Dems say base is ‘rightfully’ angry over their leaders caving to GOP during shutdown fight: ‘Porch puppies’
In a dramatic turn of events following the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, a faction of Democrats is voicing their discontent with party leadership for conceding to Republican demands. The shutdown, which lasted over 40 days and is estimated to have cost the government between $7 billion and $14 billion, ended when eight Senate Democrats voted to support a budget deal that would keep the government funded until the end of January. This decision has sparked outrage among progressive members of the party, who feel that the compromises made undermine critical issues, particularly healthcare affordability. Representative Shomari Figures from Alabama expressed his frustration, stating, “We took on this fight… to see us give in now at the end of this is something that’s incredibly frustrating.”
The dissent within the Democratic Party is palpable, with progressive lawmakers like Rep. Shri Thanedar emphasizing the need for a stronger stance against Republican opposition. They argue that the party’s leadership failed to maintain the momentum necessary to advocate for essential reforms, particularly regarding healthcare, which remains a pressing concern for many constituents. The House Progressive Caucus, represented by figures like Rep. Ilhan Omar, has condemned the budget deal, arguing it does little to address rising healthcare premiums or protect coverage for vulnerable populations. Even moderate Democrats, while acknowledging the challenges, are grappling with the implications of this internal strife, as exemplified by Rep. Sarah Elfreth’s comments on the broader economic concerns affecting their constituents.
As the party navigates this ideological rift, the fallout is evident. Some Democratic leaders are now facing backlash from both their base and fellow lawmakers, with fundraising efforts by figures like Rep. Rho Khana capitalizing on the discontent. The situation has led to a broader conversation about the future direction of the Democratic Party, with some commentators suggesting that the ongoing struggle could lead to significant changes in party dynamics. As White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noted, “Now the knives are out for him,” signaling a potential reckoning for those in leadership positions. The ideological battle within the Democratic Party appears far from over, and it raises critical questions about how effectively they can unify their ranks to address the pressing issues facing the American public.
A handful of Democrats defended the far-left portion of their base upset over
Democrat Senators
caving to Republicans to end the government shutdown.Â
“I think they are rightfully disappointed. At the end of the day, we took on this fight for more than 40 days to make healthcare more affordable, being one of the primary goals that we had in this fight and to see us give in now at the end of the is something that’s incredibly frustrating, incredibly disappointing for myself included,” Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Ala., told Fox News Digital on the steps of the Capitol after the longest government shutdown that estimates expect to cost the government between $7 billion and $14 billion. Â Â
“We needed to stay fighting,”
Rep. Shri Thanedar
said. “The stronger our resolve to fight, the more successful we would have been. But it looked like there was always some people in the U.S. Senate that were never on board to continue this fight.”
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Earlier this week, eight Senate Democrats agreed to give Republicans the votes they needed to pass their budget and reopen the government until the end of January. They provided the support in exchange for a few compromises, notably a promised mid-December vote on whether to extend the Obamacare subsidies that expire at the end of the year.
“We had a moment right now where we needed fighters. We need people to be here and stand up and lay it on the line,” Figures added. “As we say in Alabama, we need big dogs right now. We don’t need porch puppies. If you’re not here for this fight, if you’re not willing to be engaged in this and willing to lay it on the line for people that are counting on us, then you need to reconsider it.”
After the budget finally passed following the longest government shutdown in history that left about 1.4 million federal employees going unpaid, according to the largest
labor union
representing federal workers, Democrat Rho Khana began fundraising off the anger within the Democratic Party, according to
Politico.
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“A lot of people are rightfully concerned about skyrocketing health care costs,” Rep. Sarah Elfreth, D-Md., told Fox News Digital, but she noted she “can’t speak for the base” when asked about their anger at Democrat leaders for giving in.Â
“I can’t speak for the base, I can say that, you know, a lot of people are rightfully concerned about skyrocketing health care costs, in addition to skyrocketing
housing costs,
grocery costs,” she said. “Anybody getting ready for Thanksgiving right now is seeing that. And we haven’t been able to resolve that. We haven’t gotten the Republicans to even come to the table.”
The House Progressive caucus, in a letter by Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., condemned the deal Democrats made, arguing it does nothing to stop people’s healthcare premiums from going up, or losing their coverage altogether. Even the Democratic Party’s primary House campaigning arm instructed lawmakers to hold Republicans “accountable” for the shutdown.
Meanwhile, the Democrat disarray has not gone unnoticed.Â
“Now the knives are out for him,”
White House
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News’ Jesse Waters.Â
“The Democratic Party is entirely shattered in this ideological battle that they’re having,” noted Josh Holmes, co-host of the “”RUTHLESS” podcast. “I think it continues for quite some time.”
