Don’t obstruct, let them fail on their own: #tellusatoday

In a commentary for Paste BN, Jesse Ferguson, former deputy national press secretary for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, explained why congressional Democrats shouldn’t follow in Republicans’ obstructionist footsteps. Facebook comments are edited for clarity and grammar:

Congressional Democrats should just step aside, not support or obstruct, and let Republicans have everything they ask for. I believe that’s the best strategy to get people to understand what they are going to get (good or bad) from a Republican-run country.

By failing to obstruct (just abstain or even just vote against) the Republican agenda, Democrats can avoid being labeled as obstructionists and all the credit or blame for what follows will be on the heads of those truly responsible.

A great sign of what I expect to see has already materialized in the attempt to gut the Office of Congressional Ethics by the Republican majority. Just wait, there will be much much more to come.

— Steven John

I’m also throwing my hands in the air and thinking Republicans should get what they want, except I think congressional Democrats should still obstruct. Obstruction will hopefully instigate a rule change in the Senate doing away with filibusters (which I dislike tremendously) and nothing will be able to stop the Republican agenda.

Then they can proceed, unobstructed, to fulfill the promises made to their conservative base: Repealing the Affordable Care Act, eliminating the Environmental Protection Agency and cutting taxes on the wealthy. Then, when people lose their health care, our air and water become polluted and income inequality skyrockets, there will be no scapegoat. There will be no way to blame it on the Democrats.

— Peter Skibinski

Being the “loyal opposition” in contrast to Republicans’ characterization of Democrats as the chief enemy is a better strategy than that of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s of being the party of “no.”

With time and circumstance, Republicans will inevitably overplay their winning hand.

— Dan Porath

We asked our followers whether they’d prefer Democrats in Congress to reach across the aisle for compromises or obstruct every Republican move. Tweets are edited for clarity and grammar:

I would hope they compromise. We need more Americans — not Democrats and Republicans.

— @joseppi446

It would serve the Republicans right, if the Democrats did obstruct, but that wouldn’t be productive.

— @Becks543

Obstruct. Because, as Billy Joel famously sang, “you should never argue with a crazy mind.”

— @broxiniowa

Work together to get things done, in order to improve people’s lives.

— @SWestler

Obstruct. The only way Republicans will learn anything is by having it thrown back in their faces for the next four years.

— @JTsWorld30

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