Chuck and Nancy meet ‘Amnesty Don’
President Trump has found a brand-new toy. It’s called bipartisanship.
Two weeks ago, he sat down with Democratic and Republican congressional leaders in the Oval Office hoping to work out a plan to raise the nation’s debt ceiling.
He ignored his fellow Republican’s plan, and he decided to go along with the suggestions made by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.
Suddenly, the earth stood still; the heavens opened and a deal was forged that’ll prevent the country from having to undergo a going-out-of-business sale – at least through December.
For once, Dealmaker Don enjoyed widespread media praise.
Especially since it’s his first major legislative accomplishment.
Bipartisanship isn’t always easy.
In fact, House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell were mere bystanders as Trump and “Chuck and Nancy” (as he now calls them) were hammering out that deal.
Oh, the humanity!
Mr. Trump has now discovered that his presidency can’t thrive if he only courts his fellow Republicans.
But therein lies a much bigger problem.
If he keeps “colluding” with Democrats, he’ll lose the fervent support of many Republicans.
While he invites various Democrats to the White House for sit-down dinners, it’s Republicans who’re getting heartburn.
Last Wednesday, over Chinese food and chocolate pie, “Chuck and Nancy” appeared to have gotten the president to go along with a plan to prevent 800,000 Dreamers from facing forced expulsion from the country.
Later, Schumer and Pelosi sent out a joint statement that indicated that there’d been a dinner-agreement that Trump was onboard with protecting DACA, and, worse, there would be renewed plans for border security — minus a plan for a border wall.
The resultant Republican ripples hit about 200 on the Richter scale.
Keep in mind, that during his presidential campaign, Trump once boasted that, “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose any voters.”
The hint of protecting 800,000 Dreamers, coupled with a proposed delay of that border wall, must’ve sounded a lot worse than gunfire on Fifth Avenue to some key Republicans.
“The base will leave him – they can’t support him anymore,” said Iowa’s staunch Trump loyalist, Rep. Steve King.
Breitbart news, which has (in effect) been Trump’s newspaper of record, called Trump “Amnesty Don.”
Ann Coulter was so incensed by the possibility that Trump joined forces with Schumer and Pelosi on DACA, she even tweeted a message that included the “I” word.
“At this point, who DOESN’T want Trump impeached,” she wrote.
But this is Donald Trump.
He’s so desperate to win at anything, he’ll gladly form amalgamations with Schumer (whom he’d called a “head clown” and “Cryin’ Chuck”), and with Pelosi (whom he claimed was “doing a terrible job”) earlier this year.
Despite denying that a deal on DACA had really been struck, Trump later gave his full-throated support for Dreamers.
“Does anybody really want to throw out good, educated and accomplished young people who have jobs, some serving in the military? Really!” he tweeted the morning after his dinner with “Chuck and Nancy.”
While there’s a slight possibility that some Republicans may jump off the “Trump Train,” there’s no evidence that Democrats will be jumping on it.
Democrats have always seen how freely Trump attacks his fellow Republicans – and even personally – when they don’t fall in line with his agenda.
In fact, his newfound allegiance to “Chuck and Nancy,” is clearly retribution for Republicans who failed to “repeal and replace” Obamacare.
With friends like these, many Republicans might say, who needs enemies.
Democrats are fully aware that while Trump demands loyalty, he seems ill-inclined to be loyal to others, unless they kiss his ring.
I’d say that not many Democrats are in a ring-kissing mood.
If, by the end of the year, Trump wins a fair number of legislative victories, and by doing it he’s forced to depend on Democratic votes, he can expect Republicans won’t be happy.
But then again, Trump isn’t really concerned about other people being happy, is he?
Edward A. Owens is a multi-Emmy Award winner, former reporter and anchor for Entertainment Tonight and 20-year TV news veteran. Email him at freedoms@bellatlantic.net.