Forging America: My Campaign Manager is Roosevelt

Chapter 445: Chapter 207: The Changing Vote (Part 4)

Her answer was crisp and decisive.

Two votes.

Two full votes against, from within the Democratic Party.

The numbers on the electronic tally board flipped in an instant.

With all the Democrats having voted, the "ayes" were stuck at 48.

The "nays" had also reached 48, and that was before all the Republicans had even finished voting.

The bill was dead.

Sanders’s face was as dark as a thundercloud.

He could accept Mannheim’s betrayal; that was a conflict of interest.

But he couldn’t accept Christo’s backstabbing. That was a blatant deception.

But this was Washington.

Deals were always being made, and betrayals were always happening.

A promise made last night was worth less than a scrap of paper in the light of day.

"It’s over."

Sitting on the Democratic side, John Murphy’s palms were slick with sweat, his gaze unfocused.

Leo had told him that he’d already reached an agreement with the Republicans last night.

But he didn’t know what Leo had discussed, much less whether those Republicans would actually keep their promise.

’If the Republicans really did vote "aye," it would be a good thing, of course.’

’But what would Sanders think?’

’Would he see it as a successful bipartisan cooperation, or would he think that Leo and I had sold our souls behind his back?’

This fear of the unknown was suffocating Murphy.

Meanwhile, on the Republican side of the aisle, the atmosphere was as festive as an early Christmas.

Senate Minority Leader McConnell sat in his chair, a signature smile on his face.

He had even started straightening his tie, preparing to give his victory speech to the reporters later.

This was his favorite kind of script: Democrats in disarray, tearing each other apart, while the Republican Party reaped the rewards.

The clerk continued the roll call.

The following names were all Republican Senators.

By conventional logic, they would vote "nay" in unison, locking the final count at 48 to 52 and burying the bill for good.

"Senator Ackman, Texas."

The clerk called out the name.

Ackman.

A hawkish leader within the Republican Party, from a state dominated by oil and the defense industry, a staunch defender of small government, and one of McConnell’s most capable lieutenants.

McConnell smiled at Ackman, awaiting the expected "nay."

Ackman stood up.

Facing the clerk, he gave a thumbs-up.

"Aye."

That single word was louder and more shocking than Mannheim’s "nay" from moments before.

The hall fell silent in an instant.

The smile on McConnell’s face froze. He whipped his head around to glare at Ackman.

On the Democratic side, Cresman’s jaw dropped, and Sanders’s glasses slid down to the tip of his nose.

But this was only the beginning.

"Senator Brown, Tennessee."

Another conservative Republican known for his hardline stance stood up.

"Aye."

A second vote.

"Senator Rogers, West Virginia."

"Aye."

A third vote.

"Senator Coburn, Kentucky."

"Aye."

A fourth vote.

Four consecutive "aye" votes from the Republicans.

These were four men who normally looked as if they wanted to tattoo the words "Anti-Democrat" on their foreheads.

They opposed big government, opposed spending, and opposed anything with a hint of liberal ideology.

But today, as if they had planned it, they lined up to cast their votes for the bill proposed by Sanders.

The numbers on the electronic tally board began to jump wildly.

48.

49.

50.

51.

52.

The red "nays" stopped at 48, while the green "ayes" surged to 52.

A majority.

"The bill is passed."

The voice of the President pro tempore rang through the hall, sounding somewhat surreal.

BANG.

The gavel fell.

No cheers.

No applause.

The entire Senate Hall descended into an eerie silence.

Everyone was communicating with their eyes, but no one dared to make a sound.

The Democrats couldn’t believe they had won, and moreover, that they had won thanks to the Republicans.

The Republicans couldn’t believe they had lost, and moreover, that they had been backstabbed by their own.

Cresman took off his glasses, rubbed his eyes hard, put them back on, and stared at the tally board again.

Sanders sat in his chair, watching the four Republicans who had voted "aye."

After casting their votes, they offered no explanation. Ignoring McConnell’s murderous glare, they simply sat down nonchalantly and began to look through their documents.

Sanders turned his head and looked toward a corner of the gallery.

Leo Wallace was sitting there.

Leo, dressed in that dark blue suit, sat in the shadows.

The moment the gavel fell, he simply raised a hand and methodically adjusted his cuff.

Then, he stood up.

His movements were elegant and unhurried, carrying the air of someone in complete control.

He glanced at the powerful figures below the dais, his gaze sweeping over the microphones, the tally board, and the astonished faces.

Finally, he turned and walked toward the exit.

"Listen to this silence, Leo."

Roosevelt’s voice echoed in his mind.

"It’s more beautiful than ten thousand rounds of applause."

"This is the sound of partisan lines melting away."

"This is the sound of the old order shattering before you."

"You have used the chains of self-interest to bind red and blue together."

"You made men who only recognize money cast an idealistic vote for you."

"This is the highest art of politics: making your enemies crown you."

Leo pushed open the doors to the gallery.

In the corridor outside, reporters were rushing toward him like a crazed mob.

Although they couldn’t get inside, they had already learned of the incredible result from their inside sources.

"Mayor Wallace! Why did the Republicans flip?"

"Was this a deal?"

"Did you make a deal with energy corporations?"

The frantic flashing of cameras washed out Leo’s face, turning it deathly pale.

Leo stopped in his tracks.

He looked at the microphones, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly.

"No, this was not a deal."

Leo faced the cameras, his voice calm.

"This is a consensus."

"A consensus about the future of American industry."

"When national security and economic recovery are on the line, I believe that both the Democratic and Republican Parties will make the right choice."

"Pittsburgh is ready to contribute our steel and our sweat to the national industry of the United States of America."