After House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told Donald Trump his State of the Union address would have to wait until after the government shutdown, the president made little effort to hide his contempt for Democrats, insisting that they’ve become “a very, very dangerous party for this country.”
But at the same White House gathering, Trump added, “What’s going on in that party is shocking. I know many people that were Democrats and they’re switching over right now, and they’re switching over quickly.”
As a rule, when he says, “I know many people…” it’s generally a safe bet that Trump is sharing a thought he made up. But even putting that aside, the president’s timing could’ve been better.
About a month ago, a trio of elected Republican lawmakers in Kansas switched parties, officially ended their GOP associations. A fourth soon followed.
Yesterday, as the NBC affiliate in San Diego reported, another Republican state legislator gave up on Trump’s party (thanks to reader R.S. for the tip).
San Diego Assemblyman Brian Maienschein made a big move Thursday: the longtime Republican announced he was leaving the GOP to join the Democratic Party.
“Leaving the Republican Party is not easy,” Maienschein said in a press release. “I can either keep fighting to change the Republican Party or I can fight for my constituents. I choose to use my energy and skills for the people I represent.”
The four-term assembly member said he has often been at odds with the Republican Party, voting across party lines. He said his beliefs no longer align with the GOP.
A month earlier, Tani Cantil-Sakauye, the chief justice of the California Supreme Court, also switched from the Republican Party.
Meanwhile, in Hawaii, former Rep. Charles Djou announced last year that he’s no longer a member of the Republican Party. His announcement came almost exactly a year after state Rep. Beth Fukumoto, once considered a rising star in the Hawaii GOP, became a Democrat.
Perhaps Trump should try bragging about something else?
Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past."