5 Ways Bernie's Pick for DNC Chair Is Right-Wing as Hell

[AntiBank]

http://www.telesurtv.net/english/analysis/5-Ways-Bernies-Pick-for-DNC-Chair-Is-Right-Wing-as-Hell-20160609-0025.html

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders’ campaign aides say they’re looking to replace current Democratic National Committee chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz with Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, Politico reported Tuesday.

Gabbard, the previous vice-chair of the committee, resigned from the position back in February in order to campaign for Sanders. Now Sanders appears interested in rewarding that loyalty, despite a record that upon closer examination is anything but progressive. Hailing from Maui, Hawaii, arguably the most progressive county in the United States, Tulsi is the daughter of Mike Gabbard, a Hawaii state senator and a former Republican who was mired in controversies in the 1990s for his anti-gay positions and policies.

It would appear the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. The congresswoman, while now echoing the Democratic Party’s line on equality, sounded a different tone as a state lawmaker herself, referring to her father's critics as “homosexual extremist supporters.”

Her reactionary politics are manifested in more than just old comments. Last year she voted to bar war refugees from entering the United States at the same time she voiced support for the dictators and airstrikes that helped create them, breaking with her fellow Democrats to join the most far-right xenophobes in Congress.

That record is why author and Democratic Party activist Shay Chan Hodges has decided to run against Gabbard this year. Hodges argues that Gabbard simply isn’t progressive enough to represent Maui. Here are five reasons why she’s spot on.


snip

[PoliticAverse]

1. Gabbard has stated she isn't interested in the job, btw. n/t

[Metric System]

14. That's good because nobody is interested in giving it to her.

[RufusTFirefly]

38. In other words, the entire thread is irrelevant.

But let's not let that spoil that fun of Hillary's disciples.

[geek tragedy]

2. The nominee chooses the DNC head, nt

[Florencenj2point0]

36. yes

[Sheepshank]

44. Yet Bernie deigns himself the appointed nominator.

He has no plans to ever participate in the Democratic Party policies and processes in any manner that doesn't suit him personally.

[geek tragedy]

45. I think he's past that point now, last week was a reality check nt

[hobbit709]

3. As opposed to a chair that openly campaigned for Republicans against Democrats?

[AntiBank]

7. I despise DWS, just would not support Gabbard either

[Hortensis]

15. Yes. I read everything I could find about Gabbard

several months ago and came away with a very poor impression, including that she is likely actually a social conservative, and very possibly amoral. She moved to Bernie's campaign after she soiled her own nest in the Democratic Party. Being able to play well with others when needed is a major requirement of success in politics.

Hillary would never have her.

[Ashish]

24. You reading must have consisted of Hillary's biased opposition research

since she's been endorsed by Emily's List, Human Rights Campaign, Planned Parenthood,Equality Hawaii. In the latest poll, she had a 70%+ approval rating in Hawaii, which is more than any other politician in Hawaii.

[Hortensis]

42. No, most was from Hawaiian media. That

is where her longer history is.

[brush]

55. She's an opportunist who thought Sanders was going to win, which is why she . . .

stepped down from the DNC.

It was a miscalculation. She won't get the chair position. Disloyalty will not be rewarded.

She's pretty conservative anyway, so I don't even get why Sanders, the progressive, is even thinking he can appoint her to anything. He didn't win. He doesn't get to make that appointment.

WTF?

[Hortensis]

58. Bernie despises Adelson, I'm sure. I don't

understand how he let him get so close. That's not just one typical degree of separation--the person linking them is part of his upper-level campaign.

[brush]

59. Adelson?

[Hortensis]

61. Billionaire conservative political funder and

crooked businessman Sheldon Adelson.

[brush]

62. I live in Vegas. I know who Adelson is. Are there ties between him, Sanders and Gabbard?

Everyone on DU needs to know what you're hinting at.

[Warren DeMontague]

68. Maybe they're thinking of DWS. Who worked with Adelson to kill medical mj reform in Florida.

[Tom Rinaldo]

4. Bernie wouldn't get his first pick regardless

If we are all fortunate there will be a compromise pick to replace DWS. This way Sanders proposed a credible candidate (a former vice chair), and an agreement can be reached on some third party.

[AntiBank]

9. I certainly hope you are right

[hrmjustin]

5. At this point Hillary gets to chose the DNC Chair.

[leftofcool]

6. Bernie doesn't get to choose

[CrowCityDem]

8. Proving much of Bernie's criticism is personality, not policy.

[AntiBank]

10. I wouldn't go that far, and the Clinton side refuses to discuss hot button policy so there we are

[CrowCityDem]

13. They're bashing Warren, while Bernie makes this kind of suggestion. It's crazy.

[AntiBank]

22. I want Warren to stay in the Senate, not be disempowered in the VP slot, plus its a Rethug gov

in MA who would replace her

[rjsquirrel]

27. He's not all that rethug actually

He has 70+% favorability -- highest of any US governor -- in one of the most liberal states in the country. He is broadly socially liberal and the trains are running on time in Massachuestts, easily one of the best managed states in the country with the best health care and social safety net and schools of any state. Massachusetts also elected Romney and Weld.

