Democratic strategist James Carville weighed in on Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer’s (N.Y.) decision to vote in favor of the House GOP-led continuing resolution (CR), saying it might turn out to be “a wiser decision than people think.”
“I think the wisdom coming out of this vote is going to play out, because we’re going to have so many points here: the debt ceiling extension, the reconciliation, the tax cuts, and maybe … Democrats will be able to say, ‘Look, we did everything we could,’” Carville told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on Tuesday.
“This might turn out to be a wiser decision than people think, but it’s too early to tell,” he added.
Schumer has been in the hot seat since last week after he voted in favor of the GOP-written continuing resolution amid the government shutdown fight and seemingly postponed his book tour over the issue.
The Senate minority leader has insisted that he’s the best person to lead the party and isn’t going to back down from his position, even as multiple Democrats complained about the lack of a clear strategy and ability for the party to push back against the Republican agenda.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) has largely stuck by Schumer’s side but has drawn criticism for the decision.
Carville argued that the party needs to trust the two leaders and wait to see if the decision was a smart one.
The ex-senior adviser to former President Clinton agreed with the frustration Americans feel toward the Democratic Party right now, noting that he, too, is mad about the election and the party’s action since then.
Recent polling shows the public gave the Democratic Party its lowest approval rating in decades, a stark message that infighting in Washington is impacting party members across the country.
Still, Carville noted that there are upcoming opportunities for the party to gain momentum, including the Virginia gubernatorial race, and people should have faith in the party’s current leaders.
“I do think that Senator Schumer is right. I think [he] and Leader Jeffries do have a plan in place,” he said Tuesday. “And look, if this … is not evident here in the next three or four months, then there will be an uprising within the Democratic Party.”
“I think we should give them a chance. … Let’s see what their what their plan and their strategy is,” Carville added.
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