While Schumer worked and fought alongside fellow Democratic, New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, the famous and liberal Jon Stewart and 9/11 first responders, he said something that could highlight his concerns with the lack of progress being made in Congress recently. Schumer stated that, "If Congress can’t come together and help the first responders who are ill because they rushed to the towers, then we may as well forget this place altogether,".
As a Senator from New York, assisting 9/11 first responders an issue that hits close to home for him. He's trying to reach out to Congress and fight for the health and wellbeing of his constituents. With the lack of legislation passed recently and the strife between the Democratic and Republican Parties on issues such as Planned Parenthood funding, it's unsurprising that Senator Schumer would initially be worried about this piece of legislation not passing. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY.) has explained that both the House and the Senate are working on the details of the legislation and that they plan to extend the program. McConnell's comments are definitely 'a bright glimmer of hope' as Schumer described it.
The fact that Schumer was willing to work and fight alongside Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Jon Stewart reveals that he wanted to express to Congress how important passing an extension on this bill is. He desperately wants this to pass, so he wanted to join those who would be revenant in helping out with this push. Getting this message across with such liberal and important figures was definitely a move that would get the response of Republicans.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/chuck-schumer-911-responders_55f9c9b8e4b0fde8b0ccad7b
http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/national/post-daily-show-jon-stewart-along-with-gillibrand-schumer-lobby-for-sept-11-responders-20150916
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/jon-stewart-congress-dont-forget-9-11-first-responders-n428481
2 comments:
It's interesting to consider what this reveals about the disappearance of clear lines between lawmakers, parties, and interest groups, not to mention high profile political celebrities. Of course, lawmakers attempt to build majorities to push legislation through Congress all the time--it's expected that lawmakers will formulate and disseminate persuasive arguments. But, this sounds different, more like lawmakers lobbying Congress using a different sort of strategy. What are the causes and consequences for Congress in rallying a celebrity like Jon Stewart to lobby Congress?
I would personally argue that Congress members would rally with celebrities such as Jon Stewart to lobby Congress in order to gain more media coverage and more popularity with their constituents and the general American public. Something that I've personally learned over the years is that there's a lot of American citizens that genuinely don't like politicians and find them to be not relatable and even a bit detached from American society because of their profession. I would argue that this general dislike for politicians is one of the main reasons Donald Trump is doing so well in the presidential race as of now. If politicians want more media attention and popularity, they're going to have to do something that'll make them seem a bit more relatable and likable to the American public. A large portion of American citizens care more about what goes on with celebrities they like versus what goes on with their Representatives and find celebrities to be much more likable and relatable than politicians. Lobbying with celebrities is a good way for politicians like Chuck Schumer to appeal to the masses and become slightly more liked and relatable by the general American public and their constituents. Doing this with celebrities might will also encourage other members of Congress to take a closer look at whenever bill is being pushed and possibly make them more inclined to take action in regards to the bill in order to be viewed as a more cooperative and favorable politicians.
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