# Why are Democrats being blamed for the shutdown? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 8, 2025, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788 "2025-10-08T17:11:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 21
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/401 "2025-11-11T17:53:57Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > Ah! I get it now. The genius strategy was to give Republicans what they wanted, and that would…uh…make people vote for Democrats? Let me explain: Republicans wanted a shutdown but voted to open the government. There is a difference between the MAGAs and the regular GOP. > [@DeadTreasSecretaries](#): > > You don’t need to do this much jujitsu to get the republicans to admit they don’t want to spend money on healthcare. Not so openly, then they they openly lied about it. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/402 "2025-11-11T18:03:22Z")
Excellent takedown of a nonsense straw man! Feel free to read my actual words and respond, if you wish. ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/403 "2025-11-11T18:05:30Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Not so openly, then they they openly lied about it. Cite? I haven’t seen any gop eenators say the current subsidies should be extended as is. A few have said they could continue in some different or scaled back form from what ive seen. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/404 "2025-11-11T18:08:37Z")
> [@DeadTreasSecretaries](#): > > Cite? I haven’t seen any gop eenators say the current subsidies should be extended as is. They agreed to give a bill a fair shake, then voted it down within minutes. ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/405 "2025-11-11T18:13:43Z")
That isn’t a lie. They promised an up or down vote and then they did that. They held out from giving in to democratic demands because they didn’t want to simply add the subsidy extension in, and when asked to vote on that they all voted not to add the subsidy extension in. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/406 "2025-11-11T18:51:56Z")
I don’t know how the numbers will break, but there are House Democrats who aren’t satisfied… > **[Top House Democrats vow to oppose shutdown bill over healthcare funding](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/11/shutdown-legislation-house-democrats?CMP)** > > Democrats are demanding an extension of tax credits for Affordable Care Act health plans set to expire at end of year ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/407 "2025-11-11T18:59:02Z")
Yeah - I think it was worth it. The only way I was affected is that I haven’t received a paycheck in over a month. And the associated stress. IMO, it generated considerable and undeniable press over how bad the Repubs are willing to let things get; how badly they are willing to treat their own supporters. And how unwilling they are to negotiate - or even remain in town. I’m not sure what more could have been accomplished if it had gone how much longer. But the Dems will have 2 months to spin their story before the end of January. And then into the primaries and the general. Apparently many folk feel something more would have happened had the shutdown lasted longer. I’m not sure exactly what you expect would have happened, why you expect that, and how much more harm you would have been willing to inflict to achieve that. But we differ as to our interpretations. Which is fine. ---
**Author:** ![keeganst94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a6a055/32.png) [@keeganst94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keeganst94)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/408 "2025-11-11T19:08:51Z")
They could have gotten…I don’t know…._literally anything they wanted._ This post hoc justification about how it was worth the pain to give the Dems a chance to grandstand for a month is absurd. They shut down the government with clearly defined demands. They harmed a large number of people by doing so. They achieved nothing tangible from it. And sure, my friends know now that republicans are killing the aca…but they also know that democrats are willing to endanger their livelihoods and food security so they can have a bigger audience. I don’t think that will help democrats as much as you seem to. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/409 "2025-11-11T19:13:55Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@sciurophobic](#): > > > > The Democrats should never have made ACA subsidies their hill to die on. 75% of people who rely on them live in red states, > > No, the fact that the GOP loudly and clearly killed the ACA means less votes for them in 2026. I agree. The point I was trying to make is that the Democrats wouldn’t be beating themselves up now for what I don’t think is as big a political mistake as they’re making it to be. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/410 "2025-11-11T19:15:36Z")
> [@DeadTreasSecretaries](#): > > That isn’t a lie. They promised an up or down vote and then they did that. Wow! It’s almost like majority rules or something. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/411 "2025-11-11T19:51:23Z")
> [@keeganst94](#): > > They could have gotten…I don’t know…._literally anything they wanted._ OK. So kindly explain when and how it would have happened. On what specific date would the Repubs have said, “OK, we’ll extend the ACA subsidies. And we’ll throw in a pony as well.” Or what else do you believe they could have gotten? No generalities, please. What makes the Senate, the House, and Trump get to that point. And exactly when does it occur? Please be sure to not confuse your hopes for how sane responsible people might act, with what you can accurately predict would have happened. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/412 "2025-11-11T19:56:11Z")
