The House's historic vote to impeach President Donald Trump on Wednesday was the right response to Trump's appalling attempt to abuse his position for personal political gain. History should show that Trump went too far in pressuring Ukraine into making up false stories that would help his re-election bid by impugning Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and promoting a debunked notion that Ukraine, not Russia, was behind efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential race. Presidents should acknowledge and agree that American elections must be decided by Americans.
Yes, given that some House Democrats seemed inclined to impeach Trump years ago, many Republicans may dismiss Wednesday's development just as Trump does _ as a partisan "witch hunt," followed by a Senate acquittal. In fact, an official told Axios 600,000 new donors have contributed to the Republican National Committee since the impeachment hearings began. But some principled conservatives, starting with George Will, realize that Trumpism is a corrosive force in American life that has redefined the GOP in ugly ways. As four such conservatives wrote in an op-ed published Wednesday by The New York Times, "national Republicans have done far worse than simply march along to Mr. Trump's beat. Their defense of him is imbued with an ugliness, a meanness and a willingness to attack and slander those ... who have dedicated their lives and careers to its defense and its security." It was nauseating to learn of the Trump-ordered assault on the reputation of Marie Yovanovitch, the highly respected U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, ousted because she was seen as an obstacle to his attempt to bully Ukraine into helping him get re-elected.
The problem for the Democratic presidential candidates gathering to debate in Los Angeles today is it will be hard to thwart Trump's re-election. His approval ratings have risen in recent months. The economy is good. Job numbers are up. And the loudest progressive voices call for an agenda that will have some voters in swing states like Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania wondering where the party of Barack Obama and Bill Clinton went.
Consider the nationalization of health care. As a Slate analysis in January made clear, the more voters learn what this would mean, the less they like the idea _ especially the versions of "Medicare for all" that require people to end private insurance. A Gallup Poll a year ago showed 69% of Americans are satisfied with their coverage. In 2010, the last time that Democrats made major changes in health care by adopting the Affordable Care Act, Republicans subsequently picked up 63 seats in the House.
Democrats must win the middle _ of the country and the political spectrum _ to defeat Trump. They will need a better message than Trump's, one of economic prosperity that resonates with moderates and disenchanted conservatives. If that proves elusive, America may soon become unrecognizable.
