In 2008, Democrats Argued Against Impeaching A Republican Near An Election Year
Should the Democrats pull the trigger to impeach the president? In 2008, several leading Democrats told their colleagues to get over their impeachment obsession and allow voters to pick new leadership.

By Adam Mill, December 3, 2019

https://thefederalist.com/2019/12/03/in-2008-democrats-argued-against-impeaching-a-republican-near-an-election-year/

Should the Democrats impeach the president? It’s hard to see a considered strategy in the approach. The president stands accused of using the official functions of his office to create an advantage against his possible 2020 rival, former Vice President Joe Biden. To punish him, Democrats have launched an impeachment crusade that has no chance of succeeding in the Republian-controlled Senate. In fact, there appears to be no possible explanation for this course of action except to gain a 2020 electoral advantage against Trump.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler will step into the spotlight in a few days to hold hearings featuring lectures from liberal academics “Dem-splaining” the constitutional meaning of “high crimes” to the American people. Lost among the shrieks and demagoguery is a quiet voice of reason cautioning Democrats:

Quote

---

As a practical matter, at this point in the game, with only [a few months left in his term] I think it’s probably not the best idea to start a full impeachment hearing at this point which would simply take all the attention away from and distort the presidential campaign.

---

Who uttered this sage advice? None other than Nadler himself, who can be seen here telling Democrats to get over their impeachment obsession and instead allow voters to pick new leadership in the then-pending 2008 election.

The “most important thing is to elect Barack Obama,” Nadler went on to say. In 2008, the siren call of “impeachment” tempted Democrats away from the normal electoral process. But Democrats resisted that temptation and went on to win the 2008 presidential election.


-- excerpt, rest at link above --