Democrats skeptical of success in Trump-Kim talks

Richard Wolf | USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — President Trump's sudden foray into North Korean diplomacy has put his political opponents in a difficult spot: Do they root for success or failure?

After the announcement that Trump would meet directly with North Korea's Kim Jong Un this spring, reactions from Democrats were cautiously optimistic but tempered with skepticism. "Risk" was the word repeated most often.

"Sitting at the table is the easy part," Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island said. "Solving this problem is hard."

The consensus among the loyal opposition was that Kim emerged the victor in this initial skirmish simply by earning equal standing with the leader of the free world.

"The worst-case outcome for U.S. is also the most likely — a great, legitimizing photo op for Kim, and no material commitment on disarmament," tweeted Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut.

For those who like diplomacy but have a sinking feeling about an unplanned, ad hoc Trump/Kim summit, here's why: the worst case outcome for U.S. is also the most likely - a great, legitimizing photo op for Kim, and no material commitment on disarmament. — Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) March 9, 2018

Democrats also used the opportunity to bring up what Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois called the president's past "reckless bluster" on North Korea. Trump previously threatened "fire and fury" for "little Rocket Man" and boasted of having a larger nuclear button.

"Accepting an invitation carries tremendous risk," Duckworth said.

And the specter of presidential talks also prompted Democrats to urge staffing upgrades at the White House and State Department.

"Alarmingly, the United States enters into this arrangement with a serious dearth of regional experts and experienced negotiators: a hollowed out State Department, no U.S. envoy for North Korea negotiations, and no ambassador to South Korea," Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said.

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Democrats' decision to voice concerns but not outright criticism reflects Americans' worries about North Korea. In a Gallup Poll taken last month, 82% said the North's development of nuclear weapons posed a critical threat to the United States.

The fear is well-founded, said former New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, a former Clinton administration Cabinet official who has negotiated with North Korea during hostage situations in the past. He said Democrats should support the president regardless of the political consequences.

“I believe that Democrats considering 2020 should realize that this is the top national security threat to the country," Richardson said. "We should get behind the president on this one, with some qualms. I believe it's the right thing to do."

Democratic leaders mostly steered clear of North Korea developments. The Democratic National Committee and the party's Senate and House political committees were silent. The party's weekly radio address, to be delivered by Rep. Bill Pascrell of New Jersey, criticized Republicans' recently passed tax legislation as "cannibalizing America to feed their corporate cronies."

Another New Jersey Democrat, Sen. Robert Menendez, did offer congratulations to the president — of South Korea.

“I welcome any opportunity to forge a diplomatic pathway and prevent a possible military misadventure with North Korea and commend President Moon (Jae-in) for his efforts," Menendez said. "But I have deep concerns about President Trump’s ability to engage in the clear-eyed diplomacy necessary to achieve a verifiably denuclearized North Korea."

Some Democrats withheld their fire — among them Rep. Adam Schiff of California, ranking Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and a frequent target of Trump's. He said Americans should hope that "a true breakthrough is possible."

"It will require the president to rely on the expertise within the State Department, the intelligence community and throughout the government, and not simply on his own estimation of his skills as a ‘deal maker,’" Schiff said.

Others were less gracious. Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas balanced the chance of a breakthrough with "a breakdown that takes us even closer to war."

"The prospect of the ever-vacillating, uninformed, impulsive and easily flattered Donald Trump negotiating anything important," Doggett said, "is a little scary."