What is up with seven Democrats from Problem Caucus meeting with Trump today?

[suffragette]

https://www.greensboro.com/ap/us_world/the-latest-democrats-visit-white-house-to-talk-to-trump/article_0dc262f5-b0dd-515e-bc48-77c989cd3a69.html

Seven Democratic lawmakers, including newly elected freshmen, have arrived at the White House ready to ask President Donald Trump to reopen the government while talks continue over border security.

It's the first group of rank-and-file Democrats to meet with Trump during the shutdown, which stretched into its 26th day Wednesday. The White House has been trying to peel lawmakers away from Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (puh-LOH'-see), but invitations to Democrats earlier this week were declined.

Those arriving Wednesday for the midday meeting in the Situation Room included five freshmen, several of whom did not back Pelosi as speaker. They represent areas where Trump remains popular. They're from a bipartisan group called the Problem Solvers Caucus.

https://www.yahoo.com/gma/damage-inflicted-shutdown-shaves-off-projected-us-economic-134906463--abc-news-topstories.html

Seven Democrats are attending a bipartisan meeting at the White House

Democratic members of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus -- Reps. Josh Gottheimer, Thomas Suozzi, Vincente Gonzalez, Anthony Brindisi, Dean Phillips, Max Rose, and Abigail Spanberger -- met at the White House to sit down with Trump in the Situation Room about the shutdown. Entering the meeting, the members said they planned to tell the president that the conversation about "some of our country's toughest problems" can "only begin in earnest once the government is reopened."

"We accepted the White House’s invitation to meet today to convey that message," a group statement read.

[bluestarone]

1. Why do they to meet in the situation room???

This will NOT be good if true. I'm sure no cameras so RUMP will LIE LIE LIE!!!!!!

[suffragette]

5. Hadn't thought about the situation room aspect. Yeah, just makes it weirder, especially after

other Democrats turned diwn meeting with him yesterday.

[KatyaR]

7. Would they have clearance to even enter?

I wouldn't think a rank-and-file member of Congress wouldn't have that kind of clearance.

[jmowreader]

17. They have safes and draperies for their maps

The staff in there doesn't like to sanitize the room because they can't work while all their materials are locked up, but they can do it.

[GeorgeGist]

22. I doubt Trump gives a shit.

[Achilleaze]

21. It's a Power Stage for Comrade Casino Hustler* (R)

He wants to use the room to IMPRESS the newbies, give them a sniff of HIS MIGHTY POWER, and the opportunity to get in bed with him and the KGOP and to then really feel The POWER. It's an effort at Theatrical Seduction. I bet a bowl of Srirachia Sauce at least one person joins in with the repubes who are so cheaply selling out America and American democracy. Human nature being what it is.

* aka republican Draft-Dodger-in-Chief

[KPN]

2. Naivete -- that's what. nt

[suffragette]

6. The first article points out 5 of the 7 are new. Just doesn't seem like a good idea to me.

[Freethinker65]

3. IF they stay together on message, this is fine

[FiveGoodMen]

4. And what message will that be?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Problem_Solvers_Caucus

According to liberal critics, the Problem Solvers are "a thin veneer of bipartisanship that clouds rather than clarifies the stakes of the 2018 midterm elections," that "vulnerable incumbents can tout without accomplishing much." Some Democrats say that it gives political cover to conservative lawmakers, while they vote to support Trump. Members of the Problem Solvers actually rank low in bipartisanship, according to rankings from liberal-leaning websites. Liberals say that Republicans can use it to say, "Look, I'm working across the aisle," even when it doesn't accomplish anything, according to their Democratic opponents. Some Republican members of the Problem Solvers voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and for Trump's tax reform.[11]

The Problem Solvers opposed Nancy Pelosi's speakership unless she met certain demands. According to the Washington Post "The problem-solvers and their backers at centrist advocacy group No Labels took left-wing heat for facing down Ms. Pelosi. Similarly, Rep. Tom Reed (N.Y.), a Republican problem-solver, faced backlash from his party after he pledged to vote for the Democratic rules package[12]. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted, "9 Dems are choosing to hold the entire 220+ caucus hostage if we don’t accept their GOP-friendly rules that will hamstring healthcare efforts from the get-go."[13] Yet both Democrats and Republicans in the Problem Solvers Caucus had long ago — before they knew which party would be in the majority — pledged to press the next speaker-to-be for reforms that might tamp down partisanship. Neither side should have been surprised, let alone upset." [14]

Mark Pocan, a former caucus member and co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, a left-leaning organization, says he was "duped" by No Labels and the PSC, saying that rather than "breaking gridlock", it is "a fast track for special interests and lobbyists."

[dmr]

9. Thanks for posting this

[FiveGoodMen]

19. Glad to

'No Labels' always bothered me. As if the rejection of other "brands" meant that this group has no agenda!

[Freethinker65]

23. I was referring to the message in the OP...

That they would be willing to talk to Trump about solving the nation's problems but only AFTER he agrees to reopen the government.

If hearing from Democratic House members that were elected from "purple" districts (that won in part by distancing themselves from now Speaker Pelosi) that they will not budge on this issue makes Trump realize his stunt will fail in the long term, I see no real harm in it.

[Caliman73]

8. I don't think that they will cross Pelosi.

I have no evidence to support this but I don't think that they would have made this meeting without Pelosi's okay. They will get nothing from Trump for betraying the Democratic Caucus, and will likely get some significant push back from Pelosi if they do anything stupid. I think they are going in to make up for the "missed lunch" from yesterday, but will not give anything away.

[bluestarone]

10. kind of agree BUT RUMP will LIE LIE LIE

And that is my problem! Who could stop this?

[Caliman73]

11. That is expected.

His followers will eat it up, but they are a minority. What can combat it is the 7 Reps plus Pelosi going before the cameras and saying, "This is what we said... anything other than that is just Trump trying to play out a very bad hand that he dealt himself".

[Joe941]

12. I'm not worried. Pelosi will keep them in line.

[lark]

13. So he's trying to sway the pretend Dems away from their caucus?

Traitorous asswipes is what every one of these cretins are. There's nothing they can do. They couldn't defeat Nancy and they won't be able to give Demonic Don the wall either.

[EffieBlack]

14. 7 Members with absolutely no clout in the caucus

And without enough votes to make a difference if they decide to go rogue.

So, meh

[jcgoldie]

16. THIS

Its 235-199 ... 7 votes does not help him.

[lark]

18. Wonder who many he had to ask to get 7 takers?

Hopefully he got a lot of turn downs. These 7, they have marked themselves forever as complicit with the traitor.

[EffieBlack]

20. Maybe they were hoping to get some leftover hamberders ...

[suffragette]

15. Have to admit I don't know anything about them other than membership in so-called Problem Solvers.

Seems like a bad move on their part, especially with Trump clearly seeking any crack in solidarity.