Chuck Schumer is facing mounting backlash, with critics accusing him of failing to control his own caucus
Democrats and their allies in the media are lashing out after eight senators who caucus with the party joined Republicans to advance a funding bill that could end the government shutdown. Even though Sen. Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) voted against the measure, the Senate minority leader has found himself in the crosshairs.
“Pathetic,” California governor Gavin Newsom (D.) posted Sunday night.
“This is the end of Chuck Schumer as we go forward,” radio host Dean Obeidallah said on MSNBC.
“His days are over,” The View cohost Sunny Hostin said.
“Cue the Dem civil war,” New Yorker staff writer Susan Glasser wrote.
On Sunday night, the Senate advanced a short-term funding measure to reopen the government after Democratic Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.), John Fetterman (Pa.), Jacky Rosen (Nev.), Catherine Cortez Masto (Nev.), Maggie Hassan (N.H.), Dick Durbin (Ill.), and Tim Kaine (Va.), along with Angus King, a Maine independent who caucuses with the Democrats, struck a deal with Republicans and voted with the GOP.
The agreement, which requires House approval, calls for the reinstatement of all government workers who were laid off during the shutdown, would fully fund the government until Jan. 30, and would provide yearlong funds to the military and other essential functions. It does not, however, include concessions on extending the Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire at the end of December, a key demand from Democrats, though Republicans did agree to hold a vote on the matter.
Congressional Progressive Caucus chair Rep. Greg Casar (D., Texas) said that “accepting nothing but a pinkie promise from Republicans isn’t a compromise—it’s capitulation.”
An unnamed House Democrat argued his party got little out of the deal, telling the Wall Street Journal he feels “like they took our first and second born child and got a Bundt cake in return.”
Schumer, in particular, has come under fire, even after he publicly opposed the legislation. Critics argue the New York Democrat either secretly orchestrated the deal, or has simply lost control of his caucus, Politico reported.
“Senator Schumer is no longer effective and should be replaced,” Rep. Ro Khanna (D., Calif.), a potential 2028 presidential candidate, wrote.
Radio host Joe Walsh, a former congressman, agreed. “You talk about him not meeting the moment,” Walsh said Sunday on MSNBC. “Every time he gets in front of a camera, the average Democratic voter screams, ‘Be done with you! Be done!’”
A second unnamed House Democrat told Axios that even though Schumer voted against the deal, “that doesn’t mean [a] primary [challenge is] not coming.” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) has been floated as a potential challenger.
Obeidallah said Schumer “should have negotiated a better deal.”
“He should have been in the public more,” Obeidallah added. “He’s not a bad guy. He’s just not the right person.”
After Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) criticized the eight senators for joining Republicans and supporting “a very, very bad vote,” King struck back. He said the shutdown caused “collateral damage to the American people.”
“What was your strategy, man?” King said. “What was your end game?”
The House is expected to pass the legislation later this week, putting the government on track to reopen before the weekend.
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