Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) was laughed off the podium this week after dismissing a New York Times poll showing that Americans blame Democrats for the government shutdown.
The unusual scene unfolded just before the shutdown officially began, when Senate Democrats rejected a continuing resolution passed by the House.
“Now I know the leader is going to show a poll that says that Democrats will be blamed for the shutdown,” Schumer said, referring to the New York Times/Siena College survey. “There are many more polls that show Republicans are blamed. The question in that poll is biased.”
“In the New York Times, but it’s biased,” he continued, prompting Republicans across the chamber to erupt into laughter. “I don’t always believe the New York Times … You can be sure of that. Neither do you.”
Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) have pushed the Trump administration to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits and guarantee taxpayer-funded health care “for all.” Republicans and the White House rejected the proposals, saying Democrats were demanding taxpayer-funded health care for illegal immigrants.
