evidence: Abandoning the principle of minority empowerment would fundamentally change the distinct and defining role of the U.S. Senate. Today’s Democrats, now with the barest of majorities in a 50-50 Senate, conveniently ignore their own impassioned defense of the filibuster when they were in the minority. Then, they vigorously spoke of its vital role; 30 Senate Democrats signed a letter in 2017 imploring Senate leaders to "preserve existing rules, practices, and traditions as they pertain to the right of Members to engage in extended debate on legislation." Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), now the majority leader, had previously described attempts to do away with the filibuster as a "temper tantrum" and stressed in 2017 that "no senator would like to see that happen." Let us also be clear that those who claim the filibuster is racist know better. For former president Barack Obama to make this absurd charge after he himself vigorously defended the filibuster just a few years ago is both jarring and deeply disappointing. I don’t recall a single claim from Democrats that employing the filibuster was racist when they were in the minority.