Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) was slated to begin a book tour this week but, after flipping to support the GOP's continuing resolution to avert a government shutdown, he faced so much backlash the promotion was postponed.
One appearance that was not, however, was Schumer joining the co-hosts of "The View" on Tuesday — and he got a bruising welcome.
While it began with a civil back and forth, co-host Sunny Hostin quickly launched into a hammering of Schumer over his decision.
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She cited Anne Caprara, chief of staff for Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D), who said on Blue Sky last week, "The fight going on in the Democratic Party right now is not between hard left, left and moderate. It’s between those who want to fight and those who want to cave. And Team Fight stretches across all ideological aspects of the Party. Misread this at your own peril."
Hostin agreed.
"It gives me no pleasure to say this to you because we are friends, but I think you caved," she said. "I think you and nine other Democrats caved and didn't show the fight this party needs right now because you're playing by a rule book, where the other party has thrown that rule book away."
The audience responded with applause and Schumer replied, "true."
"So, in my view, what you did really in supporting that GOP partisan bill that Democrats had no input in, you cleared the way for [President] Donald Trump and Elon Musk to gut Social Security, to gut Medicare, to gut Medicaid," Hostin continued. "Why did you lead Democratic senators to play by that book that the Republicans are not playing by?"
Schumer argued that if there was a shutdown, Trump would be able to decide which employees were considered "essential." This would allow him to keep the shutdown going without the so-called "non-essential" employees.
With the mass firings of government workers, lawsuits have been launched to challenge some moves that may not comply with laws, rules or employment requirements. In a shutdown, no lawsuits like that could be filed.
"But aren't there cuts in that bill?" Hostin asked.
Schumer described it as the difference between having a few fingers chopped off and having an arm severed. The shutdown was the arm.
