Late night television hosts expressed frustration over the end of the government shutdown, criticizing Democratic lawmakers for what they saw as a lack of achievement in negotiations.
On CBS, Stephen Colbert commented on The Late Show, “So yes, the shutdown may have been long and painful for millions of Americans, but at least it achieved jack squat.” He also remarked about retiring Senate Democrats: “None of those eight Senate Democrats are up for reelection next year, and two have announced they are retiring from the Senate. What a disappointing way to end your career. Reminds me of when Journey released their last single: ‘We Stopped Believin’.”
ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel addressed Democratic efforts during the shutdown: “Democrats refused to sign on to a bill that would force millions of Americans off of their health care and make it much more expensive for those who can afford it. So, Democrats drew a line in the sand. They said we are not going over this. And today, after 41 days, they pulled out a shovel and a bucket and they ate all that sand. And got nothing for it. Isn’t that great? You know what they got? They got a promise from the Republicans in the Senate to hold a vote on health care sometime in the future.” Kimmel also criticized Minority Leader Chuck Schumer: “I mean, at his age, it’s incredible at his age that Chuck Schumer is still able to bend over so far.”
Jon Stewart on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show voiced disappointment with Democratic strategy: “I cannot [bleep] believe it! You had the wind at your back! Election victories all over the country… Democrats, you sold out the entire shutdown not to get what you wanted, but for a promise to not get what you wanted later. Where in The Art of War—where—hold on—where in The Art of—okay, here it is: I got it. Sun Tzu said, ‘Never press your advantage. It’s unseemly! Fighting’s hard. How ’bout a snack?’”
The comments from these hosts reflect ongoing debate about how effectively political parties handle government negotiations and communicate outcomes to their supporters.
