California billionaire Tom Steyer has caught the eye of many since he decided to fund an advertising campaign worth $20 million that calls for President Donald Trump’s impeachment.
Considering how much Democrats hate Trump, you would think those within the party would love this campaign. It turns out it has raised worries as some think it will harm the party more and turn away the independents and even some GOP voters they want to bring over to their side.
Democrat presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s epic loss to Trump in November was probably the biggest blow to the party. I mean, she lost to freaking Trump. It was the final straw since the GOP took back the House and Senate and even expanded to take over state governments.
The Democrats are desperate. They lack fundraising and when it seems they’re given a gift, two more things happen to take them down.
This is why some Democrats are not pleased with Steyer’s campaign. They’re already up against a wall and they don’t want more challenges. From The Wall Street Journal:
“I’ve been a very harsh critic of this president….But the impeachment message right now is not helpful to the possibility of retaking the House,” said Rep. Jim Himes (D., Conn.), chairman of the fiscally moderate New Democratic Coalition.—“I like Tom, and he means well,” said Rep. Seth Moulton (D., Mass.), “and he certainly believes he’s doing the right thing for the country….[but] I don’t think the impeachment conversation necessarily helps in House races.”
They believe this campaign will push away independents and any GOP voter they believe they can pull to the left. They think the campaign will have people thinking it’s “Democrat overreach and undercut the party’s message in the midterm elections.”
Despite these concerns, Steyer doesn’t care:
“I understand that there are people who think that from a tactical political standpoint it may not be clever,” said Mr. Steyer, a top donor to Democratic political groups. “We’re not trying to be clever.”—Mr. Steyer said no lawmakers have directly asked him to stop. He also said that traditional politicians might not have the best sense of the electorate.“The Republican nominee wasn’t really a Republican. The person who energized the Democratic Party wasn’t really a Democrat,” Mr. Steyer said, referring to Mr. Trump and Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Democratic presidential candidate. “So, when I hear the Washington establishment tell me, ‘Shut the f—up,’ I think, well, maybe.”
Steyer is well known to Democrats and the left since he “has spent more than $170 million on Democratic politics over the past three years.” He has donated money for high risk elections and catered to the left’s environmental issues.
But is it really for the good of the country or for selfish reasons? He may challenge California Sen. Dianne Feinstein for her seat. He may also run for governor of California.
There are a small amount of Democrats in D.C. who have taken Steyer’s lead. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) found influence in the ads and “introduced five articles of impeachment” in the House. Only six of the 194 Democrat representatives signed on.
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