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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPelosi & Schumer: Trump "duty is to protect American people, not to sell out our democracy to Putin"
Washington, D.C. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer issued this statement as President Trump began the NATO Summit and Putin meetings:
President Trumps brazen insults and denigration of one of Americas most steadfast allies, Germany, is an embarrassment. His behavior this morning is another profoundly disturbing signal that the President is more loyal to President Putin than to our NATO allies.
If the President leaves the Putin meeting without ironclad assurances and concrete steps toward a full cessation of Russian attacks on our democracy, this meeting will not only be a failure it will be a grave step backward for the future of the international order and global security. A successful meeting means real action, now.
The President needs to remember that, as Commander-in-Chief, his duty is to protect the American people from foreign threats, not to sell out our democracy to Putin.
https://www.democraticleader.gov/newsroom/71118/
RKP5637
(67,107 posts)he is trying to cement a scary un-American relationship with Putin to control this country. And he has a GOP controlled congress that does not give a damn about the US, only what pleases Trump. IMO this is just the tip of the iceberg. I know this sounds like "CT", but it sure seems he is trying to cement some type of coup with Russia.
Proud Liberal Dem
(24,412 posts)but, as the few responsible adults in Congress, it falls on them to say *something*
bigtree
(85,992 posts)...is how many people respond to statements from our Democratic leaders like this to tell us how unconcerned Trump is, or how obtuse republicans are, and so on.
This is a statement to the American public, not Trump.
It needs to be amplified, not obscured by cynicism.
FreepFryer
(7,077 posts)RKP5637
(67,107 posts)Here on DU, we either hear "why aren't Dems saying anything," or "humph, why are they bothering to say anything?"
Hekate
(90,660 posts)I'm not picking on you in particular -- there's just a persistent DU thing about Dem leaders "never saying anything" and/or "telegraphing weakness by saying something wishy-washy," etc etc.
IMO, Schumer and Pelosi need to educate voters, and this educates anyone listening. They need to let voters know that the Dem Leadership is paying close attention to what the Mad King is up to, and the statement does that as well.
Of course Trump doesn't care what they say, but then this statement is not for Trump.
RKP5637
(67,107 posts)Solly Mack
(90,762 posts)Trump will not be moved or motivated by words.
Unless they come from Putin or that little deranged hamster inside his head. Could be where the hair comes from - a very furry and deranged hamster whose fur pops up through Trump's scalp.
Could be true.
bigtree
(85,992 posts)...it's a public declaration by our Democratic leaders. It has a good bite, as well.
And, c'mon. You know this gets inside his head. He may be an evil little fuck, but he's also a rabidly vain megalomaniac.
Solly Mack
(90,762 posts)And it is an important message.
And that deranged hamster will attack the message soon enough.
It's also a message for NATO - that not everyone thinks like Trump.
Again, important.
But Trump still isn't going to take it serious. He won't hear the words - he'll only hear an attack.
bigtree
(85,992 posts)...still ambling toward his Russian master. I can't remember any president called out like this. They said loud and plain, the president of the United States threatens to sell out our democracy to Putin, to Russia.
I know things have gone over the deep end, but I have to acknowledge to myself how amazingly live and world-shaking this trip has been, portends to be. This declaration by our Democratic leaders brings all that home to me.
Solly Mack
(90,762 posts)Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)He won't understand some of the big words, and he thinks niceness is weakness. He'll just do an insulting tweet about it and move on.
Tatiana
(14,167 posts)This is strong language they are using. They are now directly implying that Trump is selling out our democracy to Putin.
It's a step in the right direction from leaders of a different era who are loathe to break with Congressional tradition.
Now, the question is... what are they prepared to do to stop this hijacking of our democracy?
FreepFryer
(7,077 posts)gratuitous
(82,849 posts)And selling out America to Putin doesn't do that at all. Just an aside.
No, Trump won't give a flying fuck about what Schumer and Pelosi have to say, but that's not the point of their statement. Let's hope the media pick up the statement and amplify it. Far too often, Democrats say something important, and the media let it drop. Schumer and Pelosi need to keep saying what this statement says, and ignore the hand-wringing from the cynical Republicans who will almost certainly kvetch about politics stopping at the water's edge, and don't criticize the President while he's overseas, and other sanctimonious mumbo-jumbo.
