Cummings Slams Trump’s Baltimore Attacks, ‘Racist Language’
Cummings has been among the congressional Democrats leading investigations of Trump’s administration and associates.
(Bloomberg) -- Democratic Representative Elijah Cummings called for “those in the highest level” of government to stop using “racist language” that divides Americans, referring to Donald Trump’s rhetorical attacks on his hometown without naming the president.
“Unbalanced criticism can be self reinforcing, causing us to doubt our ability to improve,” Cumming said Wednesday at the National Press Club in Washington. “Time is precious, and I will not waste it on anything trying to distract me from my purpose and my mission.”
Cummings, 68, defended his Baltimore neighbors in his speech, described Congress’s work on drug addiction, and voiced support for Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s go-it-slow approach to impeachment. He also pointed to divisive rhetoric as contributing to the rise of domestic terrorism like last weekend’s mass shooting in El Paso, Texas.
Trump trained his ire on Cummings last month after Fox News showed the Maryland Democrat criticizing the administration’s immigration policy, especially the treatment of migrants seeking asylum at the southern border. He began tweeting on July 27 and continued for several days, describing Baltimore, part of which is in Cummings’s district, as a “disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess.”
Cummings said he wanted Trump to visit his district to see both the wealthy and struggling parts of the city.
“Baltimore is a beautiful city. We work hard every day,” Cummings said, “but when you have the poorest of the poor, it’s difficult.”
Oversight
As chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, Cummings has been among the congressional Democrats leading investigations of Trump’s administration and associates. The committee is looking into the administration’s failed effort to add a citizenship question to the 2020 U.S. Census, as well as the use by Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner and others of private texts and emails for official business.
Cummings said he continues to back Pelosi’s position to hold off on potential impeachment proceedings against Trump, while allowing that “the time for impeachment may come.” Referring to the Democrats’ request for courts to enforce congressional subpoenas, Cummings said: “The day that any administration disobeys a court order, then I’m for impeachment because, you see, by that time, we’re in trouble.”
“What it says is that the laws do not matter,” said Cummings.
Cummings said Americans shouldn’t focus only on the 2020 presidential race, but also should pay attention to the battle for control of the Senate next year. Democrats have criticized the Republican-led Senate for not acting on House-passed legislation, such as measures closing loopholes in gun purchase background checks.
“You’ve got to vote like you’ve never voted before,” Cummings said. “If you want more from the highest levels of government, only if you want more, you’ve got to get up and vote.”
To contact the reporters on this story: Billy House in Washington at bhouse5@bloomberg.net;Jennifer Jacobs in Washington at jjacobs68@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Joe Sobczyk at jsobczyk@bloomberg.net, Anna Edgerton, Laurie Asséo
©2019 Bloomberg L.P.