A recent poll reveals that 50% of those polled think that Democrats in Congress are pushing the impeachment agenda are shifting focus from actual issues and directing resources away from more important matters. Similarly, as many as 50% of voters feel that the impeachment proceedings are less about the President’s behavior or legal concerns, and more about political positioning.
It’s nearly impossible to look online, read a newspaper or watch television without seeing someone call for impeachment or discuss the proceedings. The secret hearings have been the subject of much speculation, and the way that interrogators are trickling out statements without full context or journalistic oversight is leading many to feel that the proceedings are purely motivated by politics.
Further research found that about 29-33 percent of Americans “strongly” supported impeachment proceedings, while 42 to 46 percent “strongly opposed” them. The poll was conducted by The Washington Post, and reflects growing discontent in the way the proceedings are being conducted. For many, the amount of political maneuvering, ongoing secrecy and timing of the campaign to impeach President Donald Trump is suspicious.
President Trump continues to draw big crowds as he tours the nation while the secret proceedings continue. Big crowds of supporters showed up in Minnesota and South Carolina, despite the claims and proceedings continuing in the nation’s capital.
Bill Clinton’s impeachment hearings were more public, but met with the same amount of resistance. These hearings eventually backfired against Republicans during the 1998 elections. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi took a reluctant stance on calling for impeachment earlier this year, political experts suggest concerns about political backlash were major considerations.
While many continue to call for a rapid, secret impeachment process, more people are beginning to question the motivations of those conducting the hearings and those calling so stridently for impeachment. The timing of the hearings is concerning, since we are getting ready to head into a hotly contested 2020 election cycle. Impeachment proceedings could remove the president entirely, or impact his ability to campaign effectively for re-election.
Once allegations about Ukraine came to light, though, Democrats pushed ahead, hoping to oust the president and disrupt any momentum he may have had leading up to 2020.
As proceedings draw on and continue to be held in secret, the likelihood of political motivation for impeachment continues to be a concern for conservative voters and could impact the 2020 election.
