Democrats’ new leader suggests John Kerry just ’emboldened extremists.’

Posted: Dec 29, 2016

There is an old saying in politics: The most dangerous place in Washington is between Chuck Schumer and a camera. And the famously press-friendly incoming Senate minority leader could find himself in front of plenty of cameras in the months ahead — but perhaps not always in a way liberals will be terribly fond of. As of next week, Schumer is the de facto leader of the opposition, wielding the best weapon Democrats have to thwart Republican President-elect Donald Trump and the GOP-controlled Congress: The filibuster. But just how much he will use it — and how resolutely he'll stand in Trump's way — remains to be seen. Schumer himself has suggested there's plenty of room for common ground, while also talking tough about Trump. Adding to that intrigue is Schumer's outspokenness, which was on full display Wednesday evening. Hours after Secretary of State John F. Kerry delivered a controversial speech critical of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, Schumer issued a statement. It wasn't surprising that the strongly pro-Israel Schumer would be at least somewhat critical of Kerry's speech, but Schumer really didn't mince words — at all. “While he may not have intended it, I fear Secretary Kerry, in his speech and action at the U.N., has emboldened extremists on both sides,” Schumer said, citing Palestinian attacks after Israelis withdrew from settlements in Gaza. So there's the incoming leader of the Democrats, suggesting a Democratic secretary of state and former fellow Democratic senator has “emboldened extremists.” That's very strong language. Again, this is a passion-infused issue on which Schumer's stance is known and hasn't generally aligned with the Obama administration. But it reinforces what a wild card he could be going forward. Schumer is something of a political contradiction. He's perhaps best known in Washington for shepherding Democrats to the Senate majority as the head of that effort last decade. And he's long been seen as the heir to retiring Sen. Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) as Senate Democrats' leader. To Republicans, he's another New York City liberal, and the New York Times a year ago labeled him “the chief villain of the GOP.” But he's also run afoul of liberals at times. He's seen as too closely allied with Wall Street, and environmentalists balk at his support for fracking. He's seen as too hawkish on Iraq and Iran. Some liberal groups urged the party to go a different direction with its next leader. And some of that hand-wringing has continued in recent weeks. Schumer is an avowed pragmatist, professing a desire to get things done. But for now, that means working with Trump and Republicans — at a time when many Democrats would like to take the tack Republicans took with President Obama and basically stand in the president's way at all turns (turnabout being fair play an all). Schumer's and Trump's relationship promises to be a fascinating one. The two big-talking New Yorkers have even been rumored to be friendly, though Schumer downplays the extent of their relationship. Trump has said nice things about Schumer, tweeting his hope for a productive relationship once Schumer was elevated to Democratic leader of the incoming Senate. ;