Democratic civil war hits new heights | TheHill – The Hill

Democrats engaged in a verbal war on Thursday, with progressives and centrists accusing one another of essentially sabotaging President BidenJoe BidenBiden and Xi Jinping to hold virtual summit by end of this year Facebook whistleblower to meet with Jan. 6 committee: report On The Money Presented by NRHC Senate nears debt ceiling ceasefire MOREs agenda and putting the partys majorities in jeopardy.

The two factions have been growing more and more mutually irritated by the day amid a stalemate over the bipartisan infrastructure bill passed by the Senate and a larger, sweeping social spending measure now being crafted.

But as lawmakers wondered whether they would be voting on an infrastructure bill that progressives have vowed to tank unless the budget bill moves first, the gloves really came off.

Rep. Steve CohenStephen (Steve) Ira CohenThe Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Alibaba - Democrats still at odds over Biden agenda Democratic civil war hits new heights Cohen on progressives: 'My car is older than quite a few' of them MORE (D-Tenn.) in a CNN interview dismissed younger liberal lawmakers as newbies who dont understand how Washington works.

They haven't been legislators, most of them, for a very long period of time, and a lot of them have been activists, he said.

My car is older than quite a few of the progressives, Cohen added, criticizing the left flank for not compromising.

In the House, anger was mounting against Sens. Joe ManchinJoe ManchinSanders declined to sign statement condemning protests against Sinema: report Graham opposes short-term debt hike, warns against being 'held hostage' to filibuster Schumer-McConnell debt hike talks spill into Thursday MORE (D-W.Va.) and Kyrsten SinemaKyrsten SinemaSanders declined to sign statement condemning protests against Sinema: report Graham opposes short-term debt hike, warns against being 'held hostage' to filibuster Schumer-McConnell debt hike talks spill into Thursday MORE (D-Ariz.), two moderates who have refused to sign off on a $3.5 trillion price tag on the larger spending bill. Manchin on Thursday said he could only go as high as $1.5 trillion.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-CortezAlexandria Ocasio-CortezMarkey endorses Michelle Wu in race for Boston mayor Manchin's 'red line' on abortion splits Democrats Far-left bullies resort to harassing, shaming Kyrsten Sinema it won't work MORE (D-N.Y.) accused Senate centrists of dismissing the policy concerns of progressives, and of not treating them as equal members.

She laughed when asked by a reporter if a $1.5 trillion budget plan goes far enough to address the countrys problems.

For one year? the New York progressive asked rhetorically.

Instead of them asking everyone to cater to themselves, why don't we come to this process as equal partners? she said.

She noted that the infrastructure bill was written by the Senate without House input, a demand also made publicly on Thursday by Rep. Pramila JayapalPramila JayapalManchin's 'red line' on abortion splits Democrats Biden indicates he would sign reconciliation bill with Hyde amendment Democrats face tough choices on trimming spending package MORE (D-Wash.), the leader of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Right now they are demanding also a vote on an infrastructure bill that they have authored demanding that the House not conference it, demanding that every House member rubber stamp it with no House amendments, Ocasio-Cortez said.

That essentially their bill, authored as is, go straight to the president's desk without any amendments, they have no top line number for negotiations. I mean, we need to be serious, she added.

Rep. Cori BushCori BushNew HUD rule aimed at preventing evictions from public housing Missouri inmate executed despite pleas from Pope, lawmakers Pope calls for clemency for Missouri inmate ahead of execution MORE (D-Mo.), also speaking to CNN, said she did not believe members like Manchin and Sinema cared about her community in St. Louis.

And frustrations were also not hard to spot outside the circles of Congress.

As Manchin spoke to reporters outside the Capitol, a chant among left-wing activists of Joe Manchin is a traitor broke out.

A number of Democrats did try to take the temperature down, including Jayapal and Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiSanders declined to sign statement condemning protests against Sinema: report Pelosi's office denies claims on Trump meeting from Grisham's book Legislative limbo how low can they go? MORE (D-Calif.) who repeatedly this week has sought to downplay intraparty tensions.

Rep. Rashida TlaibRashida Harbi TlaibWho's the boss? Pelosi's legacy sealed after kowtowing to 'the Squad' Democratic civil war hits new heights Progressive Democrats seek to purge the term 'moderate' MORE (D-Mich.), who is known for having a sharp tone on Twitter and who earlier this week said voting on the infrastructure bill alone would represent a betrayal, said Cohens words were unfortunate but did not go on the attack.

This is not what makes it better, Tlaib told The Hill when asked about the remarks.

I dont like responding to comments like that, Tlaib said. Im really here to tell the human stories of my residents.

But others were more than willing to engage with the critique.

Many people are misinformed, said Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) in a brief interview after he addressed dozens of grassroots activists. Or maybe they misunderstood the progressive movement.

The thing about the progressive movement is were challenging how Washington historically has worked, he added. Were pushing back and saying hell no.'

Moderate Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), a member of the Problem Solvers Caucus, accused progressives of being too skeptical of centrists. And in truth, many progressives believe it is important for the social spending bill to move through the House and Senate ahead of the infrastructure bill because they do not trust centrists to back the larger bill without the leverage of infrastructure.

I think progressives dont trust moderates, Cuellar told The Hill. I was here in 2010 where they said go big, go bold, he added, referencing how Democrats lost the House after passing former President ObamaBarack Hussein ObamaWhy Latinos need Supreme Court reform Legislative limbo how low can they go? White House badly needs win in Virginia MOREs health care law.

We have to have 50 votes in the Senate. Not only Bernie SandersBernie SandersSanders declined to sign statement condemning protests against Sinema: report On The Money Presented by NRHC Senate nears debt ceiling ceasefire Sanders to Manchin, Sinema: 'Tell us what you want' in spending fight MORE. Not only Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenSenate poised to stave off debt crisis White House cool to McConnell debt ceiling offer: 'We don't need to kick the can' Democrats say they will accept McConnell debt ceiling offer MORE, Cuellar said.

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Democratic civil war hits new heights | TheHill - The Hill