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Guy Cecil 5:05 a.m. ET Feb. 15, 2017

Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders in November.(Photo: Jack Gruber, USA TODAY)

In the months since President Trump's victory, Democrats have been debating whether we must focus onourparty's demographically diverse base or redirect our attention tothe white, working-class voters whodefected in historic numbers to Donald Trump.

This is a false choice. To be successful in 2017, 2018 and beyond, Democrats need to persuade and motivate all of these voters. And there is early evidence that the twogroups share enough concerns about their economic futures and the risks of the Trump presidency that Democrats can forge a unifying message and reassemble a winning electoral coalition..

Over the last month, Priorities USA commissioned an extended survey of two key categories of voters whose behavior was decisive in the 2016 election. The first was "swing" voters specifically, Trump supporters who had previously voted for Barack Obama at least once. The second group consisted of traditional Democratic voters,largelyAfrican Americans and Millennials,who simply failed to show up this time.

As might be expected, the latter group of voters was most surprised by Trumps victory and most vocal in its fear about what Trumps presidency will bring. But the swing voter group had serious concerns, too. Fully half of these voters said that they voted for Trump with reservations. Of these soft Trump supporters, only 35% have confidence he will be a good president.

The basis for concern among these two sets of voters was strikingly similar. Both groups said they are worried that Trumps temperament will get us into a war. Both are very concerned that he might make cuts to important government programs, including Medicare and Medicaid.

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Most importantly, both groups are concerned that a Trump-Republican agenda may end up favoring the wealthy, rather than people like them.

These voters swing voters and turnout targets alike are deeply concerned about their economic situation. They cite, for instance, how their income is falling behind the cost of living. As they continue to struggle, they have serious questions about whether the establishment, including the Democratic Party, will do anything to improve their lives.

But these voters are still not convinced Trump will make good on his promises to prioritize the working and middle class. They fear Trump and the Republicans will put the interests of wealthy Americans and corporate executives first. Soft Obama-Trump voters even raised concerns about the proposed tax on imports that would raise the costs of products that Americans buy.

All of this leaves an opening for Democrats to re-establish themselves as the party of the working and middle class. To capitalize on this, Democrats should work to position themselves against the agenda Republicans in Congress are set to advance. This means fighting to protect Medicare and Social Security from privatization efforts, and fighting for tax reform that prioritizes the middle class, rather than the wealthiest.

Democrats should also lean into infrastructure investmentand paid leave for new parents. Both groups of voters we analyzed named these as among the policies they most want to see enacted. Both were Trump campaign promises, so spotlighting Republican inaction on these issues presents another opportunity to show how Trump is betraying these voters.

Nor shouldDemocrats shy away from talking about the Republican bind on the Affordable Care Act. Repealing the law with no replacement at the ready is a real concern. Ensuring all Americans have access to affordable insurance is a top priority of these voters, and nearly half (46%) of Obama-Trump voters with mixed feelings say repealing Obamacare without a replacement in place is a major concern about Trump.

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Of course, identifying a message that resonates with these voters is only part of our challenge. We must also have the discipline and commit the resources to wage sustained persuasion and turnout efforts that reach voters where they live. That is harder than ever in a digital age, whenmore and more of these swing voters rely on social media for their news and can curate their feeds in ways that create an echo-chamber effect. We must find ways to break through these information filters.

Ultimately, our politics should be about addition and inclusion. We can'ttreat voters as a series of demographic boxes to check three months before the next election.

In 2017 and 2018, Democrats face an electoral map ofchallenges in red-state Senate contestslikeNorth Dakota, Missouri and Indiana, as well as enormous opportunities in gubernatorial and state legislative races. We must be fully committedto comprehensive campaigns that reach out to working and middle class families, whether they are traditional swing voters or part of the Democratic base. Our success depends on both groups. And more important, the heart and soul of our party requires both.

Guy Cecil is chairman ofPriorities USA.

You can readdiverse opinions from ourBoard of Contributorsand other writers ontheOpinion front page,on Twitter@USATOpinionand in our dailyOpinion newsletter.To submit a letter, comment or column, check oursubmission guidelines.

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Democrats have a viable path forward: Guy Cecil

A growing number of Democrats are openly questioning President Trumps mental health.