The Republicans have a majority which except for the Senate would have meant they could have passed this without any Dems. So please walk me through this: The Republicans are to blame for the shutdown because they are expected to concede to the minority party and extend the ACA benefits. However, the Democrats are **not** to blame for the shutdown. They could have conceded to the majority party but they are not expected to because … ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/413 "2025-11-11T20:11:27Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > So kindly explain when and how it would have happened. On what specific date would the Repubs have said, “OK, we’ll extend the ACA subsidies. And we’ll throw in a pony as well.” Or what else do you believe they could have gotten? > > No generalities, please. What makes the Senate, the House, and Trump get to that point. And exactly when does it occur? Please be sure to not confuse your hopes for how sane responsible people might act, with what you can accurately predict would have happened. Okay, I agree with all that except the last about “sane responsible people” if you are talking about the MAGAs. > [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > The Republicans are to blame for the shutdown because they are expected to concede to the minority party and extend the ACA benefits. No, since they didnt have a 60 vote majority, they were expected to sit down and actually, you know- negotiate. Which they refused to do. ---
**Author:** ![keeganst94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a6a055/32.png) [@keeganst94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keeganst94)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/414 "2025-11-11T20:13:55Z")
Those would have been excellent questions…for the Dems, before the shutdown. There are, essentially, 3 options to explain the Dems behavior, each of which paints them in a bad light 1. Republicans were never going to respond to the shutdown. The Democrats severely miscalculated, and thought they would. The Democrats are incompetent, and the shutdown never should have happened. 2. The Republicans would have begun to move when air travel and the general American economy were effected. The democrats caved. 3. The democrats knew from the start that the Republicans wouldn’t move, and shut the government down anyway. They are sociopaths who are willing to harm their constituents so they can get some time in the spotlight, and maybe at some point in the future they’ll get a few votes for it. Hopefully it’s more than they lose from people blaming them for inflicting the longest shutdown in history with seemingly no plan. This is also the least likely option IMO - the dems could have gracefully climbed down when the Republicans first threatened SNAP. That would have made some sense. Instead they continued for seemingly no reason and no gain. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/415 "2025-11-11T20:17:56Z")
> [@keeganst94](#): > > The democrats knew from the start that the Republicans wouldn’t move, and shut the government down anyway. Likely. But the reason is that they knew the GOP was trying to quietly cancel the ACA, and they needed the American voters to know that the MAGAs were trying that crap. There was a reasonable chance the GOP would negotiate some sort of deal, rather than just have the GOP dig it’s heels in and refuse to even negotiate. ---
**Author:** ![keeganst94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a6a055/32.png) [@keeganst94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keeganst94)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/416 "2025-11-11T20:21:25Z")
Then why extend it this far? Why the longest shutdown in history? They could have ended the shutdown at any time for the same “concessions” they gained. They could have climbed down based on how heartless Republicans were going to starve children by unnecessarily cutting SNAP, and that was unthinkable. Why now, for no gain and with no cover? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/417 "2025-11-11T20:29:15Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > No generalities, please. What makes the Senate, the House, and Trump get to that point. And exactly when does it occur? Nothing & Never! Which it was a dumbass thing for the D-Senators to do. Trump got all of the benefits and no consequences from the shutdown. > [@DrDeth](#): > > But the reason is that they knew the GOP was trying to quietly cancel the ACA, and they needed the American voters to know that the MAGAs were trying that crap. Republicans have been trying to kill ACA since before it was passed. Nothing quiet about it - they’re proud of it. > [@keeganst94](#): > > Then why extend it this far? Why the longest shutdown in history? They could have ended the shutdown at any time for the same “concessions” they gained. You don’t understand the logic here. The Republicans had to concede because they are evil horrible people that want every poor person to die in the street like the animals they are. Democrats should never concede because they are the White Knights and everything good that happens in the United States is due to them and them only. Hence the double-standard. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/418 "2025-11-11T20:32:08Z")
> [@keeganst94](#): > > Those would have been excellent questions…for the Dems, before the shutdown. I’m confused. Isn’t this a slightly different position from your previous: > [@keeganst94](#): > > They could have gotten…I don’t know…._literally anything they wanted._ > [@DrDeth](#): > > Okay, I agree with all that except the last about “sane responsible people” if you are talking about the MAGAs. Sorry I was unclear. What I was suggesting is that when people predict what they think the Repubs would do, they oughtn’t base their opinions on what sane responsible people would do. The Dems are clearly not dealing with sane responsible people. I am hopeful for some effective messaging over the upcoming months, and hoping it bears fruit next November. I do not see how the Dems’ actions these past 2 months have harmed their prospects. It will be interesting to see how and how much public opinion shifts. (I’m tempted to start a thread on how fucking sick and tired I am with opinion polls on just about every freaking issue!) > [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Nothing & Never! Which it was a dumbass thing for the D-Senators to do. Possibly it was dumb for the Sens to get into the shutdown. But I think that is a different issue than how and when they ought to have gotten out of it. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/419 "2025-11-11T20:33:26Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > It will be interesting to see how and how much public opinion shifts. You should start a poll on that. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/420 "2025-11-11T20:34:36Z")
Yeah. Ha ha. I just wondering why folk who supposedly supported the Dems during the shutdown would shift their views. It is easy to express opinions to pollsters. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788.md?page=22)