Democrats Expand ‘Project 2025’ Blueprint as Anti-GOP Prop

In a bold move at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Vice President Kamala Harris and her Democratic colleagues have utilized Project 2025 to challenge former President Donald Trump effectively. This initiative, characterized by its conservative perspectives, has now been thrust into the national spotlight.

Mallory McMorrow, a 37-year-old state senator from Michigan, made a powerful statement by presenting a massive version of the nearly 900-page manual titled “Mandate for Leadership.” As she placed the oversized book on the lectern, she humorously signaled its weight before starting to read from it.

“They went ahead and wrote down all the extreme things that Donald Trump wants to do in the next four years,” McMorrow declared. “We read it.”

In response to ongoing criticisms, Trump has distanced himself from Project 2025, asserting it is unrelated to his campaign. He has also claimed ignorance about the Heritage Foundation, which is facilitating a transition effort involving several of his former aides and allies. Nevertheless, Democrats have consistently sought to align Trump with the more controversial proposals included in Project 2025.

At the convention, Democratic officials plan to discuss Project 2025 each night. McMorrow revealed that the book, affectionately dubbed “the book,” would be passed to different speakers every evening, allowing for an ongoing narrative throughout the event.

“There will be others who pick up the book baton,” she stated, continuing her light-hearted references to the book’s size. “That won’t be the last time you see that Cheesecake Factory menu.”

Project 2025, developed by the Heritage Foundation, serves as a guide for the next Republican administration, gaining traction due to its association with former Trump officials. The document outlines an expansive vision for presidential authority and proposes replacing up to 50,000 government employees with loyalists. Notably, it suggests significant cuts to federal departments, such as dismantling the Department of Homeland Security.

The plan includes initiatives aimed at the U.S. Education Department’s closure, as well as a robust agenda in the Department of Health and Human Services. Critics have erroneously claimed that it proposes drastic cuts to Social Security, despite the fact that the document does not advocate for such changes. However, the Heritage Foundation has a long-standing agenda addressing entitlement reform.

The impetus for creating a large version of Project 2025 arose weeks earlier when Harris’ campaign manager, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, reached out to McMorrow to discuss the project at the convention. McMorrow shared that she had never spoken before a full arena and wanted to craft a moment that resonated both at the event and with her constituents.

In a light-hearted moment, she compared the oversized book’s weight to that of her three-year-old daughter, confirming it contained the full text of Project 2025. McMorrow noted that dropping the book dramatically on the podium played an integral role in the presentation.

On the following night, Pennsylvania State Representative Malcolm Kenyatta was slated to carry the book, with plans for it to be passed to Colorado’s Governor Jared Polis and U.S. Representative Jason Crow afterward.

Key figures behind Project 2025 include former senior officials with close ties to the Republican Party. Among them is Paul Dans, who previously served as the chief of staff at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management under Trump. Russell Vought, Trump’s former White House budget director, played a significant role in the project while being involved with the Republican National Committee’s platform committee.

John McEntee, once the director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office under Trump, also contributed as a senior adviser, discussing the project’s integration with Trump’s campaign plans.

Despite the spotlight on Project 2025, Trump has attempted to deflect its significance, claiming he is unaware of the efforts behind it. Some prominent figures, including Tom Homan, who led U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during Trump’s presidency, have urged caution, asserting that think tanks often release plans that are not always adopted by incoming administrations.

Rep. Byron Donalds, a vocal supporter of Trump, criticized the focus Democrats have placed on Project 2025. “It’s not a problem for the president because the president is already on the record saying that he has nothing to do with it,” he stated, dismissing Democrats’ fixation as “insanity.”

The selection of Ohio Senator JD Vance as a potential running mate for Trump has also drawn scrutiny, with some viewing it as another connection to Project 2025. Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts has publicly stated his support for Vance, which coincided with Vance writing the foreword for Roberts’ upcoming book, now postponed due to the turbulence surrounding Project 2025.

Source: AP