Not that this makes it any less likely he'd appoint a republican, but it would at least likely be a serious choice and not a creepy mouth breather. And I wouldn't put it past him to nominate an independent.

I don't believe he's endorsed for president yet either and I have a feeling he holds no brief with Trump.

Updated to add: Charlie Baker has come right out and said he will NOT vote for Trump or support him.

He's a damn smart republican. In one version of a genius move Hillary might consider him for VP. Especially if the Sanders refuseniks appear to be implacable and have any real numbers. Charlie Baker is an honorable and highly competent politician.

[AntiBank]

31. point taken, but still want Warren in the Senate with REAL power, not as VP with little.

Clinton is NOT Bush terms of power sharing, Bush gave so much power away to Cheney, Clinton is a control freak ad infinitum (for better or worse).

[rjsquirrel]

33. Oh I actually agree about that

I am just defending Baker, who impressed me as presidential material we should fear in the future (but respect). I updated my comment above to note that he has explicitly come out AGAINST Trump.

He'd make an interesting dark horse VP for Hillary actually. He's pro-choice, anti-gun, law and order, and squeaky clean. If Clinton decided the far left is not worth chasing after (what I happen to think anyway) or numerous enough (or has nowhere else to go) Baker would be a strong draw for moderate and educated and professional class republican women she can also use to win Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina, Penn, and the broader Midwest Colorado too.

I hope he's on the list for the game where she goes with a bipartisan ticket, but it is very unlikely of course.

[Hortensis]

49. Understand, but the VP has whatever power

POTUS gives him or her and works on whatever special projects he or she agreed to in accepting the position, in addition to many others that arise. Plus, of course, the VP is president of the Senate and has a deciding vote in event of ties.

Can you imagine Warren agreeing to spend 8 years having tea with spouses of world leaders and laying wreaths on graves? If she agreed, it would be to much more because she felt she could accomplish more that way.

[AntiBank]

52. I feel as though Clinton and Warren would clash instantly, not just over policy, but also they are

both temperamental alphas. I could easily see either one pissing the other off so badly that the atmosphere might become toxic. Maybe I am wrong.

What do you think of Biden for a "caretaker" term, then new blood steps in in 2020?

[Hortensis]

54. "Temperamental alphas?" No, actually.

I think they're both very tough, disciplined professionals with a great deal in common who could work well together and separately.

Only generally speaking of course and I don't know if it would apply here, but women tend to work together very differently from men, far more cooperative and goal oriented, without diverting themselves from important issues to build personal empires, hoarding information to build power, etc.

Well, Biden's certainly very experienced now and seemingly well liked by everyone, but why on earth would the next president need a "caretaker" VP? The term itself is confusing, but whoever is chosen will be only the VP, with the power the Constitution and the president give him or her and not a bit more. After all, the VP doesn't even have a right to enter the White House without the president's invitation.

[AntiBank]

56. VP doesn't even have a right to enter the White House without the president's invitation

Really? damn, the old axiom (learn something new most days) is true.

Has a POTUS ever refused a VP entrance?

[Hortensis]

57. Lol. Good question. Given they used to often

be from different parties and sometimes never speak, I'm guessing so. I believe FDR only met with Truman, chosen by party machinery, once and never once briefed him on anything at all, even though he must have known he didn't have much longer to live. Kept him totally outside, and they were from the same party and Truman liked by all who knew him.

[Eric J in MN]

11. That Politico article also implied Sanders isn't fundraising for Russ Feingold (he is).

And that he's angry at Sherrod Brown (he's not.)

That article isn't a good source to build another article on.

[jillan]

12. This is bull. Gabbard isn't even interested in the job. She QUIT the DNC - remember?

This is full of lies!!

It's a lie about Tulsi.
It's a lie about Feingold, Bernie IS fundraising for him
And it's a lie about Bernie & Sherrod Brown

There are probably more lies, but I've seen enough.

[msongs]

16. well if it gets tulsi out of hawaii Im for it nt

[AntiBank]

20. the Politico article is tangential, and the Gabbard info is accurate

[Lord Magus]

35. It's absolutely true that Gabbard supports many repugnantly right-wing positions.

Her links to Sheldon Adelson aren't a lie and she really did tweet out those absolute bullshit statements about America refusing to bomb ISIS and falsely claiming that Russia is bombing them.

[Hortensis]

50. Happy to say Gabbard is ONLY Democrat who

supports legislation to advance crooked Sheldon Adelson's gambling interests (she introduced it!), and how nice that Adelson hosted an event in which she accepted a "Champion of Freedom" award.

