CNN anchor Jake Tapper reminded Senator Richard Blumenthal that his party has used the filibuster in the past after the Democrat insinuated it was ‘corrupt’ and suggested Republicans have ‘abused’ it.
Blumenthal (D-CT) said his party is ready to abolish the filibuster because the GOP “overuse, abuse and misuse” it as a means to block their agenda.
The comments come after Republicans, using the filibuster, blocked a sweeping effort to nationalize elections.
“That’s why a lot of us, including many of our leaders, believe that we should tremendously modify the filibuster,” Blumenthal told Tapper.
“I’m in favor of abolishing it, but in the meantime, we can mobilize, support the American people to understand that dark money, the money that goes to elections without disclosure is determining the outcomes.”
Tapper introduced a slice of accidental journalism interjecting, “Senator, haven’t you voted in favor of filibustering Republican legislation, not allowing them to even proceed to a discussion, an amendment process, and debate on a bill?”
“You’re talking about it being corrupt, but you’ve used it, too,” Tapper pressed.
RELATED: Krysten Sinema Defends Filibuster, Argues Democrats Are Hypocrites After Using It Repeatedly
Jake Tapper Reminds Richard Blumenthal That Democrats Have Used the Filibuster
Richard Blumenthal didn’t need a reminder from Jake Tapper about Democrat use of the filibuster. He could have just listened to his colleagues.
In an op-ed defending the filibuster as a tool for democracy just prior to the election reform vote, Democrat Senator Krysten Sinema pointed out that her own party has used it to further negotiations “toward better solutions.”
“A Democratic Senate minority used the 60-vote threshold just last year to filibuster a police reform proposal and a covid-relief bill that many Democrats viewed as inadequate,” Sinema (AZ) wrote.
“Those filibusters were mounted not as attempts to block progress, but to force continued negotiations toward better solutions.”
Opinion | Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.): We have more to lose than gain by ending the filibuster https://t.co/G8TzN6PjCQ
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) June 22, 2021
Senator Joe Manchin similarly argued that his party has used the filibuster in the past even as they portray it as ‘corrupt’ and an abuse of power.
“I will not vote to weaken or eliminate the filibuster,” said Manchin, pointing out that his party is determined to “conveniently ignore how it has been critical to protecting the rights of Democrats in the past.”
Joe Manchin, exiting the Senate vote to advance voting legislation, holds firm in his support for the 60-vote threshold: “I think y’all know where I stand on the filibuster.”
He adds: “The filibuster is needed to protect democracy.”
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) June 22, 2021
Biden Accuses Republicans Of Voter Suppression
Hans von Spakovsky, an American attorney and a former member of the Federal Election Commission, said the election bill a Republican filibuster saved the nation from on Tuesday “would change election rules to make it easier to cheat and easier to manipulate election results.”
President Biden on the other hand didn’t quite see things that way, accusing the GOP of “voter suppression” and using his favorite new catchphrase – ‘Jim Crow’ – to describe their efforts.
“Senate Republicans opposed even a debate — even considering — legislation to protect the right to vote and our democracy,” Biden griped.
“They stood against the ongoing assault of voter suppression that represents a Jim Crow era in the 21st century,” he added.
“I’ll have more to say on this next week. But let me be clear. This fight is far from over—far from over. I’ve been engaged in this work my whole career, and we are going to be ramping up our efforts to overcome again—for the people, for our very democracyhttps://t.co/rhevtvR1MO
— Lee Drutman (@leedrutman) June 23, 2021
Biden had a very different view of the filibuster as a Democrat senator in 2005.
“It is not only a bad idea – it upsets the constitutional design and it disservices the country,” Biden said in a speech arguing against abolishing the filibuster.
“No longer would the Senate be that ‘different kind of legislative body’ that the Founders intended,” he continued. “No longer would the Senate be the ‘saucer’ to cool the passions of the immediate majority.”
ICYMI late last night — Ben Sasse delivered a historic 45 minute speech — reading back then Senator Biden’s own prolific defense of the filibuster in 2005 word for word.
The original speech –> https://t.co/vkDTmAtNFg
Sasse’s delivery last nighthttps://t.co/A4T4EurdK9 https://t.co/U0ELHI8MaC
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) March 25, 2021
According to Fox News reporter John Roberts, Democrats have used the filibuster significantly more than Republicans over the past year.
By a ratio of 327 to 1.
After @POTUS @JoeBiden denounced the rampant abuse of the filibuster last year, we did some digging. Republicans used it once. Democrats used it 327 times. @FoxNews
— John Roberts (@johnrobertsFox) March 26, 2021
In reality, it is the resistance Democrats who have ‘abused’ the filibuster.
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