Democratic lawmakers are standing by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s comments suggesting that the longer the government shutdown lasts, the “better” for the Democratic Party.
The Daily Caller News Foundation spoke with eight Democratic lawmakers on Thursday, none of whom were willing to criticize the statement from Leader Schumer on the shutdown’s political benefit for Democrats. Schumer told Punchbowl News on Wednesday that “Every day gets better for us” during the shutdown and voiced confidence that voters approved of the decision by Democrats to keep the government shuttered. (RELATED: ‘Every Day Gets Better For Us’: Schumer Cheers Government Shutdown Despite Growing Fallout)
“They’re a little desperate to change the news cycle, and this is their latest attempt,” Democratic Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz, a member of Democratic leadership, told the DCNF regarding Republicans torching Schumer’s comments.
“I know how Republicans are trying to distort what he said,” Democratic Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy told the DCNF. “But clearly what he’s saying is that we have an objective, which is to try to stop these health care increases from going into effect, and try to stop the lawlessness.”
The majority of Senate Democrats have refused to fund the government until Republicans agree to add on more than $1.5 trillion in new spending to any funding measure. Republicans have declared Democrats’ demands dead-on-arrival and refused to negotiate until Schumer supplies the votes to reopen the government.
