"We say to our Republicans who want to privatize Medicare, we say: go try it. Make our day," Sen. Chuck Schumer said. | Getty Schumer accuses GOP of 'war on seniors'

Future Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer trotted out a new messaging attack on Donald Trump and congressional Republicans on Tuesday, accusing the GOP of "plotting a war on seniors" with its plans to repeal Obamacare and potentially privatize Medicare.

Faced with having to swallow Rep. Tom Price's (R-Ga.) nomination as Trump's secretary of health and human services, Schumer is hoping that unified Democratic opposition to privatizing health care plans for seniors can be a rallying point — as well as a political shield to save endangered Democratic senators. Senate Democrats are defending five Senate seats in deeply conservative states in 2018, but Schumer vowed that his entire caucus will oppose any effort to change the current single-payer Medicare system for seniors.


"Between this nomination of an avowed Medicare opponent and the Republicans here threatening to privatize Medicare it's clear that Washington Republicans are plotting a war on seniors next year. Every senior, every American, should hear this loudly and clearly: Democrats will not let them win that fight," Schumer said. "Democrats from blue states, purple states, red states are going to link arm-and-arm to protect Medicare for our seniors and ensure that Republicans don't succeed in putting our seniors healthcare at risk."

A bid to make changes to entitlement programs is most likely to start in the House, where House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) has suggested that a repeal of Obamacare should be paired with changes to programs like Medicare. Price has likewise listed Medicare reform as a key priority for Republicans. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) declined to address the matter on Tuesday and Trump has not voiced support for changing Medicare to a private insurance program.

Given the lack of GOP unity on the issue, along with the voting strength of seniors, Medicare offers Schumer an opportunity to go on the offensive after Democrats were crushed on Election Day. And while Democrats retain the power to filibuster legislation in the Senate, Republicans could conceivably force through entitlement reforms via budget reconciliation, which allows passage of some legislation by a simple majority.

But that would be far more difficult if Schumer and congressional Democrats are able to mount a sustained campaign against the GOP's "war on seniors," a strategy reminiscent of their "war on women" messaging of past election cycles as well as the party's opposition to President George W. Bush's efforts to privatize Social Security.

"Just as their efforts failed then, they will fail now. We say to our Republicans who want to privatize Medicare, we say: go try it. Make our day," Schumer said.

Price cannot be blocked due to new Senate rules, unless Republicans turn on him, which means Democrats get a free pass to rail against Price and changes to Medicare. Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), an endangered incumbent, said on Tuesday he will oppose Price because of his views on Medicare.

“Tom Price has led the charge to privatize Medicare, and for this reason, I cannot support his nomination," Donnelly said. "The nomination of Tom Price would put us on a direct path to end Medicare as we know it, which would raise health care costs and break a fundamental promise to seniors."