Schiff is well known for his lies about Donald Trump. But now he’s telling all.
And Adam Schiff finally admitted something that is raising eyebrows.
California Senator-elect Adam Schiff isn’t holding back when it comes to the Democratic Party’s disastrous performance in this month’s election, placing the blame squarely on the party as a whole for Vice President Kamala Harris’ stunning defeat.
Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press Sunday, host Kristen Welker confronted Schiff with his overly optimistic prediction just weeks before the election, when he confidently claimed Harris would win “overwhelmingly.”
Now, Schiff admitted that while Harris had a chance, the party faced insurmountable challenges.
“I think Joe Biden’s decision to step aside and pass the torch is the right decision,” Schiff said.
“It gave us a chance to win, not a guarantee. I thought she could win. I thought she could win in all the battleground states.”
Schiff attributed President-elect Donald Trump’s victory to what he called an “anti-incumbent wave” sweeping the nation, which he said worked against both progressives and conservatives.
He pointed to the party’s association with the status quo as a major liability.
“That was too much to overcome. I think the principal issue is the economy,” Schiff explained.
“And over years and decades, it has gotten more and more difficult for people working full-time to make a living. Until we resolve that challenge to the economy, we may find the presidency is easier to get than it is to keep.”
Welker pressed Schiff on whether he agreed with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who recently blamed President Biden for dooming the party by staying in the race too long before bowing out.
Schiff sidestepped directly criticizing Biden but acknowledged broader failings within the party.
“Look, I think the entire Democratic Party bears the responsibility,” Schiff responded.
“Myself included. And the former president…they mounted an effective campaign. You have to give them credit for that. The challenge we have is we need to put forward a bold vision of how we’re going to move the economy forward, make the economy work for every American. To me, the existential question is if you, working hard in America, can you still earn a good living, and too many people doubt that that’s possible.”
Schiff’s remarks come amid a period of intense soul-searching for Democrats, as party leaders scramble to explain Harris’ loss.
Some blame Biden for clinging to the race too long, while others fault Harris herself for failing to effectively address Biden’s perceived mental decline.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders pointed a finger at the party’s abandonment of the working class, while other Democrats have criticized the party’s embrace of “woke” progressive ideologies, which they argue alienated middle-class, blue-collar voters.
Former President Barack Obama has also faced scrutiny, with reports suggesting he worked behind the scenes over the summer to push Biden out of the race—efforts that may have sown division within the party.
As Democrats look ahead, Schiff’s remarks signal the need for a hard reset.
With finger-pointing rampant, the party must reckon with its identity crisis and redefine its platform to reconnect with voters who have turned their backs on its message.
Whether the party can recover in time for future elections remains an open question.
Stay tuned to Prudent Politics.
