On Friday’s episode of HBO’s “Real Time,” Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) took a shot at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) for failing to drive a harder bargain before agreeing to a Republican-led government funding bill. Shapiro suggested that Schumer should have used his leverage to push for more Democratic priorities instead of giving in so easily.
During the discussion, host Bill Maher set the stage by pointing out that Schumer had not only voted for the GOP’s budget plan but also convinced ten other Senate Democrats to follow his lead. This move sparked outrage among progressives, with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) branding him a “traitor.”
Maher then posed the big question to Shapiro: “Did Schumer do the right thing, or is the progressive wing of the party justified in their anger? Because that is the divide in the party.”
Shapiro, trying to toe the line, first downplayed his involvement in D.C. politics, saying, “I’m not an expert on the ins and outs of Washington.” But then he pivoted, arguing that the real issue isn’t about choosing between compromise and resistance. “I think it’s a false choice to suggest you need either/or – either you need that resistance, that fight, that opposition or you need to find ways to compromise and come together. I think that’s a false choice.”
Maher quickly cut in, pressing him on the specific vote at hand. “But this was a particular vote where you had to vote one way or the other.”
That’s when Shapiro finally got to the heart of his argument, saying, “I would have liked to see, when Chuck Schumer had leverage here, for him to say, ‘We need A, B, C, and D for the Democratic Party,’ and force the Republicans to meet him halfway on those issues and deliver something for the folks who are worried now.”
Maher, clearly skeptical, challenged him: “How can you force Republicans to do anything now?”
Shapiro responded, “Because they needed eight Democratic votes in the United States Senate.”
Essentially, Shapiro was saying that Schumer had an opportunity to make demands but instead waved the white flag. This has been a recurring theme with Democratic leadership – tough talk followed by a quick surrender when push comes to shove.
For conservatives, this exchange highlights the fractures within the Democratic Party. While progressives like AOC demand ideological purity and full resistance to Republican policies, establishment figures like Schumer are more than willing to cave under pressure. This internal conflict is something Republicans can and should take advantage of as Democrats struggle to keep their coalition together.
At the end of the day, Schumer’s move was not only a betrayal to the left but also an acknowledgment that Republicans had the upper hand. And with the 2024 elections around the corner, Democrats are increasingly finding themselves on shaky ground, forced to compromise even when their base demands the opposite.
