DelBene Defends Dems in Shutdown Blame Game

In a tense exchange on Bloomberg’s “Balance of Power” this Wednesday, DCCC Chair Rep. Suzan DelBene delivered a sharp defense of the recent government shutdown, casting it not as a partisan failure, but as a principled stand “for the American people.”

When asked directly by host Joe Mathieu whether the shutdown was worth it, DelBene didn’t hesitate. “Standing up for the American people is absolutely worth it,” she said, before turning her attention squarely toward Republicans, accusing them of triggering the shutdown and abandoning their promises to bring down everyday costs.

DelBene’s comments reflect a broader Democratic strategy to paint the GOP as not only ineffective but also beholden to President Donald Trump. Her framing is both calculated and combative: the government shutdown wasn’t the result of legislative gridlock or failed compromise—it was, in her words, the fault of Republicans who “shut down the government” and “aren’t interested” in bipartisan solutions.

The implication of her stance is clear: Democrats were the ones protecting key programs and trying to address rising costs, while Republicans were playing politics.

But there’s a deeper narrative at play. DelBene’s comments tap into a mounting frustration across the country over inflation, healthcare costs, and a general sense of economic instability. She accused Republicans of contributing to “skyrocketing healthcare costs across the country,” tying policy failures directly to the fallout of the shutdown.

The broader message: Republicans promised to fix these issues—and not only did they fail to deliver, but their allegiance to Trump has left them unwilling to govern effectively.

The irony is potent. In defending a government shutdown—typically a political liability—DelBene is attempting to reframe it as an act of political courage, not chaos. It’s a high-stakes rhetorical move, one that hinges on voters accepting her premise: that obstruction is leadership when it’s done in the name of affordability, fairness, and defending essential services.

Whether that message resonates may depend on which side of the aisle Americans blame for rising prices—and whether they see shutdowns as principled stands or political stunts.