MSNBC host Symone Sanders Townsend, a former Democratic operative, said she would register as an independent on Saturday in response to Senate Democrats’ help passing a funding bill.
Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York has been criticized by left-wing media figures and Democrats in Congress for breaking a filibuster of the GOP-backed spending bill. Sanders Townsend, a former Biden administration official, said Schumer’s decision was a deal-breaker for her.
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“I’m pissed,” Sanders Townsend said at the opening of Saturday’s episode of “The Weekend.” “There’s actually little that the Senate Minority Leader can say, and the ten Democrats that voted with the Republicans can say, to appease somebody like me. I’m going to change my registration to independent.”
Sanders Townsend praised Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, for keeping House Democrats largely united in their opposition to the legislation, which passed by a 217-213 vote March 11. Former Democratic Rep. Donna Edwards of Maryland blamed Schumer for not providing vulnerable House Democrats with cover.
“Members who are in the toughest districts in the country now have to go out there having taken really, a very difficult vote without any support from the Senate leadership,” Edwards said. “I think it’s deeply disappointing.”
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“This is a real black mark, a stain on Chuck Schumer’s leadership,” Edwards added.
“The Weekend” co-host Alicia Menendez, the daughter of former Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey, noted that Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York could challenge Schumer in a primary.
“That’s why you have members of the democratic caucus privately encouraging Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to primary Schumer,” Menendez said.
“Anyone can primary him,” Sanders Townsend responded.
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Schumer initially declared his opposition to the Republican spending bill, demanding a 30-day continuing resolution, before he agreed to pass the Republican legislation. Jeffries later declined to respond to reporters when asked if Schumer should continue leading Senate Democrats.
Polls from NBC and CNN showed that less than a third of respondents had a favorable view of the Democratic Party, while majorities disapproved of the Democrats.
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First published by the Daily Caller News Foundation.
