WASHINGTON — Democrats have chosen a government shutdown over the American people. Instead of joining Republicans in passing a clean, responsible continuing resolution to keep the government open, Democrats are siding with their far-left base — demanding $1.5 trillion in new partisan spending and nearly $200 billion in taxpayer benefits for illegal aliens. The result is a costly, self-inflicted shutdown that most Americans oppose, and that even some Democrats admit will hurt working families across the country.
According to the New York Times/Siena Poll, 65% of Americans say Democrats should NOT have shut down the government over partisan demands. Even among Democrats, less than half support their own party’s strategy. Independents oppose it nearly 2-to-1.
As Senate Democrats continue voting to prolong the shutdown, even some of their own colleagues admit it is wrong and will inflict real pain on the American people:
Sen. John Fetterman: “I think it’s the right thing to extend those health care and things, but it is absolutely the wrong reason the wrong thing for a lot of reasons that we’re going to shut our government down.”
Fetterman: “It’s a sad day for our nation. Our government shuts down at midnight. I voted AYE to extend ACA tax credits because I support them—but I won’t vote for the chaos of shuttering our government. My vote was for our country over my party. Together, we must find a better way forward.”
Sen. Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-N.M.): “That’s why I cannot support a costly shutdown that would hurt Nevada families,”
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.): “No sane person wants to see a government shutdown, people are going to be hurt and that bothers me very very much.”
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.): This is the third time during my nearly 13 years in the Senate that I have been involved in a shutdown… And they’re horrible. The consequences on those affected, whether they be federal workers or the citizens who need services, are horrible, and no one relishes that in this body.”
House Democrats are openly admitting the shutdown is about serving their base, not the American people:
Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine): “This government shutdown is the result of hardball politics driven by the demands far-left groups are making for Democratic Party leaders to put on a show of their opposition to President Trump. The shutdown is hurting Americans and our economy, and the irony is it has only handed more power to the president.”
Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA): “The base would be incensed if [Democrats] were seen as capitulating again.”
Anonymous House Democrat: “Obviously the base of the party wants to see that we’re not going along… Maybe in the very beginning they thought there was more we could do… Now they thoroughly understand we don’t have those levers and buttons, except this button.”
ICYMI: Democrats once condemned shutdowns. Watch here:
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