I like Perez for DNC Chair

[cilla4progress]

just saw him on Andrea Mitchell. Plain-spoken, dignified, no drama, really good ideas and critiques of last election and DNC.

What do you all think?

[JustAnotherGen]

1. He's my first choice n/t

[bigtree]

2. good choice

...ready and willing to fight.

Already has his head in the game.

[dawg]

3. Both Perez and Ellison are eminently qualified.

I'll be happy with either.

[oasis]

4. Perez has a strong presence and a smooth style. With the whole

hearted backing of former president Obama, Perez could easily assemble a competent team of loyal Democrats.

[leftynyc]

5. He's my choice as well (n/t)

[msongs]

6. how many elected seats did dems lose in the last 8 yrs? nt

[KittyWampus]

21. since Perez wasn't head of the DNC that seems like an odd question

in the context of the OP.

[cilla4progress]

7. Good to see the

unanimity! I hadn't really researched him, so, was just going on minimal info and seeing him this morning.

Hard to trust one's eyes and ears these days. ...

I like Keith Ellison a lot, too, as a congressman.

[Hamlette]

13. I saw him on Real Time last April he was great.

I became a believer too.

[oasis]

14. During the Citizens United era, we need a DNC chair who is not shy

about raising the necessary funds from any legal source.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

8. yeah. he's my top choice too.

very much part of the no drama obama crowd

[cilla4progress]

9. That was the sense I got

I would be happy to work for him. DWS, not so much.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

10. dws was severely maligned and will never recover from it

however, if we ever get the white house back, we'll lose seats again. liberals dont show up for midterms unless they have lost the white house.

[cilla4progress]

11. this should be at the top of

Mr. Perez's to do list!

We must make voting easier. How the hell are people who are already economically / time / politically stressed supposed to be able to vote? And ballots are so overly confusing. I'm fortuante that in my state of Washington we have mail-in voting, although the ballots do need to be stamped, which should be changed. But the ballots / ballot questions can be so confusing even a poli sci major like me glazes over!

[bettyellen]

17. Dems need to partner locally for voter ID/ reg drives and promote voting every year- give info on

Seats that will be contested in the next 1-4 years- explaining races to watch is posssible. We have to get people invested in 18 but stress how congress, Giv and local races matter on their lives too. Give them some candidates to watch.

[uponit7771]

15. I don't see him as afraid of a fight though ...His ideas go directly at KGOP. My top pick

[PatsFan87]

12. I like Perez but I don't think he's a good fit for this position. I'd rather he prepare to unseat

Maryland's Republican governor who's up for re-election in 2018.

Right now we need a DNC chair who has a history of getting elected, getting others elected, raising money, messaging, GOTV experience, etc. Perez is a smart man who served Obama well in his cabinet but he doesn't have the electoral experience, the behind the scenes experience of how Congress works, the grassroots organizing and GOTV experience that Ellison does.

[Starry Messenger]

16. He was a terrific labor sec.

Despite all the maligning he gets from Certain Quarters as being establishment or neo-liberal, he worked with President Obama to get some important reforms done for workers. I think he understands the power of organizing. (Disclaimer, I like both of the top two candidates and would be happy either way.)

[Tarheel_Dem]

18. YES!!!!

[BannonsLiver]

19. Makes no difference to me

Both he and Ellison are fine candidates.

But let's get on with the show, FCS. There's a war on.

[Cha]

20. I like him too, Cilla..The UFCW, the UFW and the Fire-fighters union endorse Tom Perez for DNC chair

The UFCW, the UFW and the Fire-fighters union endorse Tom Perez for DNC chair!

snip//

"The Democratic Party is at a crossroads, and it needs leaders with strong progressive voices as well as unique skills and experiences to lead the party forward. While there are a number of very good candidates in the DNC chair race, Tom Perez offers the party what it so desperately needs – bold leadership and ideas, strong experience managiass-kisserng an organization at the state and federal level, and someone singularly focused on rebuilding the party across the country.

He understands the realities faced by hard-working families all across America who are desperate for a better life. Our members saw firsthand his passion and commitment to improving the lives of union workers as he joined with us to push for safer working conditions at poultry plants, and as he fiercely advocated in favor of the Overtime Rule. As Labor Secretary, he not only pushed for progressive reforms, he helped manage a multi-billion dollar agency with thousands of employees. In light of the challenges the party faces, Secretary Perez has the experience and vision for the changes the DNC must make, and is the right leader who can make these changes happen. We enthusiastically support his candidacy."

http://www.ufcw.org/2016/12/16/ufcw-endorses-tom-perez-for-dnc-chair/

More~ http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/12/19/1612780/-The-UFCW-the-UFW-and-the-Fire-fighters-union-endorse-Tom-Perez-for-DNC-chair

OK.. one more..

Today it became known that the International Association of Firefighters, the main union representing American firefighters, has broken with the AFL- CIO and endorsed Tom Perez too:

"In a statement, Schaitberger praised Perez as a "a tireless advocate for civil and human rights" who can transcend what the union president called "a narrow focus on identity and cultural politics that alienated" some longtime Democrats from the party.

"Tom Perez is the person who has the right mix of personal background, progressive values, experience and total commitment to all workers, in all regions and states across the country," Schaitberger said. "To have Tom Perez as the Chair of one of our nation's two major political parties would be a significant victory for workers across America."

http://services.prod.iaff.org/ContentFile/Get/30617

In the meantime Tom Perez is also getting important Latino support.

The Latino Victory Fund are supporting his bid for the DNC chair, and I would urge everyone to read an excellent article written by Victoria DeFrancesco Soto over at NBC Latino:

She argues that Tom Perez is exactly the man the DNC needs now, because he appeals to Latino voters and minority voters because of his past relentless fight for civil rights, but also because he has a great appeal/ connection to the white working class because of his work as Secretary of Labor.

For everyone not really familiar with Tom Perez accomplishments as Secretary of Labor, I would recommend this article describing who Tom Perez is, and what he did standing up for workers’ rights, the 15 dollar minimum wage and overtime protection:

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/opinion-tom-perez-what-dnc-needs-now-n697746

#TeamPerez!

Link to tweet

[cilla4progress]

22. May I say without sounding reductive,

The Hispanic Obama.