And much more. Progressive Punch gives her an F in her congressional record.

ProgressivePunch is a non-partisan searchable database of Congressional voting records, from a Progressive perspective. We show the performance of members within 160 different issue categories, along with detailed vote descriptions.

(Btw, how did Sanders let himself be associated with this person? Bad advice?)

Some people are both very good at self aggrandizement, elevating themselves very high, and yet can't help self destructing. Newt Gingrich and Tom (The Hammer) Delay are examples. They rose higher and lasted longer before self destructing than she has so far though. They were also both male, though, and, notably, worked from within their party's power structure.



Who Does Tulsi Gabbard Represent?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shay-chan-hodges/three-questions-about-tulsi_b_10212942.html

[Todays_Illusion]

17. Your accusation lacks a name and has no weight except as an attack on Gabbard that I agree with.

[AntiBank]

21. I was attacking Gabbard, so I guess mission accomplished

[NCTraveler]

18. O'Malley please. Make it so Clinton. Nt

[frazzled]

19. Well, he doesn't get to pick

So the whole thing is entirely moot. But you're right: she's pretty awful.

[Logical]

23. DWS is TERRIBLE! Needs to go. nt

[PufPuf23]

25. I do not want either Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard nor DWS as DNC Chairperson.

Many Democratic seats were lost under DWS.

DWS openly supported three GOP candidates over Democratic candidates in FLA.

DWS owns some of the bad vibe associated with the 2016 Democratic POTUS primary.

I do not understand how Hillary Clinton and POTUS Obama continue to support DWS aside from the crony part of partisan politics.

I do want a new chairperson of the DNC.

[brooklynite]

26. UNREC

This dates from Tuesday. Gsbbard has already said she doesn't want the job.

[Agnosticsherbet]

28. Pity Howard Dean would not want the job. In 2006, his 50 state strategy retook the House.

We need someone who thinks like him and takes the fight to the Republicans.

[TonyPDX]

37. His lucrative lobbying gig might conflict. n/t

[Agnosticsherbet]

40. He knows how to win Congress, and did it very well.

[TonyPDX]

43. We'll have to find out how successful he is lobbying for the pharmaceutical industry. n/t

[RandySF]

29. I thought the term doesn't expire until around January.

[oberliner]

30. Who wrote this article for Telesur?

No byline is given.

[AntiBank]

34. I do not know, maybe it is like The Economist. No bylines.

[MaggieD]

32. Oh my gawd

Tulsi Gabbard is right wing and a fucking homophobe. She comes from a right wing family of religious nuts and her dad is a right wing pol in Hawaii. The ONLY reason she ran as a Dem was because it's almost impossible to win federal office as a rethug in Hawaii.

So fricking glad Bernie got beat. Now I just wish he'd take a hint and go away.

[AntiBank]

39. we have extremely opposite opinions on Sanders and Clinton, but agree on Gabbard

[Trajan]

41. I see you are a recent addition to the DU family

How nice ...

.

[AntiBank]

53. implying what?

I invite you to look at my posts I have made since I joined. Yes, I am very much to the left (I have lived in Sweden for a decade, and I actually am a democratic socialist, which is also the dominant party and policy form here for 90 years or so)), and I am opinionated, but I also am a registered Democrat in the US since 1984 (Raygun election, blääääää) plus more than capable of contributing rational, cogent thoughts and repartee on a myriad of subjects. I have lived in 8 countries, been to 94 (and counting, lol), and have perspectives that many do not have due to this.

I am not here to disrupt at all, and I assure you my number one goal atm is to keep that cretin thug Trump out of the POTUS.

[Hortensis]

60. Well, belatedly, welcome, AntiBank,

and welcome to your noble #1 goal.

[AntiBank]

64. thank you

[AntiBank]

65. btw, your username is my all time favourite Roman emperor

and, if you subscribe to Dante's Inferno, a noble pagan who escaped hell

LOLOL

[Mr Maru]

46. He lost. The nominee makes that choice.

I'm hoping this article is just full of crap and it's just his aides, not actually Bernie's idea. Why would he feel so entitled?

[Lizzie Poppet]

47. So if that remark about gays disqualified Gabbard...

...shouldn't Hillary Clinton's equally (at least) toxic remarks about gay marriage do the same?

Oh, wait...what am I thinking? The rules are always different for Princess Weathervane, aren't they?

[Blue_Tires]

48. Gabbard's kind of nutty

and she isn't getting the job anyway, so it's moot

[Thinkingabout]

51. Hillary will select the next DNC Chair person, it comes with her winning the nomonation.

[LexVegas]

63. Who gives a fuck who Bernies pick is?

[CorkySt.Clair]

66. +1

[Warren DeMontague]

67. Unlike DWS, she doesnt think cancer patients should go to prison for smoking pot

Good enough for me.

[AntiBank]

69. I detest Wasserman Schultz. I just think Gabbard would be a trainwreck too