Appears like Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer didn’t get the memo: Democratic voters (shockingly!) need their leaders to struggle again in opposition to President Donald Trump as a substitute of surrendering to his autocratic energy seize and getting nothing in return.
However in a collection of interviews on Tuesday, Schumer pushed again in opposition to critics asking him to step down or get replaced, arguing that he stays the “best leader for the Senate.”
“I should be the leader,” he mentioned on “The View.” “I’m sort of the orchestra leader. And I have a lot of talent in that orchestra.”
In an interview with “CBS Mornings,” he added, “We have a lot of good people, but I am the best at winning Senate seats.”
It’s considerably telling that Schumer made these remarks from the security of two deliberate media appearances as a substitute of opting to satisfy with and listen to from the plenty. Certainly, Schumer introduced Monday that he has canceled a collection of occasions meant to advertise his forthcoming e-book, citing “security concerns.”
At concern is Schumer’s determination to again a GOP-authored invoice to fund the federal authorities. Not solely did he vote in assist of the laws, which all however one Home Democrat had refused to endorse, however he inspired 9 different Senate Democrats to hitch him. In the long run, Trump signed Republicans’ detrimental funding invoice into regulation hours earlier than a authorities shutdown would have taken impact.
To nobody’s shock, Schumer’s option to again a measure that provides Trump ample leeway on budgetary issues outraged Democratic lawmakers and voters alike. Along with some Democrats calling on a extra progressive lawmaker—similar to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York—to major Schumer when he’s up for reelection in 2028, two polls from this Sunday confirmed that the Democratic Social gathering’s favorability is at an all-time low.
That didn’t cease Schumer from reiterating his previous place that shutting down the federal government would’ve been “10 times worse” than passing the partisan funding invoice. He argued on CBS {that a} shutdown would’ve given Trump and his co-President Elon Musk’s so-called Division of Authorities Effectivity leeway to chop again on government companies they deem nonessential, though that’s already taking place.
“We would have had half the federal government we have now,” Schumer mentioned. “So I thought I did the thing a leader should do: Even when people don’t see the danger around the curve, my job was to alert people to it—and I knew I’d get some bullets.”
Politico reported that Schumer’s outreach to progressive teams following his vote is falling brief, so it’s unclear who else in addition to him thinks he’s greatest outfitted to guide Senate Democrats.
Maybe Schumer is feeling good as a result of Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries, one other member of the social gathering’s extra average wing who beforehand refused to say whether or not he had confidence in Schumer, is now singing a distinct tune. At a press convention in New York on Tuesday, Jeffries mentioned he helps Schumer staying on as Senate minority chief. (This assertion from Jeffries isn’t all that surprising, since Democrats are notoriously sluggish at adopting new blood.)
The election outcomes converse for themselves, although. Whereas Democrats did choose up 4 seats in 2020 on the finish of Trump’s first time period in workplace, they misplaced 4 this previous yr—along with dropping the White Home.
Schumer may insist he’s not going wherever, however let’s hope the progressive wing of the social gathering pushes again and retains him on his toes.
