New Politico Profile Details Extent to Which Sinema Continues Trashing Democratic Colleagues, Sucking Up to Republican Donors & Lobbyists, and Outlines Sinema’s Theory of the Race Ahead of a Potential Re-Election
NEW DETAILS:
- Sinema gave the literal (not metaphorical) middle finger to President Biden’s Chief of Staff, Ron Klain, in a room full of Republican lobbyists and bragged about not returning his calls.
- Sinema called Senate Democratic caucus lunches “ridiculous” and “dumb”…
- “Old dudes are eating Jell-O […] I don’t really need to be there for that. That’s an hour and a half twice a week that I can get back.”
- Sinema reiterates: “I’m not caucusing with the Democrats”
- Sinema “derides” Chuck Schumer in “harshly critical terms” according to Republican sources and even “mocked” Joe Manchin.
- When a Republican donor said Sinema “carried the water for us in this last Congress,” she responded: “You’re hired.”
- “She’s the biggest egomaniac in the Senate” said one of her colleagues
- “One potential arrangement: Sinema could remain an independent but caucus with the Republicans in exchange for a ceasefire in spending.”
Today Politico Magazine is out with a new profile of Kyrsten Sinema by Jonathan Martin. The piece includes previously unreported comments by Sinema deriding her Democratic colleagues including Senators Chuck Schumer and Joe Manchin, and aligning herself in explicit terms with Republican donors.
The profile also details what might be Sinema’s theory of the Senate race and her plausible strategy for running for re-election: that if the Republicans nominate an extremist, Sinema will seek tacit support from Mitch McConnell and establishment Republicans. The piece even raises the possibility that Sinema could caucus with Republicans in exchange for a ceasefire in spending from Republican campaign entities in the Arizona race.
As Martin’s reporting makes clear, Sinema’s fundraising activity indicates she’s planning to run for re-election. She currently has upcoming fundraisers scheduled in Maui and Sonoma.
“This article lays bare what we’ve known for years – that Sinema is in the pockets of corporate lobbyists,” said Sacha Haworth, spokesperson for Replace Sinema.
ICYMI
POLITICO: SINEMA TRASHES DEMS: ‘OLD DUDES EATING JELL-O’
Jonathan Martin // March 23, 2023
Ever since Senator Kyrsten Sinema became an independent in December, her Democratic colleagues have been restrained about the shift, careful not to alienate the Arizona lawmaker when they only have a single-seat majority and need her support on legislation and nominees.
Hoping to get through this year, and then gain clarity about whether Sinema will even seek reelection in 2024 let alone continue to caucus with her old party, Senate Democrats have dodged questions about the mercurial marathoner who’s still barely in their ranks.
[…]
As she races to stockpile campaign money and post an impressive, statement-making first-quarter fundraising number, Sinema has used a series of Republican-dominated receptions and retreats this year to belittle her Democratic colleagues, shower her GOP allies with praise and, in one case, quite literally give the middle finger to President Biden’s White House.
And that’s before an audience.
Speaking in private, whether one-on-one or with small groups of Republican senators, she’s even more cutting, particularly about Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, whom she derides in harshly critical terms, according to senior Republican officials directly familiar with her comments.
Sinema’s sniping spree has delighted the Republican lawmakers, lobbyists and donors who’ve taken in the show, giving some of them hope that she can be convinced to caucus with the GOP, either in this Congress or in the case she’s re-elected as an independent.
###