Billionaire Democratic mega-donor Tom Steyer on Thursday blasted how Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) handled negotiations to protect immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children.
"I think that Sen. Schumer—he clearly miscalculated at one time or another," Steyer told U.S. News & World Report. "If you're going to stand up for the Dreamers, stand up for the Dreamers. If you don't think you can sustain the fight, don't make the threat."
Steyer, a progressive activist from California, is the latest liberal to castigate Schumer and other Senate Democrats for striking a deal with Republican leadership to end the three-day-long government shutdown, which began last Friday night. The shutdown was triggered after all but five Senate Democrats voted against legislation to fund the government for 30 days, arguing the bill needed to address the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA), which provides legal protections to Dreamers but is set to expire in March.
On Monday, however, most Senate Democrats agreed to support legislation that funds the government through Feb. 8 but does not address DACA, leading liberal activists to say Schumer "caved." The GOP assured Democrats that Congress will negotiate an immigration deal in the coming weeks.
"If you're going to stand up for principle, then stand up for principle," Steyer said. "That's what we believe in."
Steyer also said that he pledged to spend at least $30 million in 24 Republican-held congressional districts in 10 states this year to help Democrats win back control of the House.
But the mega-donor, a staunch liberal, does not only want to support far-left Democrats, noting that the party needs to be realistic about winning in red states. He pointed to remarks from Sen. Joe Manchin (D., W.Va.), who has warned fellow Democrats that, "if people like me can't win from red states," the party will remain "in the minority the rest of your life."
"The fact of the matter is, in order for us to succeed in West Virginia, we need to have something that appeals to those people directly, and if our answers are the answers of the 1980s or the 1930s, I think that's not good enough," Steyer said. "That's why a huge number of Americans don't vote. They can't see government relating. I don't think this is about ideology. I think this is about relevance."
"So when I think about what Sen. Manchin is saying, he's saying, as far as I'm concerned, we need to be espousing a vision and values and programs that actually relate to the people of the U.S. directly, and I would agree with that," Steyer added.
Steyer recently made headlines after launching an ad campaign calling for President Donald Trump's impeachment, ignoring calls from some Democratic leaders to tone down his rhetoric.
The billionaire activist also would not say whether he supports Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein's reelection bid in California. Steyer has considered jumping into the race.
The progressive wing of the Democratic Party has called for candidates to mount a primary challenge against Feinstein, who is 84 and seeking a fifth term.