We saw this post on reddit about Tammy Baldwin’s support for Chuck Schumer and emphatically agree. Senator Baldwin has been all variety of disappointment recently, funding ICE, ignoring human rights abuses, and taking dirty money for her support of genocide. We’ve also heard rumblings of plans for actions at her offices across the state next week. We will update this post when we learn details. In the meantime, please make the calls as suggested below, and if you’re a redditor, crack your knuckles and get into the keyboard war going on at the post on r/wisconsin!
As a Wisconsin constituent, I find Tammy Baldwin’s statement supporting Chuck Schumer for Senate Majority Leader incredibly dismissive of legitimate demands for new Democratic leadership.
Her explanation compares keeping Schumer to keeping the Brewers’ management after a successful season, then concludes: “He earned his position as Majority Leader next Congress.”
Senate leadership is a responsibility to the public, not a reward for a party insider. Winning seats while Schumer is leader does not establish that Democrats won because of his leadership. Candidates, volunteers, organizers, and voters deserve credit, and an electoral victory does not erase concerns about how he will use that majority.
The question is whether Schumer is the best person to deliver on health care, housing, workers’ rights, and accountability for the Trump administration. For those of us who oppose continued U.S. military support for Israel amid violations of Palestinian human rights, his priorities are another serious reason to demand different leadership.
Baldwin’s statement addresses none of that. What commitments has she secured from Schumer? What will he do differently? What would cause her to withdraw her support? We get a baseball analogy instead of answers.
Chris Van Hollen has announced a challenge to Schumer, and the Senate Democratic leadership vote is scheduled for December 1. There is an alternative, and there is still time to push back.
If you disagree with Baldwin’s position, please contact her office. Tell her you’re a Wisconsin constituent, explain your concerns, and ask her to reconsider her support for Schumer. Ask for a substantive response about her leadership vote.
Milwaukee office: 414-297-4451
Washington office: 202-224-5653
Written comments: https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/contact/contact-tammy
Keep it firm and focused on her decision. We deserve an explanation that takes our concerns seriously.