Garrett78
(10,721 posts)Why even pretend that Trump has any intention of telling his boss to stop interfering in US elections?
Give up all pretense and just tell it like it is. Trump is a traitor who is breaking laws in the interest of greed.
LiberalLovinLug
(14,173 posts)The problem is not that they sent out yet another strongly worded statement. Its that what once were regarded as strongly worded statements are now very weak sauce, redundant, and disappear after even less than the 24 hour news cycle. Nothing new. Its preaching to the choir for the most part.
This is why we need new leadership. I'm about ready to just hand the nomination over to Avenatti at this point, as no Democrat seems bold enough to use the T word let alone make the GOP even squirm an inch. The statements coming from the lips of our leaders should be getting the GOP leaders foaming and spitting and stuttering in code red defensive mode. Republicans have used this tactic for decades now. Say things that contain such outrageous charges, that any Dem's time as a guest on a news network is spent in defensive mode...which inherently suggests they are guilty of something. Where there's smoke...
Its easy to believe the Republic is strong enough to withstand this attempted fascist coup, that all we need is some tsk tsk's and all it will take is a mild turn of the rudder to right the ship. But as time goes on, and Trump continues to consolidate his people into positions of influence in the Mueller investigation's survival, appointing judges, etc. the time is long overdue to stop speaking about what is happening at present, at some present day tweet, but at what MAY happen in the future, and project that concern into today's present day language. Fiery language, inflammatory language even. Anything that will get attention because Trump is winning the Reality TV wars. He's not afraid to shout out something shocking and controversial on a daily basis. We can't even cause a ripple even when we have so much actual shocking content to expose and get angry about.
"profoundly disturbing signal" "a grave step backward" really?
Even "not to sell out our democracy to Putin" is so last year. How about saying he is a traitor to the country and should be brought up on charges of treason. That he is signing up America into a new Axis of Evil club? That he is willing to enrich himself and his family over the national security of the county? And keep repeating these points over and over and over.
Response to bigtree (Original post)
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0rganism
(23,944 posts)chaperones will only get in the way, and you don't want to be the person who keeps Putin from getting his "happy ending"...
AlexSFCA
(6,137 posts)Do you honesty think he is going to meet with putin to ask him to stop interfering? If so, its time for somebody smarter to become the speaker. It is beyond obvious what trump is doing even w/o Mueller. I wish dems woul come all come out with a serious statement that trump is intentionally jeopardizing national security and actively workkng against Americas best interst but in the best interest of Putin. Why is t so hard to say it in unison, pass some symbolic resolution, go on record. People outside this forum need to see clearly what is happening, not being fed politics as usual with cliche weak words.
Equinox Moon
(6,344 posts)Our Dem leadership should be in front of cameras daily standing up to this!!
I'm listening to Norman Goldman right now on the radio and he is making the case that Trump is committing treason.
Norman is an attorney and makes a lot of sense.
AlexSFCA
(6,137 posts)that needs to be circulated loud and clear.
saidsimplesimon
(7,888 posts)I am ashamed for our nation. The coverage is unbearable. It is a "Punch & Judy" show of international word violence, lower the curtain and give IT the hook. Not to mention his obvious suck up to a Russian mass murderer. Trump the puppet with no fangs just senile nonsensical blathering to support his puppet master.
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Crutchez_CuiBono
(7,725 posts)Good one!
gordianot
(15,237 posts)Trump is Infuriating and I am mad as hell.
elmac
(4,642 posts)Lets not vote for anything that helps tRump, like government spending bills, even if it means shutting down the government. It will take a lot of pain to bring the fascist's down and tRump knows he can get away with anything while we keep taking the high road. Enough!
Iliyah
(25,111 posts)dameatball
(7,397 posts)Not necessarily openly accusing, but it is long past time when it should be in the public record. Relying on Republisucks to do it is a ridiculous notion. Time to introduce it bow. Who are they worrying about pissing off? Mitch McConnell???? Trump??? F them
saidsimplesimon
(7,888 posts)this is the best our leadership can come up with? I'm in no mood for Bull Shit.
ProfessorPlum
(11,256 posts)surely that will change something.
/sarcasm, obviously