Sen. Chris Murphy supports Chuck Schumer as leader but urges Democrats to change their tactics and act with urgency
Soror Shaiza | Mar 16, 2025, 21:51 IST
( Image credit : AP )
Senator Chris Murphy remains confident in Minority Leader Chuck Schumer but stresses that the Democratic Party must adopt new strategies to avoid losing American democracy. Murphy’s call for urgency comes after Schumer’s controversial backing of a GOP-led funding bill, sparking internal divisions within the party.
Murphy Calls for Urgency in Democratic Response to Crisis
Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) made a bold statement on Sunday, urging the Democratic Party to act with a greater sense of urgency, as the party faces a critical moment in American politics. Speaking with NBC News’ Kristen Welker, Murphy emphasized the need for the party to abandon “business as usual” if it wants to protect American democracy from what he sees as growing threats from the Republican-led government.
Murphy's comments come after a lackluster election season for Democrats, coupled with a new NBC News poll showing the party's popularity has plummeted to an all-time low, with only 27% of registered voters expressing positive views of the party. He stated, “If we continue to observe norms... this democracy could be gone,” highlighting the urgency of the situation. “I don’t think we have a year to save American democracy,” Murphy added.
A Party at a Crossroads: Murphy’s Message to Democrats
Despite his concerns over the party’s current direction, Murphy reiterated his support for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, acknowledging the challenging role Schumer plays as the leader of a deeply divided Democratic caucus. However, Murphy made it clear that the Democratic Party must change its tactics and take risks to stand up against President Trump and the GOP. He pointed out that Americans want to see the Democratic Party fighting “in exceptional ways,” not merely cooperating with Republicans. He stressed, “We are going to lose our democracy if we continue to hand Donald Trump more power.”
Murphy’s remarks come at a time when Schumer’s recent decision to support a Republican-led government funding bill, despite initially stating that Democrats would block it, has caused a rift within the party. The shift in Schumer’s position led to frustration among several Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who refused to comment on Schumer’s leadership. Murphy's concerns reflect the broader discontent within the party about the need for a more aggressive and risk-taking approach.
Schumer’s Controversial Support for GOP Funding Bill
The internal tensions within the Democratic Party have been exacerbated by Schumer’s decision to ultimately support a GOP-backed temporary government funding bill, which he initially opposed. After claiming that blocking the bill could lead to a government shutdown with devastating consequences, Schumer voted against the bill's final passage, leading to public criticism from fellow Democrats. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi expressed dissatisfaction with the move, urging Democrats to resist the false choice between a government shutdown or acquiescing to a funding bill that could harm working families.
While Pelosi did not directly call out Schumer, her statement underscored the growing division within the party, with some top members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees opposing the bill. Murphy joined the chorus of dissent, condemning the bill’s passage, which he argued would ultimately empower billionaires and erode the rule of law. “By passing a bill that makes their plan easier to implement, Democrats risk putting a bipartisan veneer of endorsement on their campaign,” Murphy said, reflecting the broader dissatisfaction with Schumer’s decision.
The Path Forward: Murphy Calls for Bold Action
Looking ahead, Murphy stressed the importance of the Democratic Party reevaluating its tactics to more effectively challenge President Trump and the GOP. He admitted that standing up to the current administration would require “risk-tolerant behavior” and emphasized that Democrats must be willing to make difficult decisions for the future of the country. “Are we willing to do the very difficult things necessary to meet this moment?” he asked, underlining the need for bold and decisive action.
Murphy’s call for change comes at a critical time for the Democratic Party, as it grapples with internal divisions and the growing perception of weakness in the face of Republican power. His comments signal that the party must undergo a fundamental shift in strategy if it hopes to regain the trust of American voters and effectively counter the challenges posed by the Trump administration.
Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) made a bold statement on Sunday, urging the Democratic Party to act with a greater sense of urgency, as the party faces a critical moment in American politics. Speaking with NBC News’ Kristen Welker, Murphy emphasized the need for the party to abandon “business as usual” if it wants to protect American democracy from what he sees as growing threats from the Republican-led government.
Murphy's comments come after a lackluster election season for Democrats, coupled with a new NBC News poll showing the party's popularity has plummeted to an all-time low, with only 27% of registered voters expressing positive views of the party. He stated, “If we continue to observe norms... this democracy could be gone,” highlighting the urgency of the situation. “I don’t think we have a year to save American democracy,” Murphy added.
A Party at a Crossroads: Murphy’s Message to Democrats
Despite his concerns over the party’s current direction, Murphy reiterated his support for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, acknowledging the challenging role Schumer plays as the leader of a deeply divided Democratic caucus. However, Murphy made it clear that the Democratic Party must change its tactics and take risks to stand up against President Trump and the GOP. He pointed out that Americans want to see the Democratic Party fighting “in exceptional ways,” not merely cooperating with Republicans. He stressed, “We are going to lose our democracy if we continue to hand Donald Trump more power.”
Murphy’s remarks come at a time when Schumer’s recent decision to support a Republican-led government funding bill, despite initially stating that Democrats would block it, has caused a rift within the party. The shift in Schumer’s position led to frustration among several Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who refused to comment on Schumer’s leadership. Murphy's concerns reflect the broader discontent within the party about the need for a more aggressive and risk-taking approach.
Schumer’s Controversial Support for GOP Funding Bill
The internal tensions within the Democratic Party have been exacerbated by Schumer’s decision to ultimately support a GOP-backed temporary government funding bill, which he initially opposed. After claiming that blocking the bill could lead to a government shutdown with devastating consequences, Schumer voted against the bill's final passage, leading to public criticism from fellow Democrats. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi expressed dissatisfaction with the move, urging Democrats to resist the false choice between a government shutdown or acquiescing to a funding bill that could harm working families.
While Pelosi did not directly call out Schumer, her statement underscored the growing division within the party, with some top members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees opposing the bill. Murphy joined the chorus of dissent, condemning the bill’s passage, which he argued would ultimately empower billionaires and erode the rule of law. “By passing a bill that makes their plan easier to implement, Democrats risk putting a bipartisan veneer of endorsement on their campaign,” Murphy said, reflecting the broader dissatisfaction with Schumer’s decision.
The Path Forward: Murphy Calls for Bold Action
Looking ahead, Murphy stressed the importance of the Democratic Party reevaluating its tactics to more effectively challenge President Trump and the GOP. He admitted that standing up to the current administration would require “risk-tolerant behavior” and emphasized that Democrats must be willing to make difficult decisions for the future of the country. “Are we willing to do the very difficult things necessary to meet this moment?” he asked, underlining the need for bold and decisive action.
Murphy’s call for change comes at a critical time for the Democratic Party, as it grapples with internal divisions and the growing perception of weakness in the face of Republican power. His comments signal that the party must undergo a fundamental shift in strategy if it hopes to regain the trust of American voters and effectively counter the challenges posed by the Trump administration.