Chuck Schumer, the Senate Minority Leader, claimed that America was proud of Cory Booker, a fellow member from New Jersey, for supposedly setting a ‘longest filibuster’ record in the Senate. This claim by Schumer adds another signet to the drama-filled politics led by Democrats. It’s important to note that Booker’s 25-hour talk does not fit the definition of a filibuster as it did not aim to block any specific legislation. Despite this, he received kudos from fellow Democrats. However, this highlights the confusion and inconsistency that lingers among Democrats.
In an apparent flip of narrative, Democrats seem to conveniently celebrate the filibuster, in spite of their former criticisms and endeavors to abolish it. The inconsistency begs the question; why the sudden bravo and accolades for Booker’s so-called filibuster? Once upon a time, not too long ago, Democrats, including Schumer himself, referred to the filibuster as a ‘Jim Crow relic’ and made a case for its termination, all in the name of advancing their political objectives.
Now, as the minority party in Congress, Democrats seem to have conveniently rediscovered the tool – filibuster – they vehemently criticized and attempted to eliminate. This dramatic turnaround is symptomatic of the party’s inconsistency. Furthermore, it underlines the appalling level of strategic opportunism in Democratic politics. When they enjoyed the majority, they undermined Republicans, and now, as the minority party, they act as if they are the defenders of democracy.
Latching onto the filibuster as a means to obstruct legislation, while they were previously critical of it when in power, not only undermines their credibility but also highlights their blatant hypocrisy. The shifting narratives from Democrats, one moment labeling the filibuster a ‘Jim Crow relic’, the next moment employing it to their advantage, demonstrate the ideological inconsistency of the party.
Another glaring discrepancy in the party politics lies in the Democrats’ stance on voter identification. After an extended period of Democrats vilifying Republicans for advocating voter ID laws, labeling them as ’21st-century Jim Crow’, recent polls indicate an overwhelming support for the measure. Astonishingly, 81% of Americans, inclusive of 69% of Democrat voters, now support voter ID requirements. The results are contrary to the narrative Democrats have been peddling, it’s evident that Americans prefer secure elections.
Interestingly, despite the incessant criticisms by Democrats, including President Joe Biden who inaccurately accused red state administrations of suppressing voters by enforcing voter ID laws, the public sentiment towards voter ID remains positive. Biden’s discourse on the matter appears to have largely fallen on deaf ears, failing to resonate with the wider voting public as he might have hoped.
The pattern of inflating narratives only to have them deflate seems to be a recurring theme with Democrats. Despite wielding considerable influence, Biden’s criticism of the filibuster, similar to his objections against voter ID, did not incite the public impact he wished for. It seems that his public ostentation on even topics like Booker’s act have yet accomplished what he aimed – rallying the grassroots.
The failure of their strategies is only contributing to increasing public skepticism about the Democrats’ tactics. It is as though the strategies are blowing back in their faces – the very essence of political backfire. The shifting stance from the ‘filibuster as obstruction’ to ‘filibuster as valiant opposition’ or casting ‘voter ID laws as discriminatory’ to now actually having a majority of Democratic voters favor the same throws light onto the lack of consistent ideologies.