White House Throws Down Gauntlet on Democrat ‘Radical Agenda’

With the end of summer marking the unofficial start of campaign season, the White House came out swinging, taking aim at “extreme liberalism” and listing 10 reasons why “this isn’t your grandparents’ Democrat party.”

In a blistering broadside, the Trump administration accused congressional Democrats of repeatedly putting a “dangerous radical agenda” ahead of the interests of Americans, citing a series of recent and past votes to make its case.

Topping the list was a House Republican resolution condemning “socialism in all its forms.” The measure passed by 28 votes with 192 Democrats voting no. The resolution also called for passage of a GOP-backed bill requiring voter ID and prohibiting non-citizens from voting, language some Democrats cited in opposing it.

The administration also upbraided Democrats for opposing Trump-backed tax cuts, healthcare price transparency, restrictions on transgender treatments for minors and legislation aimed at barring transgender athletes from girls’ sports.

The list highlighted Democratic opposition to the Laken Riley Act, which requires federal detention of undocumented immigrants accused of theft and other crimes. It also cited Iran-related legislation, efforts to curb congressional stock trading and government shutdown battles.

The White House portrayed the votes as evidence that Democrats have lurched dramatically to the left, drawing a sharp dividing line as the midterms loom.

“The contrast couldn’t be clearer,” the White House said, arguing that Trump and congressional Republicans are advancing an “America First” agenda focused on taxes, immigration, public safety and national security, while Democrats stand for the opposite.