Kathrine Frich
The congressman argued that lawmakers must focus on basic needs.
Winning an election is only half the battle.
Once the votes are counted and the new leaders take their seats, the real test is deciding what to tackle first.
For one political party, a controversial topic is sliding down the to-do list.
A shift in focus
According to HuffPost, Democratic leaders are mapping out their strategy for a potential victory in the upcoming midterm elections.
Many voters might expect the party to immediately target Donald Trump. Yet a top lawmaker is pushing back.
Representative Jim Clyburn appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday. He told host Kristen Welker that going after Trump should not dominate the agenda.
“If the Democrats were to take back the House, and I feel confident that we will, our first order of business ought to be developing an accessible and affordable campaign effort that will yield what I would call making this country, its greatness, accessible and affordable for all of its citizens,” Clyburn said.
Keeping options open
Welker pressed the lawmaker on whether he had taken impeachment completely off the table.
“I don’t rule it out, but I don’t rule it in,” Clyburn responded on the broadcast.
He steered the conversation back to everyday issues. The congressman argued that lawmakers must focus on basic needs rather than political payback.
“No, I don’t. But I don’t think that should be our priority if we get into office. Our priority ought to be making housing, education, energy, health care affordable and accessible for all of our citizens,” he added.
Echoing the leadership
Clyburn is not the only Democrat taking a cautious approach. HuffPost noted that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries shared a similar message last week.
Jeffries spoke with Wolf Blitzer on CNN about the possibility of targeting Trump.
“We haven’t ruled anything in, and we haven’t ruled anything out,” Jeffries told the CNN host. He noted that any moves would be guided by “moments of accountability.”
Trump holds a unique place in American history. He remains the only US president to face impeachment twice.
A history of survival
The House first impeached him in 2019 over claims involving Ukraine. The Senate acquitted him in 2020.
Lawmakers impeached him a second time in 2021 following the Capitol riot. The Senate voted to acquit him once again.
As the midterms approach, Democratic leaders seem hesitant to attempt a third trial. They prefer kitchen table issues over a familiar political battlefield.
Sources: HuffPost, NBC, CNN