Rep. Earl BlumenauerEarl BlumenauerDemocrats raise questions about Trumps mental health Dem launches panel to review presidential removal procedures 40 House Dems to urge Trump to suspend Flynn MORE (D-Ore.) in a floor speech this week called for a review of the Constitution's procedures for removing a president. He warned the 25th Amendment of the Constitution falls short when it comes to mental or emotional fitness for office.

Sen. Al FrankenAl FrankenAT&T, Time Warner defend deal The Hill's 12:30 Report FCC chair responds to Franken's net neutrality concerns MORE (D-Minn.) during a weekend interview with CNNs State of the Union said that a few Republican colleagues have expressed concern to him about Trump's mental health.

And Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) plans to introduce legislation that would require the presence of a psychiatrist or psychologist in the White House.

Blumenauer told The Hill he started taking another look at the 25th Amendment because Trump had casually repeated easily disproven claims, such as stating that it wasnt raining during his speech on Inauguration Day when it was.

Its not normal behavior. I dont know anybody in a position of responsibility that doesnt know if theyre being rained on. And nobody I work with serially offers up verifiably false statements on an ongoing basis, he said in an interview steps from the House chamber.

But suggesting the president has a mental health problem invites criticism that Democrats are going too far.

Its divisive. The bottom line is, if Trump doesnt succeed, we all fail. Its time to give the guy a chance, said Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-Tenn.).

Reps. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) and Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) both burst out laughing when told some Democratic colleagues were questioning Trumps mental health.

Are you serious? Hunter asked. Yeah, I dont care what they say.

I think thats a stretch, Simpson said.

The White House didnt return a request for comment.

Trump and his supporters promoted conspiracy theories during the presidential campaign about Hillary ClintonHillary Rodham ClintonConway criticized by president of alma mater Buttigieg endorsed by ex-treasurer in DNC race Jerry Springer: Trumps media attacks go too far MOREs health, proving that both parties will take shots when it comes to an opponents physical and mental health.

But mental health professionals say the politicization comes at a cost. Political actors suggesting an opponent has psychological problems risks stigmatizing people with actual mental illnesses, they say.

I think the politicization is troubling, said Joshua Miller, a psychologist at the University of Georgia whose research focuses on pathological personality traits and personality disorders. We certainly wouldnt want individuals to use mental illness as a weapon to harm others.

The American Psychiatric Association has long held its unethical for psychiatrists to give professional opinions about public figures they havent personally examined.

Yet in a sign of the polarized times, thousands of mental health professionals have signed a Change.org petition declaring Trump is mentally ill and must be removed.

Thirty-five psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers also signed a letter to The New York Times saying that the grave emotional instability indicated by Mr. Trumps speech and actions makes him incapable of serving safely as president.

Lieu argued it's justifiable to scrutinize the mental health of anyone in control of the nation's nuclear codes.

I think it is a legitimate issue to raise. I am not a mental health professional, so I dont know in terms of any sort of medical expertise on this. But I do see and hear the same things that other people see and hear, and a lot of people have concluded that whats going on is not normal. So what do I do with that as a member of Congress? he told The Hill.

Anyone who can launch 4,000 nuclear weapons in minutes absolutely should be questioned on any matter related to their physical and mental health.

Blumenauer is starting a working group, which he says at least a half-dozen colleagues have expressed interest in joining, to review the presidential removal procedures.

He also plans to introduce legislation that would empower former presidents and vice presidents to determine, in coordination with the sitting vice president, if the president is unfit for office.

The 25th Amendment currently says a majority of Cabinet members must make that decision with the vice president, which Blumenauer says isnt enough if a mentally unsound president simply fires them all.

Asked if its appropriate for members of Congress to question the presidents mental health, Blumenauer replied: All Ive said is that this is strange behavior. Its not normal in the circles I run in. And it raises questions. People can make their own diagnosis. Im not.

Simpson, the Republican congressman who initially laughed off the Democrats remarks, said its fair to question Trumps judgment.

Now, to question his judgment, thats a different story, Simpson said. The behavior is somewhat disturbing."

He also said Trumps false statements could end up hurting him at some point.

The concern I have how do I say this and still be respectful? Every presidency, no matter who it is, theres going to come a point in the presidency where youre going to have to go to the American people and get their support for something, he said.

