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Maxine Waters Struggles to Explain What Democrats Stand For

May 19, 2017

Rep. Maxine Waters (D., Calif.) struggled Friday on MSNBC to explain what the Democratic Party stands for besides opposing President Trump.

Waters has been one of the most outspoken critics of Trump in Congress, repeatedly calling for his impeachment and insisting that if investigators "connect the dots," then his campaign's alleged collusion with Russia will become apparent.

Given Waters' public profile as a staunch Trump opponent, MSNBC host Katy Tur asked the lawmaker what Democrats actually stand for beyond opposing Trump's agenda.

"Congresswoman, what do the Democrats stand for other than being against Donald Trump?" Tur asked. "What do you stand for other than trying to get Donald Trump impeached?"

"Everyone knows that I am the ranking member of the Financial Services Committee and that I have spent many, many hours and days implementing the Dodd-Frank reforms," Waters responded.

The California Democrat proceeded to frame her work on Dodd-Frank in the context of opposing Republicans, which Tur noted.

"We pushed back on the Republicans, we fight against them," Waters said. "[They] attempt[ed] to go get rid of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau before we came up with the reforms under Dodd-Frank."

Tur pushed back.

"Are Democrats focusing enough on their ideas?" she asked.

Waters insisted that she first needed to explain her role on the Financial Services Committee to accurately capture what Democrats are doing to oppose Trump.

Tur then explained that she was looking for a broader answer.

"I personally wanted to know if you think Democrats are getting out there and giving their message enough?" Tur asked. "If they are telling what they want to do to fix things like the economy, like you said, making sure the government is working for them instead of coming out and reacting to Donald Trump day in and day out?"

"Listen, if you have not been keeping up with the town halls that have been going on," Waters said, referring to the protesters at many Republican town halls, "where we have basically organized America around the [Affordable Care Act] and protected Obamacare and the thousands of people who have come out who now are very much informed about the difference between Obamacare and Trumpcare."

"I think people understand that we are fighting and that we are working on the issues of health care and housing and transportation and all those issues that are very dear to us," Waters added. "I think that's very clear."