Chuck Schumer's leadership in the Senate is under fire after a group of Democrats broke ranks and agreed to a deal that would reopen the federal government without providing significant concessions on healthcare. The fallout has been swift, with many establishment Democrats expressing outrage and disappointment at Schumer's handling of the crisis.
According to Julie Roginsky, a longtime Democratic strategist, Schumer's leadership was "empowering" in the days leading up to the agreement, as he delivered a strong message about the importance of protecting healthcare. However, once the deal was announced, Roginsky's tone shifted dramatically, with her labeling the agreement "thoroughly disgusting" and accusing Schumer of subjecting his base to hunger and layoffs.
The criticism is not limited to Democrats within the party's establishment. Rick Wilson, a former GOP strategist, has accused Schumer of "snatching defeat out of the slavering jaws of victory at the last possible second." Even Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton, who is running against incumbent Sen. Ed Markey in the Democratic primary, has called for new leadership in the Senate, citing Schumer's failure to unite his caucus.
The agreement itself has been widely panned by Democrats, with many arguing that it fails to deliver significant concessions on healthcare. Pete Buttigieg, a former Secretary of Transportation and moderate Democrat, has blasted the deal as "a bad deal" that will harm millions of Obamacare recipients who are seeing their premiums skyrocket.
Schumer's own fingerprints appear to be all over the deal, which has led some to wonder whether he no longer has effective control over his caucus or if he has allowed others to dictate the party's position. His willingness to negotiate with Republican leaders behind closed doors and then publicly disavow the agreement has raised questions about his leadership.
The mood among House Democrats is grim, with many staring down a harsh reality: Without any Republican defectors, passage of the agreement is all but assured. However, few seem optimistic about the long-term implications of this deal, with Roginsky noting that "we were wrong" to think that Schumer's leadership would learn the lesson and deliver for his base.
The future of Schumer's leadership in the Senate remains uncertain, with many calling for him to step down or facing a challenge from within the party. As one Democrat noted, Schumer's problem may not be the agreement itself but rather the fact that he has "let those people down" β his own base and the voters who supported him.
According to Julie Roginsky, a longtime Democratic strategist, Schumer's leadership was "empowering" in the days leading up to the agreement, as he delivered a strong message about the importance of protecting healthcare. However, once the deal was announced, Roginsky's tone shifted dramatically, with her labeling the agreement "thoroughly disgusting" and accusing Schumer of subjecting his base to hunger and layoffs.
The criticism is not limited to Democrats within the party's establishment. Rick Wilson, a former GOP strategist, has accused Schumer of "snatching defeat out of the slavering jaws of victory at the last possible second." Even Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton, who is running against incumbent Sen. Ed Markey in the Democratic primary, has called for new leadership in the Senate, citing Schumer's failure to unite his caucus.
The agreement itself has been widely panned by Democrats, with many arguing that it fails to deliver significant concessions on healthcare. Pete Buttigieg, a former Secretary of Transportation and moderate Democrat, has blasted the deal as "a bad deal" that will harm millions of Obamacare recipients who are seeing their premiums skyrocket.
Schumer's own fingerprints appear to be all over the deal, which has led some to wonder whether he no longer has effective control over his caucus or if he has allowed others to dictate the party's position. His willingness to negotiate with Republican leaders behind closed doors and then publicly disavow the agreement has raised questions about his leadership.
The mood among House Democrats is grim, with many staring down a harsh reality: Without any Republican defectors, passage of the agreement is all but assured. However, few seem optimistic about the long-term implications of this deal, with Roginsky noting that "we were wrong" to think that Schumer's leadership would learn the lesson and deliver for his base.
The future of Schumer's leadership in the Senate remains uncertain, with many calling for him to step down or facing a challenge from within the party. As one Democrat noted, Schumer's problem may not be the agreement itself but rather the fact that he has "let those people down" β his own base and the voters who supported him.