Senator Jeanne Shaheen just threw the minority leader under the bus.

Senator Jeanne Shaheen revealed that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer knew the entire time about the plan for a few Democrats to capitulate to Republicans on the government shutdown.

Shaheen, one of the seven Democrats (and one independent) who dropped their demand for a guaranteed extension of Obamacare subsidies, spoke to Fox News’s Brian Kilmeade on Monday morning.

Aside from serving as further proof that the Democrats are failing to act as an opposition party in any meaningful way, Shaheen’s comments also reveal one of two possible scenarios. Either Schumer was scheming to end the shutdown behind the scenes, only pretending to be against it while pinning the blame on the eight people who aren’t up for reelection anytime soon, or he has no control over his party. Either way, it proves the need for Democrats to jettison the minority leader.

  • vigiv83673@sh.itjust.works
    4·
    5 months ago

    This is rotten leadership. If Schumer really knew about the backroom deal and let rank-and-file take the heat while he mouthed opposition, he sold out the party and the voters who expect Democrats to actually stand for something. If he didn’t know, then he is useless and out of touch with his own caucus. Neither option is acceptable.

    Shaheen tossing him under the bus just confirms what a lot of us suspected, that there are cozy little pacts happening while the base and the people hurt by a shutdown get nothing. Democrats need a leader who will fight in public, not stage-manage concessions in the shadows. Time to stop pretending this is minor infighting and give Schumer the boot if he won’t show real backbone.