Congressman Alcee Hastings, an outspoken South Florida Democrat, zeroed in one of his favorite topics on Sunday: President Donald Trump.

Hastings has frequently lambasted the president, and he had an appreciate audience at a Stronger Together rally in Sunrise sponsored by 16 of Browards Democratic clubs.

There is no question that something is tragically wrong with the president of the United States in his mind, said Hastings, who emceed the event that attracted four of the five Democratic candidates for governor and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., who is seeking re-election.

Hastings saved that comment for the end, when he was firing up several hundred Democrats and sending them out the door of the Sunrise Civic Center Theater for the Aug. 28 primary and November general election. Nelson and the gubernatorial candidates who aimed milder, but pointed jabs at the president had left.

Hastings, who represents parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, is known for saying whats on his mind. First elected in 1992, hes the regions most senior member of Congress.

On Sunday, he aimed some pointed humor at the president, both at the beginning of the two-hour rally and at the end.

He began the afternoon by explaining the difference between a crisis and a catastrophe.

A crisis, he said, is if the Trump falls into the Potomac River in the nations capital.

A catastrophe, Hastings said, would be if anybody saves his ass.

At the end of the afternoon, he said hes had to modify one of his regular lines. He used to say that if Robert Mueller, the special counsel investigating the president, doesnt bring down Trump, Stormy Daniels will. Shes the pornographic film actress who says she was paid hush money to keep quiet about past sexual involvement with Trump.

Now, he said, if Mueller doesnt cause Trumps downfall, Omarosa will.

Thats a reference to Omarosa Manigault Newman, the former reality TV show contestant Trump brought into the White House as an aide. Promoting her new book about her time in the White House, Manigault Newman has released covert recordings she made of her firing and of Trumps daughter-in-law offering her $15,000 a month to keep quiet about Trump.

Hastings views about Trump arent new. The month before the 2016 election, he told a group of Broward Democrats that the Republican nominee was "sentient pile of excrement."

In January 2017, he boycotted Trumps inauguration.

Hastings also made a pitch for Democrats to turn out for the 2018 midterm elections to avoid what he said were continued assaults on voting rights, equal rights and womens rights.

Weve seen a degradation in our society, a turning back of the clock in a way that none of us ever imagined would occur, Hastings said.

aman@sunsentinel.com, 954-356-4550 or Twitter @browardpolitics

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Congressman Alcee Hastings says something is tragically ...