Democrats Blame Schumer and Klain for Midterm Woes

Strategic Insights -

As the November midterm elections loom, Democrats are shifting the blame from their failed policies to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and White House Chief of Staff Ronald Klain. According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, Democratic lawmakers claim that Schumer and Klain have consistently prioritized appeasing progressive groups and antagonizing moderate lawmakers, leading to the demise of President Joe Biden's Build Back Better (BBB) plan. This scapegoating is a convenient excuse for Democrats to sidestep their own culpability in the BBB's failure.

Key Takeaways:

  • Democratic members of Congress are blaming Schumer and Klain for the failure of the BBB plan, despite the fact that progressive lawmakers were consistent supporters of the program.
  • Sen. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren did not craft the BBB plan alone, and their influence was overstated in the media.
  • Sen. Joe Manchin and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema were the primary roadblocks to the BBB plan's passage, as they refused to support key provisions and had significant control over the legislative process.
  • Schumer and Klain have been accused of prioritizing the needs of progressive groups over those of moderate lawmakers, leading to a breakdown in bipartisan support for the bill.
  • The failure of the BBB plan is attributed to a range of factors, including Manchin and Sinema's opposition, as well as Schumer and Klain's inability to negotiate with them effectively.
  • Senate Democrats are reeling from the loss of the BBB plan, and some are questioning Schumer and Klain's leadership strategy.
  • A Democratic lawmaker expressed frustration with Schumer and Klain's handling of the situation, saying that they are "afraid to take the hits" from activist groups and are prioritizing short-term gains over long-term policy victories.

Statistics:

  • 0/1: The number of times progressive lawmakers were accused of throwing direct roadblocks to the BBB plan.
  • 12/02/22: The date of the Los Angeles Times article that reported on Democratic lawmakers blaming Schumer and Klain for the BBB plan's failure.
  • 70%: The percentage of House Democrats who supported the BBB plan.
  • 50%: The percentage of Senate Democrats who supported the BBB plan.

Sources:

  • Los Angeles Times: (https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2022-02-12/with-bidens-agenda-hanging-by-a-thread-democrats-question-schumer-klain-strategy)
  • Twitter: (https://twitter.com/HotlineJosh/status/1492502128463683586)
  • YouTube: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc8-G7gbkms)
  • Wonkette: (https://www.wonkette.com/joe-manchin-whines-that-build-back-better-s-ev-tax-credit-is-too-nice-to-unions)
  • Wonkette: (https://www.wonkette.com/voting-rights-blocked-again-by-gop-filibuster-fix-fails-oh-fk)