WASHINGTON — Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer don’t gree to step down as di top Democrat for di chamber, even as some Democrats dey call am to resign after im vote for Republican-led funding bill. “I’m not stepping down,” Schumer, D-N.Y., talk for NBC News’ Meet the Press on Sunday.
Schumer face serious backlash from fellow Democrats wey no happy with im decision to support di funding bill as dem feel say dis go enable President Donald Trump agenda. Schumer say im know say di decision go cause plenty controversy, but e believe say na beta move to prevent government shutdown.
“Dis funding bill certainly bad, but a shutdown go be 15 or 20 times worse,” Schumer explain. Him don warn that a shutdown fit give di Trump administration plenty power to define wetin na essential services without any court supervision.
“Dem go fit say, ‘Oh, SNAP? Feeding hungry children? Not essential.’ On Day 4, ‘Mass transit? Every transit? Aid to di states? Not essential. We dey cut am.’ Di goal na to destroy di federal government to give tax cuts to di billionaire class,” im add.
Some of Im Democratic colleagues, like former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, don publicly criticize Schumer’s decision, saying he no negotiate enough. “I don’t give away anything for nothing,” Pelosi say. “I feel say Schumer could try get Republicans to agree for a ‘third way.’”
Senator Bernie Sanders, wey dey represent Vermont, also talk say di problem dey within di Democratic Party. Im accuse di party say e dey dominated by billionaires and dey out of touch with di people.
At town halls across di country, Democrats voters no dey hide di frustration wey dem get for di party leadership. “When you go call for [Schumer] to be replaced as minority leader?” one constituent ask Senator Michael Bennet in Colorado. Bennet respond say, “We go dey talk about all di Democratic leadership.”
Schumer respond to di criticisms say e act out of conviction and as a leader, “you have to do things to avoid a real danger wey fit come down di curve.”
Im add say, “Democrats go fight against di Trump administration every step of di way.” Schumer also say e go like to see di public rise against Trump if e defy di courts. “We go fight am in every single way,” e conclude.
Di Senate Democrat wey hold di position for over eight years no don hear any of him colleagues call him to step down, even as some Democrats dey start to ask if e time for re-examination of di leadership.
Chuck Schumer also don publish new book titled “Antisemitism in America: A Warning,” where e talk about di rise of antisemitism in America and di need for education to fight am.
