Democratic operatives are urging their leaders in Washington not to back down on a government shutdown some fear could backfire politically for their party.
For starters, the operatives said, they were pleased that lawmakers had banded together in opposition to Republicans. And they were also satisfied with what they said was a solid message centered around health care, as some Americans could see rising premiums unless Republicans come around.
It wasn’t just resistance for the sake of resistance, Democrats reiterated in interviews on Wednesday.
Unlike past congressional fights, “They have a clear argument for what they’re trying to get, which is different,” said Democratic strategist Steve Schale.
A second strategist doubled-done on that sentiment: “Our problem was always that we resist but there’s not much else there.”
“This is a concise argument that we can take back to voters and say, look, here’s the evidence. You decide,” the strategist added.
The operatives — typically uneasy about their party’s message, especially on the heels of the devastating 2024 election — did not express nervousness or fear about any ramifications in next year’s midterms.
“They want us to back down, they count on us to back down,” the strategist said.
For the time being, party operatives agreed that Democratic lawmakers should not do that, even as hundreds of thousands of government employees were furloughed. They also weren’t in a hurry to respond to President Trump’s threat to fire federal workers.
Some strategists said Democrats should not be willing to capitulate, pointing to the blowback Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) received in March when he avoided a government shutdown by agreeing to extend spending through September 30th.
In the days that followed that move, Schumer received so much scrutiny, his approval ratings fell dramatically and Democrats complained that they needed new leadership.
“No one wants to be the Chuck Schumer this time around,” a second Democratic strategist put it. “Schumer doesn’t even want to be Schumer.”
Schumer himself showed no signs of backing down.
“The strategy is: The American people are demanding it and going to demand it more and more on Oct 1 [and] October 2,” he told reporters at a news conference on Tuesday evening, as the shutdown loomed.
Still, in the early hours of the shutdown, as the Senate tried to vote once again, some Democrats said it was too soon to tell if there would be political consequences from voters on this latest fight.
“It’s too early for a scorecard,” said Democratic strategist Rodell Mollineau, who served as a communications adviser to the late Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). “The real test will be Democrats’ ability to stay together on upcoming votes, effective and disciplined communications and marshaling all of the amplification they can to tell their side of the story.”
Because the midterm elections are more than a year away, Schale also maintained that the fighting around the shutdown won’t ultimately matter.
For better or worse, he said, “These things have a really short shelf life.”
Democrats, still reeling from the outcome of the 2024 election, have struggled in recent months to go on offense and have had trouble articulating a cohesive message that could speak to voters.
For months, Democrats have seen polling plunge to record lows, including a Quinnipiac University survey late last month which revealed that 30 percent of voters across the nation have a favorable opinion of the Democratic Party, while 54 percent said they have an unfavorable opinion.
But for the first time in months, operatives said, their current position in the shutdown not only made sense, it was good politics and could pay dividends down the road.
“This is an opportunity for elected Democrats and Democratic leadership to rebuild some trust with the base,” said one prominent Democratic strategist. “All of the s—-y poll numbers that Democrats are pulling, what’s dragging them down is flat support from traditional Democratic constituencies. They need to earn trust back from those folks and this moment is an opportunity to show that they will not be intimidated and giving away their leverage.”
“I think the biggest risk for Democrats is being risk-averse,” the strategist added. “At some point, Democrats probably will have to make a deal but they have to get caught fighting and they need to deliver something to show.”
At least for now, operatives agree there aren’t many downsides for Democrats in terms of standing their ground on the shutdown.
“The major downside from a perception standpoint is that Republicans have a bigger megaphone — and more megaphonists — to bellow falsely about Democrats wanting to shut down the government,” said Democratic strategist Garry South. “The downside for Trump and the Republicans is that they control the federal government lock stock and battle.”
“Chaos and dysfunction never well serve the party in power, no matter who it tries to blame,” South added.
Source: The Hill
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