Democratic Party was caught between caving and caring

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

By Sid Schwab / Herald Columnist

I have mixed feelings about the seven Senate Democrats and one independent who gave in to pressure to reopen the government.

It’s always Democrats who do it, and Republicans count on it. Because when people are hurting, Democrats care. In the case of SNAP benefits, aka “food stamps,” Republican Congress-squatters not only didn’t care but delighted in knowing “moochers” weren’t getting them. How they see suffering of ordinary people is the most reliable way to predict a legislator’s party affiliation: If they care, D. If they don’t, R. Maybe some readers can think of exceptions.

The votes happened just as courts had ordered Trump to fully fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, while he was trying hard not to, including threatening states that were providing their own funding. This, after the cerulean outcomes of last week’s elections ought to have made those senators realize they had leverage: voters turning against Trump. Including football fans (YouTube: tinyurl.com/2Bcheered). Had he continued to deny funding despite court orders, millions more would regret and reverse their prior votes. So, considering future outcomes, Democrats’ capitulation was a self-inflicted foot-shot, a case of premature retraculation. And it allowed Republicans to pretend Democrats were the problem all along. Because lying is what he does, Holy Mike Johnson, in constant contact with God, was quick to say so.

The more blatant the lie, the more Trump and his abettors know it’ll be believed by MAGAs and promoted by their media cartel. The truth about Democrats’ till-now refusal to flinch is the opposite of what Trump and his cadre would have you believe. The loss of SNAP benefits seems to have been what broke backbones, despite rightwing lies.

https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/schwab-democratic-party-was-caught-between-caving-and-caring/