If this continues much longer, hes going to lose the ability to rally those people.

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Democrats raise questions about Trumps mental health | TheHill

San Diego Rep. Scott Peters has held town halls for years. The reality?It was common for the Democratsstaff to outnumber the constituents who showed up.

Since Donald Trump won the White House and took office a month ago, Peters says thousands of people have asked to meet with him, many of them asking, What can I do?

The 700 seats available at a how to get involved workshop hes hosting this weekwith fellow San Diego Democrat Rep. Susan Davis were claimed in two days and they say people are pushing them to hold another.

They just want direction. People are hungry for places to go and ways to be helpful, Davis said. Theres this element where people think someday their grandchild will say to them, where were you when all this was happening in the country?

For the Democrats in California's congressional delegation, thisweeklongPresidents Day recess reflects both anew opportunity and a dilemma: Can the surge of anger and activism in Democratic California be harnessed to win moreelections?

In a state where 6 in 10 voters picked Hillary Clinton, many of them are looking for a way to resist the new Republican administration and Democratic leaders are looking for a way to turn the blue state even deeper blue. Nationally,theyretargeting 61 Republican districts, includingseven California districtswhere voters electeda Republican to the House but picked Hillary Clinton for president.

Some of the districts targeted by Democrats have seen the biggest outpouring of activists. Protesters have appeared repeatedly outside the offices of Reps. Mimi Walters, Dana Rohrabacher, Darrell Issa, Duncan Hunter and others, asking for in-person town halls.

If they can harness the protest energy, there could be some parallels between the lefts resistance movement and the tea party wave that swept Republicans into power after Barack Obama took office. Democrats need to pick up24 seats nationwide to take back the House in 2018.

Peters said getting there will require being disciplined enough to turn the current protests and meetings into longer-term momentum.

We have to point it in the right direction, not at each other, Peters said. "Elections have consequences and theres elections all over the country in two years.

California Democrats have planned more than 25 town halls or meetingsin the next few weeks, according to a list curated by the progressive Town Hall Project 2018. Despite activists repeated protests and petitions,only one Republican Rep. Tom McClintock has scheduled any in the near future. (McClintock, who was escorted out of Roseville town hall by police earlier this month, is planningtwo more town halls this week.)

Across the country, progressive activist groups are forming under a variety of names, including Resistance, Indivisible and Huddles, to try to direct the progressive energy embodied in town hall efforts, and a few members of the California delegation are jumping in to help.

Ethics rules bar members of Congress and their staffs from using federal funds to encourage constituents to grass-roots lobby, so some eventsareorganized and paid for by their reelection campaigns.

Noisy town hall protests show how the left is trying out tea party tactics

Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Hillsborough) said 950 people RSVPed for her town hall in San Francisco last Saturday, an event that would normally draw200 people at most.

They feel that democracy is about to implode in front of their eyes and they desperately want something done, Speier said. The argument that we dont have a majority doesnt cut it for them. They werent satisfied [hearing] I dont have any control over that.

Shes planning to have her campaign rent space and direct herdissatisfied constituents toward activist groups they can work with.

In a town hall meeting I cant direct them to do anything politically, Speier said.

Rep. Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) plannedtwo organizing meetings this weekend with activists in her district. She expectedat least 100 people to show up. Then shell hold a town hall funded by her congressional office on Wednesday.

There is the awareness that 2018 is where people need to be focusing, Bass said. Protesting without a goal of changing something, I think, makes you feel good,but we need to channel it into taking back the House.

sarah.wire@latimes.com

Follow@sarahdwire on Twitter

Read more about the 55 members of California's delegation at latimes.com/politics

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Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., speaks to fellow Democrats at the West Side Community Center in Asbury Park to discuss the Democratic Party's agenda.(Photo: Doug Hood, staff photographer)Buy Photo

ASBURY PARK - What was billed as a congressional town hall seemed at times like a group therapy session for heartbroken Democrats and progressives still trying to grasp how enough Americans could have possibly voted for Donald Trump to elect him president.

Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. D-N.J., came before a friendly gathering at the West Side Community Center on Dewitt Avenue this Saturday to boost morale and offer hope for the future to an audience who had mostly been invited to be there by the congressmans political operation.

