As the government shutdown drags into its 16th day, cracks are beginning to show in the Democratic base. Even some of their own voters are growing frustrated with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s stubborn refusal to support a clean continuing resolution.
“I think I’m going to be leaving the Democrat Party because this happens too often, where they’re blaming the opposite party when they know they can do the right thing,” one Democrat caller from California told C-SPAN Thursday morning.
“They need to do the right thing and reopen this government instead of keeping it shut down like they’re hijacking the American people,” he continued. “I’ve seen it before. We’ve seen them vote the right way when they’re in power. So why the hell can’t they vote the right way when they’re not in power?
“So get this government back open, get the American people what they deserve. And this is basically a Schumer shutdown from what I’ve seen, from what I’ve been watching on C-SPAN, what they show and what they show the Democrats whining and crying and blaming. That’s what I see,” the caller added.
LISTEN:
? Caller: "I think I'm gonna be leaving the Democrat Party because this happens too often, where they're blaming the opposite party… they need to do the right thing and reopen this government… we've seen them vote the right way when they're in power, so why the hell can't… pic.twitter.com/VqudH1GLQa
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 16, 2025
On Wednesday, Senate Democrats shot down a Republican-led funding bill for the ninth time, showing zero interest in compromise or reopening the government. There’s still no end in sight — and conveniently, no deal expected before the left’s “No Kings” protest planned in Washington, D.C. this weekend.
It’s almost as if Schumer and company are dragging this out on purpose to set the stage for their next political stunt (insert sarcasm here).
As Speaker Mike Johnson has pointed out time and again, Schumer already voted for this exact same funding bill back in March. But now, suddenly, he’s demanding $1.5 trillion in new partisan spending, cuts to rural hospitals, and more handouts for illegal immigrants.
Johnson says the about-face has nothing to do with policy and everything to do with politics. Schumer, he argues, is terrified of his party’s far-left flank — and especially of a potential primary challenge from progressive firebrand Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
“That is 100 percent what this is about,” the speaker said this week:
Chuck Schumer keeps voting to SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT.
But he voted for this EXACT SAME government funding bill in March.
Why is he against it now??
…Because the RADICAL LEFT told him to be. He’s TURNED HIS BACK on the American people simply to please the Marxist wing of… pic.twitter.com/hhKu3d1IHs
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) October 15, 2025
