America is in the middle of a government shutdown, fueled largely by intransigence from two New York Democrats: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.<\/p>\n
For Schumer, the shift is especially striking. Just months ago, he warned that even the threat of a shutdown would be catastrophic \u2014 a position Senate Republicans now say proves his current stance is pure obstruction.<\/p>\n
During and after the Senate\u2019s vote to fund the government earlier this year, Schumer took heat from his left-wing base, both in and outside Congress. He repeatedly defended his decision, arguing that a shutdown would devastate the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had to do the right thing \u2014 for the country and our party,\u201d Schumer said on NBC\u2019s\u00a0Meet the Press<\/em>\u00a0on March 23.<\/p>\n \u201cThe alternative being a shutdown makes things worse \u2014 much worse,\u201d he told MSNBC\u2019s Chris Hayes just ten days before.<\/p>\n Republicans are eager to highlight what they call Schumer\u2019s glaring contradictions. Their messaging, obtained by the\u00a0Washington Reporter<\/em>, cites comments from Democratic Sens. Brian Schatz of Hawaii, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Mark Warner of Virginia, and Mark Kelly of Arizona \u2014 all warning earlier this year that shutdowns would harm veterans, seniors, and federal workers.<\/p>\n