By: Lucius O’Dell
Nancy Pelosi just gave us another reason never to elect a Democratic president (as if we needed one).
As President Trump prepares to declare a national emergency to stymie the illegal immigration crisis at the Mexican border, Pelosi is warning Republicans that the next Democratic president would likely do the same thing to pass gun control.
The House Speaker said earlier today:
"A Democratic president can declare emergencies, as well. So the precedent that the president is setting here is something that should be met with great unease and dismay by the Republicans.
"Let’s talk about today: The one-year anniversary of another manifestation of the epidemic of gun violence in America. That’s a national emergency. Why don’t you declare that emergency, Mr. President? I wish you would.
“But a Democratic president can do that."
The Hill noted that Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) echoed Pelosi’s sentiment, tweeting, “Gun violence is a national emergency.”
“Doug Heye, a Republican strategist and former aide to former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), sounded a similar warning on Thursday, moments after the White House announcement,” The Hill reported. “‘Make no mistake: the next Democratic President will declare national emergencies on guns and climate change and cite the Trump precedent when doing so,’ Heye tweeted.”
Gun violence is a national emergency
Climate Change is a national emergency
Income inequality is a national emergency
Access to healthcare is a national emergency
Building a wall on the southern border is not.
— Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (@repcleaver) February 14, 2019
Lucius O’Dell is a political writer and consultant, located in Colorado. Contact him at [email protected].