Donald Trump recently joined the red-state effort to abolish Obamacare (Affordable Care Act). He seems to think such a move would appeal to most American voters. He is wrong. Americans want our health care fixed. They do not want to go back to the old broken system, and they know that neither the Republicans nor Trump have a plan to fix it.
Republicans quickly talked Trump into putting off discussing health care, because they know the issue is a loser for them (and one that clearly hurt them in the last election). They know that Trump's action was just a wonderful gift to Democrats (who really do want to fix health care) for the 2020 election.
But it was not the only gift Trump (and his GOP cohorts) have given Democrats. It feels like Christmas when you look at all the gifts Democrats have received from them. Let's look at a few:
* Social Security / Medicare -- Trump promised to protect both programs when he ran in 2016, but his latest budget proposal would make deep cuts to both programs. These programs work, and they are extremely popular with most Americans. Hurting them in any way is not going to be popular -- especially among seniors (who are the group most likely to support Republicans).
* Global Climate Change -- Trump pulled this nation out of the Paris Accords, and (with his GOP cohorts) continues to deny climate change is real. The American people disagree. A significant majority knows the change is real and is caused by human activity, and they want the environment protected -- not destroyed.
* Taxes -- Trump and Republicans thought their recent tax cuts would be popular. They were wrong. Most Americans saw that the real benefits of that tax cut went to the rich, and they don't like it. They feel the tax system is designed to favor the rich (to the detriment of everyone else).
* Minimum Wage -- Trump has said he thinks wages are too high, and the Republicans have repeatedly refused to raise the minimum wage ($7.25 an hour, which is a poverty wage). But a huge majority of Americans would like the minimum wage raised significantly, and a smaller majority would like to see it at $15.00 an hour. The voters think anyone willing to work hard at a full-time job should make a livable wage.
These issues are all gifts that Trump and the Republicans have bestowed on Democrats. The smart Democrat running for office in 2020 should beat the drum loudly and repeatedly on every one of these issues!
