GOP fears midterm backlash from Trump's tariffs

[DonViejo]

The clash suggests that what might be good politics for Trump might not work for the entire party.

By RACHAEL BADE and BURGESS EVERETT 03/04/2018 04:48 PM EST Updated 03/04/2018 07:11 PM EST

President Donald Trump’s threatened trade war has opened a rift within the Republican Party that some lawmakers and strategists believe could undermine their effort to keep their majorities in Congress.

Republicans plan to brag about the economy in midterm campaigns in hopes of countering Trump’s unpopularity, touting a strong stock market, low unemployment rate and — most importantly — their increasingly popular tax legislation. But Trump’s suggestion Saturday that he might slap penalties on European cars, in addition to the tariffs on aluminum and steel he already promised, could upend that strategy completely, Republicans say.

“Should the administration opt to move forward with tariffs on steel and aluminum, American manufacturers, businesses and consumers would be forced to bear the brunt, paying more for steel and steel products,” said Senate Finance Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), one of the primary authors of the tax overhaul that’s central to the GOP’s reelection effort. “Such action could very well undercut the benefits of the pro-growth tax reform we fought to get on the books.”

“It’s a real simple frame for the [midterm] election: Republicans want to run on issues,” said Douglas Holtz-Eakin, president of the American Action Forum and a former Congressional Budget Office director. “This threatens that because it … goes against our economic message.”

more
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/04/trump-tariffs-republicans-backlash-midterms-435476

[vercetti2021]

1. Like a wave wasn't bad enough

It's seems they want to get nuked at the midterms