why did Democrats enact the legislation that protected our privacy?

They didn't. In fact, it was the Obama administration that reclassified broadband carriers such that they are no longer under FTC jurisdiction (see DannyBee's comment, current top comment), making a new (FCC) rule necessary.

This pending rule change is not in effect at all yet; it was only put through 3 weeks after the 2016 election and wouldn't have taken effect until next December.

Had the Obama administration cared about privacy, they could have timed the rule change and the FTC authority removal to take effect at the same time.

[EDIT]: changed "a week before the 2016 election" (a different, significant rule change) to 3 weeks after.