Jahana Haines, a Democratic Representative, challenged the leadership of her party in a closed-door meeting held on Thursday. She questioned their messaging strategy on debt ceilings.
The Connecticut Democrat asked “Why don’t we stay this weekend?” suggesting that the party remain in Washington despite Republicans having adjourned the House for Memorial Day break just days before a possible default of the federal debt. “We should ask Republicans how they will go home.”
Rep. Debbie Dingell added, “She’s correct.” According to a source, the Michigan Democrat had been scheduled to officiate at her goddaughter’s wedding in Italy on this weekend. However, she decided to cancel and stay in D.C. instead.
House Minority leader Hakeem Jeffrey did not reject the idea in the meeting. However, senior Democrats told POLITICO the leadership does not support forcing members to miss constituent meetings at home when there is no concrete plan to vote.
Jeffries has tried to calm the frustration of Democratic legislators over what they perceive as a lack of communication from the White House.
Members have been privately fuming that Biden refused to use his bully-pulpit to deliver a concise and clear message about the debt ceiling negotiations, even though Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R. La.) and his negotiators Garret graves were present. Patrick McHenry, a Republican from North Carolina, has used frequent press conferences and reporter gaggles to attack the White House’s position.
Hill Democrats view Biden’s non engagement as a strategic mistake. One member of Jeffries’ leadership team, summarizing White House thinking, told POLITICO: “They don’t wish to poison the well in negotiations, but Republicans do just that, and it’s asymmetrical.” “It is not sustainable.”
We are told that during the weekly party leadership meeting that took place earlier this week Jeffries said that House Democrats should go on the offensive against McCarthy since the White House did not feel it could. Jeffries’ leadership team and Jeffries held a press conference shortly after on the Capitol steps. Since then, Jeffries has taken more questions from reporters to counter GOP flood-the zone tactics.
The White House, on the other hand, is happy to play “good cop” and ignore the “bad cops” of the Hill Democrats. This strategy has proven successful in the past. Biden’s ally in the White House claims that Jeffries has had conversations with the administration about the message and who should say it.
The Biden ally said to Playbook that they had coordinated what both of them were saying. “They’re on the same page with him about doing that, and they [staying silent].” The president is able to tell when to make a contrast and when to keep quiet to reach a deal.
As recess approaches, the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee will likely distribute talking points encouraging Democrats to criticize Republicans once they return to their districts.
Nevertheless, some House Democrats believe that the “hit-them at home” messaging is not enough. Many have asked leadership to oppose Republicans’ request for today’s adjournment. Instead, they hope to force a vote and put the pressure on the GOP to leave town only days before the X date — similar to Republicans’ attacks against Biden last week because he went to Japan for the G-7.
According to reports, Democratic leaders are encouraging their ranks to criticize Republicans for adjourning. According to , a whip-note sent out on Thursday night, which was shared with POLITICO by senior Democrats, they are encouraging members to come to the House Floor en masse today and “demand Speaker McCarthy to keep the House in Session and share constituent stories highlighting the local impact of Republican cuts to vital programs that keep Americans fed, housed, healthy and secure while holding America’s economic hostage.”
If McCarthy does not do this, then many Democrats will also be headed to the airport with their GOP counterparts.
