So Much for Ryan, McConnell Trying to Shift Blame to Minority Dems
Washington, DC – While Republicans schemed to blame Democrats for a government shutdown, a report from Josh Dawsey, Sean Sullivan and Ed O’Keefe at the Washington Post revealed the man behind the curtain: “Trump tells confidants that a government shutdown might be good for him.”
As the Post reports:
President Trump has told confidants that a government shutdown could be good for him politically and is focusing on his hard-line immigration stance as a way to win back supporters unhappy with his outreach to Democrats this fall, according to people who have spoken with him recently.
Over the past 10 days, the president has also told advisers that it is important that he is seen as tough on immigration and getting money for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, according to two people who have spoken with him. He has asked friends about how a shutdown would affect him politically and has told several people he would put the blame on Democrats.
Trump’s mixed messages on a partial government shutdown could hamper the ability of congressional Republicans to negotiate with Democrats, whose support they need to pass spending legislation in coming weeks. Many Republicans said this week that a shutdown is a possibility they hope to avoid. Even inside the White House, aides fret about the possibility, saying it would not poll well.
According to Frank Sharry, Executive Director of America’s Voice Education Fund, “In negotiations over an end-of-the-year spending package, leverage matters. Fortunately for us, Trump keeps taking it from the GOP and giving it to the Democrats. For the vast majority of Americans who want Congress to pass the Dream Act, that’s good news.”
Follow Frank Sharry and America’s Voice Education Fund on Twitter: @FrankSharry and @AmericasVoice
America’s Voice Education Fund – Harnessing the power of American voices and American values to win common sense immigration reform
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