Democrats spent the previous administration generally united in their opposition to former President Donald Trump.
Since then, however, the party has been prone to infighting between its moderate and progressive factions — and recent evidence suggests it could explode into an all-out partisan civil war.
“It doesn’t help the president to see it fail”
The Hill cited one recent example of such discord, which was highlighted when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) rescheduled a vote on the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure plan that had been planned for Thursday.
Two unnamed senators confirmed that at least two dozen progressive Democrats in the House plan to oppose the bill.
“They will not pass it on Thursday,” one source indicated. “Enough of the House members understand that they would be gutting the Build Back Better agenda.”
The other senator predicted that Pelosi “will pull it,” noting that legislators are “pretty sure she won’t put it up for a vote.”
Instead, the individual explained that Pelosi would likely “meet with the moderates and she’ll say, ‘Listen, I don’t put these things up when the votes aren’t there. It doesn’t help your cause to see it fail, it doesn’t help the president to see it fail.”
“Ignores the brutal fiscal reality our nation faces”
For their part, progressives fear that passing the infrastructure bill means they will lose any remaining leverage over moderate Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and Joe Manchin (D-WV), both of whom have balked at the size and scope of the larger budget reconciliation package.
In remarks on Wednesday, Manchin expressed his view on the $3.5 trillion legislation being pushed by leftist Democrats.
“While I am hopeful that common ground can be found that would result in another historic investment in our nation, I cannot — and will not — support trillions in spending or an all-or-nothing approach that ignores the brutal fiscal reality our nation faces,” he said.
Manchin advocated for “a better way,” which he said could be found “if we are willing to continue to negotiate in good faith.”
Of course, this is not the first time Manchin has created waves within his own party. In 2018, for example, he voted to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. He has also engaged in a public feud with high-profile progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).
The post Pelosi faces divided Democratic Party ahead of planned vote on infrastructure plan first appeared on Conservative Institute.
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