Tom Steyer might be a billionaire, but has a powerful message: Let’s impeach President Donald Trump and give America back to the people.
Since he launched his petition to impeach the president two months ago, top Democrats have repeatedly brushed aside the effort. But Steyer’s persistence is paying off – NeedToImpeach.com has gained nearly 4 million digital signatures and continues to bring national attention to the growing possibility of impeachment.
The website’s email list is estimated only second in scope to the one held by Bernie Sanders, Politico reports.
Now, speculation has turned to a possible presidential run for Steyer in 2020. According to a recent interview with C-Span, Steyer is not necessarily considering a presidential run but is focused on what he can do best to stand up to the threat that a Trump administration poses to the American public. Steyer said:
“I’m absolutely ambitious…to try and be part of the group of people who gets America back on a just a prosperous course.”
Steyer’s nearly $20 million effort has included national television ads, Facebook videos, and a platform called “thunderclap” that allows millions of activists to collaborate en masse on a specific action. When “thunderclap” launched, nearly 37,000 followers of Steyer’s website signed on and immediately posted on Facebook or Twitter, reaching an estimated 18 million people. Now that’s power.
And if we’ve learned anything from the 2016 election, it’s that social media plays a key role in swaying public opinion on political candidates. If Russian bots can sway a presidential election to the far-right, a committed backing by people like Steyer to do the opposite may just be what America needs to launch a progressive wave come 2018 and 2020. With the midterms quickly approaching, a platform like Steyer’s is a goldmine in terms of grassroots resources.
“That’s what that list is really for: These people’s voice, together, can be an incredibly strong force for change.”
Some Democratic analysts would rather see Steyer use his money to curb another growing problem: The growth of local pro-Trump media stations being run by groups like Sinclair Broadcasting.
Gary South, a former senior advisor to Gov. Gray Davis and an adviser to presidential candidates Al Gore and Joe Lieberman, is skeptical of Steyer’s platform, noting that his large base “won’t mean all of a sudden 4 million people will send him money.”
In November, Rep. Jim Himes essentially called Steyer’s campaign a distraction, saying:
“The impeachment message right now is not helpful to the possibility of retaking the House.”
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) outright called the impeachment movement a “distraction” in an appearance on MSNBC last month and reportedly called Steyer to express her displeasure.
Politics aside, the impeachment of Donald Trump is arguably integral to the health of the country and quite possibly the world.
Steyer even has Trump’s attention. Trump called him “Wacky and totally unhinged” on Twitter.
Wacky & totally unhinged Tom Steyer, who has been fighting me and my Make America Great Again agenda from beginning, never wins elections!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 27, 2017
It’s safe to say Tom Steyer is making political waves this year.
Featured Image by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images.
