In a recent appearance on CNN, left-leaning commentator Van Jones expressed his astonishment at the fury emanating from Democrats regarding Chuck Schumer’s decision to vote for a government funding measure. According to Jones, this wave of discontent is unprecedented.
However, if you take a moment to watch the clip, a few insights emerge. First, one could argue that Jones displays a rather selective memory when it comes to the political maneuvers of Senate Republicans during Obama’s tenure. He seems to have forgotten the stark reality that when Obama declared, “I won,” the GOP did not exactly roll over and concede defeat. Instead, they often found creative ways to resist and negotiate from a position of powerlessness.
More importantly, Jones’s commentary reveals a crucial point: for many Democrats, this political struggle appears to be rooted in emotional responses rather than strategic planning. Could this fixation on feelings be part of the larger issue at hand?
Townhall provides further context:
After the passing of Harry Reid, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) was seen as the natural leader for the Senate Democratic Caucus. Yet, in a remarkably short span, he’s now being viewed as a potential scapegoat. The turmoil surrounding Schumer has escalated to the point where he risks being metaphorically sent to the guillotine for his reluctance to engage in a shutdown standoff with the Trump administration.
Schumer’s rationale was straightforward: this shutdown wasn’t the typical partisan showdown; under Trump’s leadership, a government closure could spell disaster for federal employment. The continuing resolution presented was uncontroversial; there were no substantial objections apart from the vague sentiment of disliking Trump. Unsurprisingly, this rationale does not justify a shutdown. Furthermore, without a coherent strategy or message to support such a fight, the Democratic Party’s internal discord is glaring. Even Nancy Pelosi has called for an outright revolt against Schumer ahead of the Senate’s approval of the continuing resolution.
Jones remarked on the grim fallout that Schumer now faces, describing it as a “volcanic eruption of outrage.”
“I’ve never witnessed such intense anger directed at a Democrat,” he lamented.
Here’s the clip:
DEMS IN DISARRAY: Van Jones says there’s a “volcanic eruption of outrage” from Democrats at Chuck Schumer:
“I’ve never seen this level of volcanic anger at a Democrat, ever.”
“There’s an emotional need to stop Donald Trump and Elon Musk from running over this party. And I… pic.twitter.com/mYfPmbNUca
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) March 15, 2025
As the Democratic Party appears to be teetering on the brink of chaos, the intensity of their discontent could spell trouble ahead. If Van Jones believes this is the apex of their anger, one must wonder how they will fare in the coming months as the political climate continues to shift.