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U.S. Democrats seek ways to counter Trump's economic message


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U.S. Democrats seek ways to counter Trump's economic message

By Ginger Gibson

 

2019-02-24T235246Z_1_LYNXNPEF1N0YM_RTROPTP_4_USA-TRUMP.JPG

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump reacts as he hosts a reception in honor of National African American History Month at the White House in Washington, U.S., February 21, 2019. REUTERS/Jim Young

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic state governors say their party needs to challenge President Donald Trump's record on the economy as he seeks re-election next year, by focussing on middle-class Americans who have not seen the benefits of economic growth.

 

Trump believes he has a winning hand with the economy and frequently touts a low unemployment rate, strong growth and stock market gains since his 2016 election victory.

 

Democrats, who won ground in gubernatorial elections in 2018, are looking for ways to convert the messages that worked in those state contests into victory in the presidential election in 2020.

 

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, who defeated incumbent Republican Scott Walker in one of the biggest upsets last year, said the unemployment rate in his state did not reflect the struggles faced by voters.

 

"Yes, we have a 3 percent unemployment rate, but we also have 800,000 families that are struggling just to put food on the table. ... We have a long way to go," Evers said in Washington, where he attended a weekend meeting of Democratic and Republican governors from across the country.

 

Trump won Wisconsin by a close margin in the 2016 presidential election, and it is a major target for Democrats in 2020.

 

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, elected last year in a state that only narrowly voted Democratic in the 2016 presidential election, said voters in his state are concerned about corporate gains not flowing down to workers.

 

"There is no doubt that Minnesotans and Americans are working harder and (are) more productive, but most of that gain has not been seen in the middle class," Walz said.

 

Walz has endorsed U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, a fellow Minnesotan, for the Democratic presidential nomination.

 

New Mexico's governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, also elected last year, said Democrats needed to counter Trump's message by talking about how low wages, expensive health insurance and rising costs are squeezing middle-class voters.

 

She said she was concerned about Democrats' ability to articulate an effective message on the economy and show voters how their own policies encourage investment and well-paid jobs.

 

"I do worry. ... If Democrats around the country, including me, are not talking about those precise strategies ... I think we won't get attention for the economic efforts that we're making," she said.

 

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, who has endorsed U.S. Senator Cory Booker, also of his state, for president, said Democrats should not abandon their message about social issues to talk about the economy.

 

"We don't make economic progress without social progress, and likewise, you don't make social progress without economic progress," Murphy said.

 

(Reporting by Ginger Gibson; Editing by Peter Cooney)

 

 

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-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-02-25
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I'll give it to Trump on the issue of the economy, but that said, most Presidents rise and fall on the economy, but in reality they have little to do with it.   There are exceptions, of course, but by and large their impact is not as strong as many think.

 

Where Trump is harming the economy is in the US brand.   Prior to Trump, American goods were seen as being high quality and sought after, now that is less so.   Some of the largest markets, such as China, are turning away from US goods and it is hurting.   Companies that could be expanding at a faster rate are slowing.

 

 

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55 minutes ago, Longcut said:

In all fairness, JC Penny has been closing for years.

 

Yes of course, few of these probably had little to do with Trump's policies but if Trump supporters insist on waving broadly at the horizon and shouting "look at what our glorious leader did!", then they have to take the good with the bad.  

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Trump is about to cave on another of his main campaign promises, China. It also appears he is backtracking on Huawei and wants to allow them to operate in the US. Additionally, he has already said he will intervene with the Justice Dept. to obstruct justice and stop the Huawei CEO's extradition from Canada. Russia doesn't own Trump. China does. And if the Democrats were smart, they could cooperate with Republicans to legislate against any trade deal he makes and introduce legislation to block ZTE and Huawei from entering the US market. If Dems do this, the working class vote in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Michigan will swing back to them and Trump will be history in 2020.

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How's that mess of the Tax Cut/Reform (TCJA 2017) that Republicans were touting working out for the average US tax payer? Oh, it's not.

 

Average tax refund down 17 percent, IRS reports

 

That's okay. Major businesses investors and billionaires are happy. That is all that matters. It was never about the average US taxpayer anyway.

 

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Other wonderful economic promises flushed away...

 

Foxconn Wisconsin: Jobs falling way short of goal. Billions of tax credits flitted away.

GM Plants: Job cuts and potential plant closings in Ohio, Michigan and others

Coal jobs: Plant closings in Kentucky and Tennessee

Carrier plant: Still shipped over 600 jobs to Mexico

Trump Shutdown (aka Wall Tantrum): Caused at least $US 11 Billion of cost to the US economy. 

 

 

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3 minutes ago, Berkshire said:

Trump is the most corrupt President in history. Trump lies more than any human being I've ever seen. A trained monkey would be better for America than Trump. Understand?

Trump saved Hillary from the honor of most corrupt President...

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