Schumer mocked for crafting imaginary Long Island family

Imagine a senator so detached from real voters that he invents his own constituents to guide his career.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has landed in hot water for creating a fictional middle-class couple, Joe and Eileen Bailey, from Massapequa, Long Island, using them as the cornerstone of his political philosophy while facing sharp criticism on social media and from commentators like HBO’s John Oliver for this peculiar approach.

Schumer’s imaginary duo first emerged under a different name, the “O’Reillys,” as far back as discussions noted by a former spokesman, Eric Schultz, who recalled Schumer constantly asking, “What would the O’Reillys think?”

From O’Reillys to Baileys: A Name Swap

By 2007, Schumer rebranded them as the Baileys, aiming for a more “national” appeal, according to a past aide.

He’s fleshed out their lives with uncanny detail—Joe, an insurance adjuster making $50,000 in New York terms, and Eileen, earning $20,000 at a medical office, are painted as quintessential suburbanites.

Schumer even claims, “I grew up around families like them,” yet one wonders if real families feel seen or just sidelined by this odd fantasy.

Baileys’ Backstory: Too Much Detail?

The senator’s book, “Positively American,” mentions the Baileys a staggering 265 times across 264 pages, weaving tales of Joe singing the national anthem at Islanders games and Eileen aiding church clothing drives.

He’s gone further, noting personal touches like Eileen’s father facing a health scare, as if these details make his policies resonate more with actual voters.

But as HBO’s John Oliver pointed out on “Last Week Tonight,” this level of backstory feels less relatable and more like a script for a sitcom nobody asked for.

Political Choices of a Fictional Couple

Schumer’s narrative includes the Baileys’ political journey, claiming they embraced Reagan Republicanism in 1980, then split their votes in 2016 with Joe backing Trump and Eileen supporting Clinton.

Now, he insists both are firmly in the Democratic camp for the current cycle, a convenient shift that raises eyebrows about whose views he’s really representing.

“Joe and Eileen are worried about losing their jobs,” Schumer has said, but are these fears grounded in reality or just a projection of his own talking points?

Social Media Bites Back with Wit

Social media platform X has erupted with reactions, many calling Schumer’s creation “weird,” as Fox News contributor Jason Chaffetz put it, while others quip about his effectiveness as a leader.

One user jabbed, “What would the Baileys think if they existed?”—a polite but pointed dig from Maryland State Delegate Matt Morgan (R) that captures the absurdity of governing via make-believe.

Another couldn’t resist referencing Schumer’s infamous grilling flub, asking if the Baileys know how to cook a cheeseburger, reminding us that even imaginary friends can’t save you from real-world missteps.