Senator Whitehouse plans to Build Trump `firewall'

By John Howell
Posted 1/31/17

By JOHN HOWELL Senator Sheldon Whitehouse planned on visiting the Warwick Public Library Saturday morning to field constituent questions ranging from issues over obtaining a visa to dealing with Medicare coverage. He and other members of the

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Senator Whitehouse plans to Build Trump `firewall'

Posted

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse planned on visiting the Warwick Public Library Saturday morning to field constituent questions ranging from issues over obtaining a visa to dealing with Medicare coverage. He and other members of the congressional delegation do this periodically, and the sessions follow a format where the elected official makes a few introductory comments and staff members meet one-on-one with constituents to get contact information and learn the specifics of their complaint.

But there was no easy fix to the issues constituents dished out at a session that lasted more than 90 minutes and carried on into the library corridor. Planned for one of the library’s smaller meeting rooms, the crowd swelled to more than 120, relocating to the facility’s largest room that rapidly filled to capacity.

“It’s kind of a wild time in Washington,” Whitehouse opened. He vowed to keep his comments “short” so that he could hear the concerns of those gathered.

He didn’t need to coax the crowd. Hands flew up. Just about everyone had something to say, some even standing inches from the senator’s face to deliver their demands.

The tone was set from the start by a man who called President Trump a “madman and narcissist” who has violated the Hatch Act and must be impeached.

“We need you to fight for us,” he said to an outburst of applause and cheers.

The “Stop Trump” theme carried the meeting, with one speaker identifying themselves as a physician. They suggested narcissism is a disorder that could be used in removing Trump from office and asked how the medical community could organize to throw light on Trump’s condition.

“Narcissism if considered incurable,” said David Tulli of Warwick. “This man is seriously mentally ill.”

Tulli challenged Whitehouse to make the president’s mental capacity to serve an issue. “It can’t be taboo to talk about it.”

Others questioned the confirmation of Scott Pruitt to the Environmental Protection Agency, Mike Pompeo to the CIA, Jeff Sessions as attorney general and Betsy DeVos to education.

Others feared what will happen to their rights as members of the LGBT community, what will happen to refugees, what could happen globally and what Trump might do to those of differing religious beliefs.

“I’m Jewish enough,” said one man, “to get on the trains…I think we’re in an incredibly perilous time.”

Alluding to the mysterious Nazi bell weapon, Whitehouse agreed, saying, “We are hearing some very clear ringing of some ominous bells.”

If Trump supporters were in the audience, they didn’t speak. But Whitehouse acknowledged popular disenchantment with Washington and why the country voted as it did. He urged people not to pick personal battles over what they think of the president or how they voted but rather to stay focused on the issues. It’s how he sees congress and the Democrats responding to what Trump is doing.

“It’s really important to build a firewall around the president,” he said.

With 48 Democratic senators, Whitehouse said the Senate is a “line of defense.” He feels on some issues – cabinet member nominations, for example – that some Republicans will join their ranks.

“We will fight hard through the nomination process,” he vowed.

Whitehouse thought repeal of the Affordable Care Act won’t go far at this point and that Trump has boxed himself in.

“They,” he said of the administration, “can’t get 51 votes [in the Senate] and they won’t repeal without a replacement.” He said the Senate is going to demand to see what will replace the ACA before acting.

“Right now I don’t see how he [Trump] can win that fight [to dismantle the ACA],” he said. He suggested nothing would happen until Trump “throws in the towel and has a replacement plan.” He sees strong bi-partisan support for veterans’ issues.

Whitehouse suggested Democrats pick their fights and then “flood the zone” with their message. He also advised people to organize. Quoting former Senator Barbara A. Mikulski, he said, “Don’t agonize, organize.” Looking ahead to the 2018 elections, he said “at all costs, prevent the Republicans from getting the Senate.”

“With any luck we’ll have a wave election in ’18 that will set this straight,” said Whitehouse.

Comments

10 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here

  • JohnStark

    What, no voice for left-handed Guamanians? One-legged Trisexual Eskimos? "...members of the LGBT community..."? Which "rights" do they fear, exactly, will be taken away? The right to free speech? Freedom of assembly? Restrictions on quartering of soldiers? Take a breath, people. Currently, two-thirds of the country (i.e. Normal Americans) support this presidents' temporary ban on 'refugees' from dangerous countries, Sheldie and his brigade of bed wetting misfits not withstanding.

    Tuesday, January 31, 2017 Report this

  • Justanidiot

    Once we get rid of all the "rest", Amerika will be as "normal" as apple pie.