Pallone said he believed in abolishing the Electoral College,among other things, but called on those present to think local and focus on the future. He counseled a standing-room only crowdto focus their energies on New Jerseys gubernatorial and legislative races this year, particularly in the states 11th legislative district which overlaps a portion of his 6th congressional district.

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Pallone explained that Republican politics today was being driven by theology, revision and ideology.

Thats not us, were practical. I mean, for the most part, Pallone quipped to laughter. We for the most part dont think ideologically. When I talk about the Affordable Care Act, I dont talk about it in ideological terms, I talk about it technically.

When I talk about immigration, I dont talk about it as Muslim vs. Christian, or Jewish or whatever. I say, weve got 11 million people here who are undocumented. We cant throw them out, thats not a practical solution. A practical solution is to have a pathway to citizenship, Pallone said as the crowd erupted in applause.

Pallone said their political opposition had successfully found a way for the tail to wag the dog, meaning the ideological right had diverted the attention of enough voters away from the substantive issues at stake today. Going forward, he said Democrats and progressives needed to rebuildand strengthenthe Democratic Party, starting in one's own neighborhoods.

Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., gives a pep talk and takes questions from Democrats and other progressives at the West Side Community Center in Asbury Park about disappointment in the election of President Donald Trump and how to resist moving forward. His advice: think state and local elections first.(Photo: Doug Hood, staff photographer)

Hillary Clinton lost Monmouth County by 30,000 votes, Pallone said. But she won in the 11th (legislative) district by 7,500 votes. The Republican freeholder candidates won Monmouth County by a third, but they lost in the 11th district by 3,000. So this is a Democratic district.

The 11th District is comprised of Allenhurst,Asbury Park, Colts Neck, Deal, Eatontown, Freehold, Freehold Township, Interlaken, Loch Arbour, Long Branch, Neptune City, Neptune, Ocean Township, Red Bank, Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury Township, Tinton Falls and West Long Branch.

Incumbent state Sen. Jennifer Beck, R-Red Bank, who represents the 11th District,is expected be challenged for her seat in the Legislature by former Monmouth County Democratic Chairman Vin Gopal, who also addressed the rally on Saturday.

Gopal will run for Beck's state Senate seat on the Democratic ticket with incumbent Assembly members Joann Downey and Eric Houghtaling, who unseated the Republican incumbents in 2015.

Pallone said it was essential that New Jersey elect a Democratic governor to succeed Chris Christie in November, beforea man in the room shouted: "Lock him up!" in reference to Christie on the issue of politically motivated lane closures atthe George Washington Bridge by members of the governor'ssenior staff in 2013.

During the Republican National Convention in Cleveland last July, it was Christie who presided overchants of "lock her up!" from delegates in reference to an FBI investigation offormer Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's email use.

Erik Larsen: 732-682-9359 or elarsen@gannettnj.com

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Rep. Pallone fires up disillusioned Democrats - Asbury Park Press

Montana Democrats have announced that theyre bringing in a New Jersey politician for their keynote speaker at an annual fundraising event in Helena.

Executive board member Jorge Quintana tweeted Wednesday that New Jerseys U.S. Sen. Cory Booker would be coming to the Democrats Mansfield-Metcalf dinner on March 18.

The announcement comes as the Democrats continue criticizing Republican candidate Greg Gianforte as an outsider from, wait for it ... New Jersey.

Gianforte grew up in Pennsylvania and studied computer science at the Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey. He co-founded a software company in that state in 1986, later selling it to Internet security firm McAfee for $10 million. He moved to Bozeman in 1995.

About 46 percent of Montana residents were born in another state. Gianforte has lived in Montana for more than 20 years, which, to be fair, is several years longer than he resided in New Jersey.

By inviting Booker to Montana, the Democrats have taken their New Jersey attack off the table, said Brock Lowrance, Gianfortes new congressional campaign manager.

Montana Democrats spent an entire election leveling false and dishonest attacks against Greg Gianforte and where he is from, Lowrance told the Chronicle on Thursday. Being the hypocrites they are, theyve invited a liberal senator from New Jersey to give them advice following their horrible election year. Thats not irony, its satire.

A spokeswoman for the Montana Democrats did not respond to a request for comment.

Originally posted here:
Montana Democrats hosting New Jersey politician at fundraiser, Gianforte's spokesman calls them hypocrites - The Bozeman Daily Chronicle