Democrats On Donald Trump's Address To Congress: It Was 'Surreal'

WASHINGTON Democrats left President Donald Trumps first address to Congress feeling less like theyd watched a presidential speech and more like theyd wandered into an alternate universe.

Yes, they are still disappointed 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was not standing before the assembled lawmakers. But theyve moved beyond the November loss and now find themselves wrestling with a reality that, to put it bluntly, they find bizarre, and even threatening.

It was a surreal experience, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) told The Huffington Post moments after Trumps address. We have a reality show host in the White House masquerading as the president of the United States of America and half the country is still in complete shock.

For freshman Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), a constitutional law professor who won election in November, it was unlike anything hes ever heard.

To me, it actually felt a little bit like The Hunger Games at points. There was something kind of dystopian, science fiction about the experience, he said. I looked up and I saw [former House Speaker] Newt Gingrich and suddenly I felt that I was transported to a different world.

Raskin added that Trumps remarks were toned down compared to the blood and gore and American carnage in the presidents inaugural address.

But the basic Steve Bannon program was still there, he said, referring to Trumps controversial chief strategist.

Pressed on if there was anything they liked in Trumps speech, several Democrats said his call for paid family leave but nothing else. And the lack of specifics didnt surprise or sadden them.

Depressing? It wasnt. It was almost surreal, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) said. This is someone who came from the reality show environment. Thats his platform.

Rep. Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.), the House Democratic Caucus Chair, also felt the entire day was surreal.

This president gives me a raison dtre to wake up every morning and say, What has he said today and how can I go after him? Crowley said. Ive got news for him this is not reality TV, this is the real deal.

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House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) went into the chamber Tuesday night with little hope that Trump would strike a unifying tone.

One of the things weve learned in the last 15 months dont be surprised by what Donald Trump does, Hoyer told HuffPost. He almost always does what you dont expect, and does what you dont think he ought to be doing.

If anything, Democrats appeared energized. The address Trump gave Tuesday wont quell the unrest that has sprouted up in their states across the country.

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) emailed a one-word statement after the speech: Resist.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) admitted there were rough days after election, but he appeared eager for the fights that are ahead of Democrats under Trumps presidency.

When Hillary first lost, I was shocked. And I taught my daughters they were shocked too, one of them was working for Hillary and I taught them the old Shirelles song , Mama said thered be days like this, thered be days like this my mama said, Schumer said.

But then he said he had an epiphany-like moment during the first week of Trumps presidency that had Clinton won the election, theyd have fun and get more good things done. But with Trump as president and with me as minority leader, my job was much more important because we were the backstop, just about the only one to Donald Trump, he added. And that steeled me.

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Pointing to the debate raging over Trumps plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act as one example, Schumer said, Democrats are succeeding. Were on offense and my prediction is that odds are greater than half that we keep ACA, he said.

We need to be strong in the Senate, and they need to be strong in the streets, Schumer said, and if together, were working together, we can stop this guy and turn America back to where it should be going.

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