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CNN to Schumer: Aren't Democrats the Party of No?

April 28, 2017

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) avoided answering whether Democrats have become the new "party of no" during a Friday interview on CNN.

The Senate minority leader sat down with CNN's Manu Raju and discussed a range of topics, including efforts by Democratic lawmakers to obstruct and oppose President Trump's policy agenda.

Raju asked Schumer how Democrats' past attacks against Republicans for being "the party of no" during Barack Obama's presidency squared with the Democratic Party's current moves to block many of Trump's initiatives.

A number of voices, including the New York Times in March, have said the Democratic Party's staunch opposition to Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress has made it "the new party of no."

"When the Republicans were in the minority, you called them the party of no. You've attacked them for that," Raju said to Schumer. "Isn't that what Democrats are doing right now? Aren't you the party of no?"

Schumer did not directly answer Raju's question, saying the onus is on Republicans to pass legislation as the majority party.

"Well, let's see, on health care, all he needed–they're in charge," Schumer said, referring to the American Health Care Act, which was withdrawn from the House in late March when it became clear Republican leadership did not have enough support to pass the bill.

"All they needed was Republican votes to pass it in the House. They were unable to do it," he continued.

"But you guys are opposing him on every turn," Raju cut in.

"No, we have given him a path," the senator responded, arguing Democrats have offered Trump opportunities for bipartisanship. "Compromise means working with the other side. It seems the president's idea of compromise, at least thus far, is he comes up with his own plan, never talks to us, and says, 'You support it. That's bipartisanship.'"

"That's not how America works," Schumer said. "That's not how Congress has ever worked. That's not how you negotiate things."