Democratic Infighting Leads To Misplaced Priorities

Jillian Bandes | January 26, 2010 12:45 PM

Politico reports that Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) are going at it over the so-called "third thing" in the Democratic Party's plan for moving forward. The Party already has

health care, though it's faltering. They've already dug in with financial issues, including bank bailouts and new regulations. There's room for one more item; Schumer wants immigration, and Kerry wants climate change. The question isn't "who will win." It's what this internal infighting could do when President Obama gives them both the bird.

Though both Senators deny that there's any kind of spat, it's clear something is brewing. Schumer has been amping up his efforts on the immigration issue, complaining about the closure of a prison that could adversely affect illegals, and authoring the main Democratic immigration bill that could hypothetically (but not realistically) be considered this year.

Kerry has flown to Copenhagen to assure the world that the U.S. -- or at least he -- considers global warming to be a top priority, and pressured Obama to at least mention the issue during his State of the Union address. Problem is, Obama is doing damage control after faltering on health care. There isn't any political space to take on another "thing." If he tries, Obama, and the Democrats, will be so saddled with voter animosity that they won't be able to do anything at all.