Senate

Schumer: ‘You don’t blame other people’ for losing an election

by Rebecca Savransky - 06/25/17 10:23 AM ET

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Sunday said you have to blame yourself, not others, when you lose an election.

During an interview on ABC’s “This Week,” Schumer said the lesson the Democrats should take from their loss in Georgia is that the party needs a clear message and agenda.

“Democrats need a strong, bold, sharp-edged and commonsense economic agenda. Policy, platform, message that appeal to the middle class, that resonate with the middle class, and show that — and unite Democrats,” he said.

{mosads}”This economic message platform is going to resonate. It’s what we were missing, and it’s not going to be baby steps — it’s going to bold.”

He said Democrats are going to come out with that new plan this summer.

“But you lose an election, you don’t blame other people, you blame yourself,” he added.

When asked about some lawmakers’ comments that House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has to go, Schumer appeared to offer a defense of Pelosi, while focusing on the party’s agenda.

“They always blame the leader,” he said.

“I think if we come up with this strong, bold economic package, it will change things around. That’s what we were missing.”

He added that people don’t like President Trump, but they don’t know what the Democrats stand for.

“Ryan has a point here — we better stand for something, and it can’t be baby steps,” he said, referring to Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), who has been critical of Pelosi and challenged her for the party’s leadership in the lower chamber.

“People, Democrats, are going to be pleased,” he noted, adding he is talking to Democrats across the spectrum. “This is going to be really something that Democrats can be proud of, and I’m excited about it.”

Tags Chuck Schumer Sunday shows