2020 Democrat John Delaney Worries His Party Is ‘Cheering on a Recession’

Matt Margolis | 10:04 AM on August 23, 2019

*Rep. John Delaney, D-Md (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call) (CQ Roll Call via AP Images)*

It’s hard not to notice John Delaney’s relative sanity compared to his rivals for the 2020 Democratic nomination. As refreshing as his comparatively moderate positions are in a party that has gone so far to the left, he hasn’t got a prayer for the nomination, or really any place in a party that is embracing socialism.

Still, he’s a Democrat, and he’s refreshingly honest about his party’s motivations. Earlier this week he expressed his belief that Democrats are “cheering on a recession” because they want to defeat Trump.

Responding to a question from @ajjaffe on recession, John Delaney says "it feels like some Democrats are cheering on a recession because they want to stick it to Trump" pic.twitter.com/wIlEnW2w0W

— Musadiq Bidar (@Bidar411) August 21, 2019

“It feels like some Democrats are cheering on a recession because they want to stick it to Trump. I don’t want a recession because I don’t want these workers in here to face a recession, but I worry that Trump’s policies are bringing one on.” Delaney was asked for specifics, but which he refused to do. “I’m not gonna name names, but you just get a sense,” he said.

He’s right, of course. It’s obvious that Democrats want and need a recession if they want to ensure Trump’s defeat in 2020. Delaney clearly believes that his party is motivated more by its quest for power than by the best interests of the country, and he thinks the Democratic Party should do more to show they aren’t hoping for an economic downturn. “I just think it’s very important that we be clear as a party that we don’t want a recession, right?”

It’s not gonna happen. I applaud Delaney for saying so, but it isn’t going to happen. But the bigger issue here is not about whether Democrats want a recession, it’s that, if a recession is on the horizon, will they do anything to help prevent one from happening. The obvious answer is: no, they won’t. They have no political incentive to help boost the economy before the 2020 election. With Democrats controlling the House of Representatives, legislative options for boosting the economy are minimal.

I’m sure there’s very little that John Delaney and I agree about, but we do agree that his party wants a recession.