Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., ripped Senate Democrats for their hypocrisy on the filibuster by using Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s, D-N.Y., past defense of the legislative tool against him.
Using only past remarks made by Schumer, Cotton slammed Democrats for trying to eliminate the filibuster on the Senate floor this week.
“The nuclear option is being pushed largely by the radioactive rhetoric of a small band of radicals who hold in their hands the political fortunes of the president,” he said, quoting Schumer.
Cotton continued his Schumer impersonation with a flourish.
“Constitutional scholars will tell us that the reason we have these rules in the Senate — unlimited debate, two-thirds to change the rules, the idea that 60 have to close off debate — is debate in the spirit and role of the Constitution,” Cotton continued. “That is what the Constitution is all about. We all know it.”
Schumer is not the only Democrat who has flip-flopped on the filibuster recently. President Joe Biden was also once a staunch defender of the filibuster, saying in 2005 that eliminating it would “eviscerate the Senate” and turn it into the House of Representatives.
“It is not only a bad idea; it upsets the constitutional design, and it disservices the country,” he said at the time.”
“Altering Senate rules to help in one political fight or another could become standard operating procedure, which, in my view, would be disastrous … God save us from that fate,” he said.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, put that dose of hypocrisy on display, as well.
Was Joe Biden lying when he said ending the filibuster is a very dangerous move or was he telling the truth? pic.twitter.com/0A9FpCVNrs
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) January 12, 2022
Now, however, Biden is urging lawmakers to toss the filibuster so he can pass a radical “voting rights” bill that would federalize the election process and make it difficult for states to pass election integrity reforms.
