President Donald Trump's bizarre decision to push forward with completely dismantling the Affordable Care Act, as the race for the 2020 election heats up, has Republican lawmakers and GOP consultants panicking that he will cripple them at the polls.
According to a report from the Washington Post, "a growing number of Republicans fear that it risks being tagged as the party of the 1 percent instead — handing Democrats a potent political message."
The report notes that recent declarations from the White House -- including "includes massive rollbacks of programs including Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security Disability Insurance, as well as cuts to the Special Olympics, Meals on Wheels, and programs related to autism and other developmental disabilities" -- are making lawmakers nervous when it comes to facing voters who are already skeptical of Trump.
Additionally Republican analysts worry that the GOP is becoming even more associated with representing the rich and powerful when the Democrats are moving to a more populist message.
According to one longtime GOP consultant, Mike Murphy, disaster is just around the corner if Republicans continue to back Trump uncritically.
“We’re diving into a wood chipper,” Murphy told the Post. “I guess that’s the plan — being on the wrong side of issues, on top of the head winds we’re facing, with the House Freedom Caucus and Trump’s ego providing our political compass.”
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