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Five Old Tweets That Came Back to Haunt Chuck Schumer

Chuck Schumer / Getty Images
Chuck Schumer / Getty Images
April 7, 2017

In the age of social media, it is getting harder for politicians to hide their past comments and stances on issues. Twitter is especially good at keeping records on politicians, which is bad news for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.).

Since joining Twitter in November 2008, Schumer has tweeted over 10,000 times. Most of the tweets are about Schumer's views on a wide range of issues. But several of those tweets have come back to haunt the New York Democrat.

Senate Obstruction

What he meant: Before his party lost the White House, Schumer criticized his Republican colleagues for not holding a hearing for former President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland. Senate Democrats led a social media campaign using the hashtag #DoYourJob to pressure the GOP to hold a vote for Garland. It was ineffective, and Garland never got a hearing.

Why it didn't age well: The tables have turned. Schumer has led his caucus to filibuster President Donald Trump's Supreme Court pick Neil Gorsuch. After arguing for months that Supreme Court nominees deserved an up and down vote, the Democrats wanted to obstruct Gorsuch from having an up and down vote. It digs even deeper: Schumer voted for Gorsuch to be confirmed as a judge to a federal circuit court in 2006.

Filibuster

What he meant: Schumer believes that judicial nominees to the Supreme Court required a 60-vote threshold. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) used the "nuclear option," which removed the ability for senators to filibuster and requires a simple majority to move forward with Supreme Court nominees.

Why it didn't age well: Back in 2013, Schumer voted to use the nuclear option for other executive and judicial nominees. He was fine with removing the filibuster when Democrats were in power, but now wants to maintain the filibuster while he is in the minority party.

Protesters 

What he meant: The tweet meant to encourage people protesting Trump's agenda. Schumer applauded their actions and said they are making a difference.

Why it didn't age well: Schumer had a different opinion of people who protested the government back in 2011. When the Tea Party wave was sweeping the nation, Schumer called the movement "extreme" and said the Tea Party was standing in the way of Congress.

Obamacare

What he meant: Schumer believes the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, is a success and is not collapsing. He warns Republicans not to repeal the law because they will make things worse for Americans.

Why it didn't age well: Many Americans disapprove of Obamacare. Opponents of the law state that it has left Americans with onerous regulations, new taxeshigher premiums and their current health insurance plans being cancelled. Critics have also said the ACA is in a "death spiral," citing the number of insurance companies that have pulled out of the exchanges.

Holiday Cheer

What he meant: Schumer was in the holiday spirit, and he and his staff were excited to go back to New York for the holidays.

Why it didn't age well: Three years later, he was not feeling the holiday spirit. Days before the holidays, Schumer fired the Senate Democrats' internal video department.