The Battle for the Soul of the Democratic Party: Moderates Aim to Walk Back Party Socialists
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- [Crowd] Trump, traitor, treason!
- [Jenna] Treason.
- The penalty that weare all paying right now
for the president's treasonis we are losing our allies.
- [Jenna] Impeachment.
- We believe that PresidentTrump has violated
the constitution and we've introduced
five articles of impeachment.
- [Jenna] And getting rid of ICE,
the US Immigrations andCustoms Enforcement.
- You think you shouldget rid of the agency?
- I believe that it hasbecome a deportation force.
- All ideas pushed by left leaning members
of the Democratic party.
But are they too extreme?
More moderate Democrats sayyes and want to reign them in.
- Impeaching a president is not a message
that will resonate beyondthe base of the party.
We need to have a message that resonates
beyond the base, to themiddle, the Independents
and others who will make a difference
in this election cycle.
- [Jenna] And recent pollingseems to back up this approach.
According to hill.tv andHarris-X American Barometer,
64% of Democrat voters say they would not
vote for a socialist candidate.
Moderate Democrat Matt Bennett agrees,
he and his team A Third Way just hosted
Opportunity 2020, bringingtogether middle of the road
Democrats to voice their concerns.
They disagree with Senator Bernie Sanders
view on the economy.
- Guaranteeing a federal jobto everyone in the work force
is not a good idea.
That might have been a good idea in 1932
when we had 28% unemployment,the height of the
Great Depression, but it'snot a particularly good idea
now when we have 3.8% unemployment.
- [Jenna] And when itcomes to abolishing ICE.
- Reuniting families wethink should be the focus
for the Democratic attack on
the Trump administration and immigration.
- [Jenna] The one thingnearly all Democrats agree on
is their dislike of President Trump.
- Without a doubt, there has never been
a unifier like Trump.
- [Jenna] Bennett's messageheading into November
is to win and wait.
- We can have these debatesabout exactly which direction
the party ought to move after November
when we start to kind ofround the bend towards 2020
and we choose a nominee.
And ultimately, we're gonnahave a leader for our party,
that nominee, who'sgonna make those choices.
But for now, our messageis focus on winning
and set aside the things thatare tremendously divisive.
- That's important becausepolls show GOP voters
agree on one thing, theirsupport for President Trump.
And if that translates intoa big Republican turnout
this fall, it could spelltrouble for the Democrats.
In Washington, Jenna Browder, CBN News.