BALTIMORE | Gathered under the banner of “Fighting for All,” House Democrats kicked off a soul-searching retreat here Wednesday by signaling their comeback plan hinges on fighting President Trump — and all but ruling out the chances of working with him.
Top House Democrats alluded to Mr. Trump umpteen times, accusing him of selling out his supporters, peddling lies about voter fraud, and pushing an Obamacare repeal that would leave people without insurance. They criticized his travel ban, his relationship with Russia and his vow to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
“I have never seen my party more unified in a single goal: fighting to prevent President Trump and congressional Republicans from hurting our country and hurting our people and quite frankly hurting the world,” said Rep. Joseph Crowley, chairman of the House Democratic Caucus.
The agreement on opposing Mr. Trump has been a source of unity for a party otherwise struggling to find a message after the November election, which left them without a national leader for the first time in eight years.
On Capitol Hill, Democrats are relegated to the sidelines, particularly in the House, where the GOP holds a 47-seat majority and the rules give a minority less power than it has in the Senate.
Leaders insisted they can make themselves felt, saying they will deploy procedural tactics to force the GOP to take a stand on the Trump agenda.
Democrats said the blowback Mr. Trump has faced over his limits on travel, his Cabinet picks and his immigration plans makes them confident that they can win the public relations battle over the long-haul.
They’re also counting on history, which suggests the president’s party tends to lose seats in Congress in midterm elections.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said that Mr. Trump has been “reckless, brash and incompetent,” and repeated her calls on the FBI to probe Mr. Trump’s personal and financial ties to Russia.
“What on earth do the Russians have on Donald Trump?” Mrs. Pelosi said.
The California Democrat said Mr. Trump’s actions have eroded the chances of bipartisanship on Capitol Hill.
“As long as the president continues down this path, there is nothing Democrats can work with him on,” she said. “To protect the security of our nation, the future of working families and the sanctity of our Constitution, Democrats will fight this administration everyday with every fiber of our being.”
Hall of Fame basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and comedian Chelsea Handler are scheduled to headline events at the Democratic gathering.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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