    Just leave out the MacIntoshes.

    Tuesday, January 31, 2017 Report this

  • davebarry109

    Talk about mental disorders....look at the faces in the crowd, particularly the FANG guy. He's against fossil fuels. What an idiot. Did he walk to the library on Sandy lane? If not, he used 'fossil' fuels. Did he enjoy the heat in the building? If so, he used fossil fuels. Does he agree the red/green lights at intersections should be there? If so...you get the point.

    As for the doctor who called Trump a narcissist, was he around for the last 8 years? If Obama is not a narcissistic person, no one is.

    Keep crying children. This is what liberal america looks like. They lost an election and they will not hold back on tantrums and vile insults to let us know they are not happy. Keep protesting. No one cares about protests. Just don't get in front of my car.

    Wednesday, February 1, 2017 Report this

  • RISchadenfreude

    I hope all this whining and hand-wringing from the knee-jerk reactionary Left wraps up soon- they can't possibly keep up this Derangement Syndrome for the next 8-16 years without ulcers and permanent mental illness.

    Wednesday, February 1, 2017 Report this

  • Kammy

    If I remember correctly, there was a lot of push back from the Republicans during the Obama administration. The Tea Party was a direct result of their dissatisfaction. People organized and rallied against the "liberal agenda" , whined and complained about what they were upset about. Isn't that what we do when we don't agree with present policies? There are huge fundamental differences between conservatives and liberals so well, duh, of course people are going to speak their minds. Half my family and circle of friends hated Obama during his 8 years and never, NEVER, held back their outrage. But now the shoe is on the other foot and "snow flakes" abound and boo hoo and "you people should just shut up and accept it" is all you hear. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and to voice it. Instead of coming down on the group that were at the Library, why not applaud the fact that we have the right to do so in our country? I may not agree with everything you have to say but I am willing to listen to it and allow you the opportunity to do so. Isn't that something we call all agree on?

    Wednesday, February 1, 2017 Report this

  • JohnStark

    Kammy,

    While I appreciate your sentiment, there are some rather glaring differences. When Obama was elected, conservatives did not riot. They did not destroy millions of dollars worth of property. They did not torch vehicles. Conservatives did not demand "safe spaces" or invent "microaggressions". Much of this, of course, is a reflection on how liberals are treated as children, while conservatives are expected to be adults. When conservatives hear speech with which they disagree, they call for more speech. When liberals hear speech with which they disagree, they seek to shut down that speech (see any number of college campuses). Liberals lost the debate of ideas years ago and must now resort to diagnoses ("bigot", "hater", "racist"). Increasing numbers of voters have been there, done that. Liberalism is much like mold; it can only exist in the dark.

    Wednesday, February 1, 2017 Report this

  • Kammy

    Well John Stark, I am a liberal and I cannot agree with your assessment. I do not riot. I do not live in the dark. I did not (nor anyone one that I know) demand a safe space, I didn't torch, loot or destroy. I do discuss and concede points where necessary. I am mindful of other's opinion and base my decisions on facts. I understand your desire to lump all into one group because it is easier than meeting each person where they stand. I respect your opinion but I do not agree with it. What makes me the most frustrated is a response such as yours because it is generic in its content. Just as not every Muslim is not a terrorist and not every Jewish person is not cheap, not every liberal is as you described. You see, painting a picture using broad strokes doesn't allow you to see the intricate details of each individual. I think that is a shame.

    Thursday, February 2, 2017 Report this

  • Kammy

    *Not every Muslim is a terrorist, not every Jewish person is cheap".

    Thursday, February 2, 2017 Report this

  • bendover

    Call Dr. Kevorkian...As for Sen. Shirley Whitehouse...Still waiting 6 years after the fact for you to fix the screaming volume during TV commercials...Above your pay grade I guess...While you are at it Shirley, why don't you share with the citizens your 4 most important pieces of legislation which YOU crafted, authored, or were the prime sponsor of, made it out of committee, passed the full Senate and House, signed into law by the President, and benefited ALL Americans', not just a select few? That means you had to come up with something every 4 years...The same question could be applied to the other 3 malingerers in Washington.....

    Thursday, February 2, 2017 Report this

  • RISchadenfreude

    Welldone Sh*thouse's "firewall" will also work to continue to keep RI's economy and climate for business development at or near the bottom of the list of 50 States, where it's been for years.

    It appears he's taking his orders from George Soros on community organizing, just like the previous White House occupant. Just another Leftist, stirring the pot and accomplishing nothing constructive; the last paragraph says it all.

    Thursday, February 2, 2017 Report this