The Filibuster Is EVIL, According To Democrats… Except When They Use It! Barack Obama called the filibuster a “Jim Crow relic”. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), called the centuries’ old practice “racist,” even though she has used it hundreds of times in the past when Democrats were in the minority. Politico also reported at that time if the filibuster was abused, it was abused by Democrats, who used it 314 times to block Trump’s policies and nominees.