NEW YORK (AP) – Democrats agree on this at least. It’s time to fight.
Whether activists on the far left, moderates in Washington or rural conservatives, democratic leaders across the political spectrum are hugging, except for risk. Government closure They say it’s necessary to push the president back. Donald Trump His Republican ally in Congress.
For Democrats, the fight for shutdown marks a line in the sand that was born out of months of frustration Can’t stop Trump’s normative leadership. And they say they will continue to fight regardless of practical or political outcomes.
“This is an unusual point of unity,” said Jim Kessler of the Third Way of Medium Democrat Groups.
“There’s definitely a risk,” he said. “But you hear it from all the wings of the Democrats. The fight is victory. They want a fight, and they’re trying to get it.”
As shutdown Starting, there are few signs of a rift across the diverse coalition of Democrats.
Even progressive critics from the party’s activists wings have praised Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and House Democrat leader Hakem Jeffries. Extend medical subsidies It is set to expire at the end of the year. Supported by Republicans who control Congress, Trump insists on supporting only “clean” spending packages that rule healthcare measures.
Trump criticizes the “radical left”
The fight is already ugly as Trump uses his presidential bully pulpit, and taxpayer-funded government resources — Cast responsibility About Democrats.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development website on Tuesday welcomed all visitors with this message. “The radical left will shut down governments and bring great pain to the American people unless they get a $1.5 trillion demand list.
The president himself posted a deepfake video of Schumer on social media, implying that Democrats are fighting to provide illegally free healthcare to the country’s immigrants. The fake video, widely accused of racist, portrayed Jeffries with a Mexican sombrero and a fake mustache.
At a press conference, Jeffries provided a harsh message to the president.
“The next time you have something to say about me, don’t be wary through racist, fake AI videos. When you return to your oval office, say it to my face,” said the top house Democrat.
“I want to be us more than they do.”
Personally, both political operatives have admitted that government shutdowns are bad for both parties. But it seemed that the Trump administration was eager to shut down the government this time, as Democrats dug up – already Threatened a massive fire of federal workers if closed.
And as the GOP denounces its rivals, Democrats say they are confident that Trump’s party controls both the White House and Congress rooms.
“I want to be us more than they do in this fight,” said veteran Democratic strategist James Kerrville. “The incumbent will suffer more.”
Still, Kerrville acknowledged that Washington’s Democratic leaders have little choice but to step on tight boundaries in budget negotiations with Trump’s GOP. The party’s activist base demanded it, he said.
Annoyed Progressive has been screaming for months at a Democratic leader in Washington, a minority party with limited power, using more creative tactics to stop Trump. They are getting their wish this week.
“They’re not just lying down and dead at last,” said Ezra Levin, co-founder of the progressive activist group. “The indivisible leaders support them.”
What do voters think?
Political influences, on the other hand, are difficult to predict as each side presents conflicting data points.
On the ground in Virginia and New Jersey Governor election Perhaps a month, the issue had just started focusing on the eve of the closure.
Lieutenant Colonel, Republican candidate for the governor of Virginia Winsome Earle-Searsrefused to answer directly when asked in an interview with NBC on Tuesday if Trump would tell him not to fire any more federal workers during the closure.
Instead, she encouraged her democratic opponents, the person in charge. Abigail Spanbergertells Virginia Sens. Tim Kane and Mark Warner to vote for the “clean” spending bill.
“If we’re talking about the full cut, once again, we have to include Senator Kane and Warner in this. They have a part to play,” Earl Sears said.
Virginia’s large population of federal workers is preparing for a major upheaval.
More than 147,000 federal workers live in Virginia and are second in California, according to data compiled by Congressional Research Services last year. Many may stop being paid immediately.
meanwhile Partial shutdown for 35 days Trump’s first term gave up 340,000 of the 800,000 federal workers at the affected institution. The rest was an “exception,” and although he received a retroactive salary once the suspension was resolved, he was required to work with or without wages.
Virginia Sen. Warner said his impact on the state’s workforce, or even a permanent layoff, would not change the Democratic strategy.
“I was very surprised by the comments from federal workers who said they were terrified enough, they want us to push back,” the Democrat senator said.
On the Senate floor, Sen. Dick Durbin, second-ranked Senator in the Democratic Caucus, provided a similar message.
“On the democratic side, I think this is a battle worth fighting for,” he said.
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Olivia Diaz, AP writer from Richmond, Virginia. Mike Katarini of Trenton, New Jersey. Washington’s Joey Capelletti and Eunice Esomonu contributed.
