standing up to Trump while steering clear of the political ramifications impeachment will carry when it fails in the Senate and backfires, as Philip Klein noted.
Hopefully tonight’s debate will offer clarification. But I wouldn’t hold my breath. After all, politicians in both parties are all the same: all talk, no follow-through.
