Shortly after concluding his historic 25-hour filibuster on the Senate floor, New Jersey Democrat Cory Booker discussed his motivations with Rachel Maddow and why he chose to take this record-setting action.
Booker shared with Maddow that he spoke to constituents who were demanding, scared, and understandably angry at Democrats, who share responsibility for the current state of American history.
“Those people were urging me to catch up, to act in accordance with their needs. This movement is about people leading from their hearts, refusing to accept business as usual in their lives. I hope this is just one part of a broader effort to prevent Republicans from executing their plans in the coming days,” he stated.
Watch the full video below:
Maddow began by updating viewers on the filibuster, where Booker spoke for over 25 hours on various issues, criticizing Trump administration policies and highlighting the unconstitutional actions of Trump, with the support of Republicans.
She reminded viewers that the previous filibuster record-holder was segregationist Strom Thurmond, who spoke for 24 hours in an attempt to block the 1957 Civil Rights Act. Maddow also recalled Chris Murphy’s 2016 filibuster for a vote on a gun safety bill.
Booker acknowledged these historical moments while planning his marathon speech.
“When my team and I decided to undertake this challenge, we aimed to take risks and push our limits. It always bothered me that Strom Thurmond, who opposed people like me from entering the Senate, held the record for the longest speech,” Booker said.
Maddow then inquired about his decision-making process for the filibuster.
“I credit my constituents for being impatient, demanding, and understandably angry at Democrats, who must accept their role in shaping America’s current situation,” Booker stated.
“The more I contemplated this with my team, especially after recent decisions surrounding the continuing resolution, the more I felt compelled to act publicly,” he continued, referring to the recent Trump-supported funding bill that faced backlash from Democratic voters. Ultimately, nine Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, changed their support for the bill at the last minute, a move that backfired for Schumer and the Democratic Party as a whole, inciting the anger Booker referred to. (Booker was not among the Senators who supported the bill.)
“My staff shared personal stories about their fears and family struggles, prompting us to bring those voices to the Senate floor. Our constituents are demanding change. This approach will certainly be different,” Booker emphasized. “I believe the energy from the people I have encountered in Jersey and across the nation fueled my resolve during this filibuster.”
Later in the interview, Booker elaborated, “The letters, calls, and demands from my constituents were a significant ignition point for me. However, we must continue to ignite this movement. The only thing that prevented Donald Trump from dismantling the Affordable Care Act was the activism of countless Americans who stepped up to become engaged citizens, lobbying and protesting in their communities.”
Booker remarked that Americans are not “waiting for Congress to lead. They have decided to take action themselves. These constituents urged me to catch up and join them in their efforts. This movement is about people leading from their hearts and refusing to accept the status quo. I hope this is one aspect of a larger initiative to counteract what they plan to do in the coming days.”
There’s more to discuss, and you can watch the full video above.
The post Cory Booker Says Voters ‘Very Understandably’ Angry at Democrats Inspired His Record Filibuster | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
