Late last night, a small group of eight Democrats “conspired” with Republicans to reopen the government after SNAP benefits were cut, over 700,000 government employees stopped receiving paychecks and TSA workers were laid off in waves.
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Republicans are obviously celebrating the reopening as a win… but Democratic leaders and other Americans are beyond frustrated with the results– or lack there of. “These spineless Dems were playing in our face all along,” Former Ohio Sen. Nina Turner wrote on X. “Why put the federal workers and other Americans through this and get absolutely nothing!!!!!!!!”
We previously told you the shutdown started over the GOP’s funding bill, which didn’t renew protections for the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The bill failed in the Senate 14 times, with Democrats determined to hold out while Republicans refused to negotiate. Now that the first steps to reopening the government are underway, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he’s looking for answers.
“With respect to the senators on the other side of the Capitol, they’re going to have to explain themselves,” he said of the straying Democrats. “It’s a patriotic fight. We’re waging this fight on behalf of the American people.”
Still, some Black folks weren’t quick to bash the moderate Democrats. “What everybody is doing right now… is not fair to the other Democrats who sat their and did not agree on this,” @latetiaaa said. “Democrats are still for the average person. They have a heart. They’re gonna cave.”
Other folks online expressed their disappointment. @operagirl22 wrote on X, “So next time Progressives are trying to tell you about moderate corporate Dems…let us remember this day…signed off for the promise of a vote that is literally going to fail and leave folks with the insurance increases. Unreal.”
The new deal that moderate Democrats cut with Republicans only sets up a vote on whether to cut ACA subsidies. Experts say the upcoming vote will likely result in an Republican win. “A ‘moderate’ Democrat is pretty much a Republican,” @nickdalorian said.
“What we have to be careful not to do is to misunderstand movement as productivity,” @lifewithtorisamone said. “From the very beginning, there was no leverage. The Democrats have no leverage right now.”
Journalist Don Lemon said “Don’t let them spin you. The Democrats caved.” He also interviewed Americans in Washington, D.C. after the Democrats’ dissent. “They could have avoided all this and just funded the f*****g government 40 days ago,” podcaster Reecie Colbert told Lemon. She accused Democrats of using vulnerable Americans just to back out with practically nothing to show for it. “Misery has been inflicted,” she said.
“Never doubt the Democrats’ ability to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat,” user @arguablysomaya said on TikTok. “They’re giving away all of their leverage for the next few months and teaching the Republicans that starving Americans is a legitimate political strategy for getting what you want,” she continued. “Only in exchange for a vote on the extension of Obamacare– mind you, not even an actual promise.”
@HarlemJ11 had no hope that Congress or Trump will ever agree to extend the Obamacare subsidies. “Americans sealed the fate of ACA on November 5, 2024 when they elected the GOP to control Congress and the Executive,” he wrote. “Elections have consequences. You get what you vote for.”
The new bill still has to be approved in the House before the government officially reopens. As part of the deal, a vote on ACA protections will happen before subsidies expire on Dec. 31.
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