DNC chief faces perilous Fall

[leftcoastmountains]

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/252609-dnc-chief-faces-perilous-fall

-The Democratic National Committee (DNC) chief is under fire from some of the top Democratic presidential hopefuls over her handling of the primary debates, and she's facing a huge decision over whether to support President Obama's historic nuclear deal with Iran.


-The Democratic underdogs — notably Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley — wasted no time hammering the schedule as insufficient. The contenders want more opportunities to face off with front-runner Hillary Clinton, and their criticisms have only escalated this month after the DNC released more details surrounding the debates.

[Bluzmann57]

1. I agree with Sanders and O'Malley

If nothing else, more debates will get the candidates more face time and help against the repuke candidate later on.

[Duval]

25. Exactly! We need more debates. eom

[billhicks76]

41. Get Rid If That Turncoat

How the Hell did she get that job? She should defect to the republican side.

[bvar22]

49. She does.... during elections :

In 2008 Debbie Wasserman Schultz refused to endorse these 3 Democrats
who had won their Primaries and had a chance to win Republican seats:

Miami-Dade Democratic Party Chair Joe Garcia

Former Hialeah Democratic Mayor Raul Martinez

Democratic businesswoman Annette Taddeo

All three had won their local Democratic Primaries, and were challenging Hard Core Republican incumbents with whom Wasserman-Schultz had become cozy.
Not only did the head of the DCCC Red to Blue Program REFUSE to endorse these Democratic challengers,
but she appeared in person at at least one (possibly more) Campaign/Fundraiser for their Republican opponents.



FL-18, FL-21, FL-25: Wasserman Schultz Wants Dem Challengers to Lose
by: James L.
Sun Mar 09, 2008 at 7:15 PM EDT
<snip>

Sensing a shift in the political climate of the traditionally solid-GOP turf of the Miami area, Democrats have lined up three strong challengers -- Miami-Dade Democratic Party chair Joe Garcia, former Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez, and businesswoman Annette Taddeo to take on Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart, Lincoln Diaz-Balart and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, respectively.

While there is an enormous sense of excitement and optimism surrounding these candidacies, some Democratic lawmakers, including Florida Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Kendrick Meek, are all too eager to kneecap these Democratic challengers right out of the starting gate in the spirit of "comity" and "bipartisan cooperation" with their Republican colleagues:

But as three Miami Democrats look to unseat three of her South Florida Republican colleagues, Wasserman Schultz is staying on the sidelines. So is Rep. Kendrick Meek, a Miami Democrat and loyal ally to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

This time around, Wasserman Schultz and Meek say their relationships with the Republican incumbents, Reps. Lincoln Diaz-Balart and his brother Mario, and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, leave them little choice but to sit out the three races.

"At the end of the day, we need a member who isn't going to pull any punches, who isn't going to be hesitant," Wasserman Schultz said.

Now, you'd expect this kind of bullshit from a backbencher like Alcee Hastings, but you wouldn't expect this kind of behavior from the co-chair of the DCCC's Red to Blue program, which is the position that Wasserman Schultz currently holds. Apparently, Debbie did not get Rahm's memo about doing whatever it takes to win:

The national party, enthusiastic about the three Democratic challengers, has not yet selected Red to Blue participants. But Wasserman Schultz has already told the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee that if any of the three make the cut, another Democrat should be assigned to the race.

http://www.swingstateproject.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1537

The bloggers also are furious with Rep. Kendrick B. Meek (D-Fla.), who similarly refuses to endorse the Democratic challengers to the three Cuban American Republicans.

They are calling for Wasserman Schultz to step down from her leadership role at the DCCC. And they're not letting up, even after one Florida liberal blogger reported that the congresswoman seemed "frustrated" by the blogs and had asked to "please help get them off my back."

This prompted even harsher reaction from perhaps the most influential of the progressive political bloggers, Markos Moulitsas, a.k.a. Kos, founder of Daily Kos, who wrote on his blog Wednesday: "On so many fronts, the Republicans are standing in the way of progress, on Iraq, SCHIP, health care, fiscal responsibility, corruption, civil liberties, and so on. Those three south Florida Republicans are part of that problem. And she's (Wasserman-Schultz) going to be 'frustrated' that people demand she do her job?"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/19/AR2008031903410_3.html

Here are Kos comments on the Wasserman-Schultz betrayal of the Democratic Party:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/03/20/480511/-DCCC-Says-Uproar-Over-DWS-Recusal-Much-Ado-About-Nothing




A lot of time has passed since 2008, but I don't take these kinds of betrayals lightly.

bvar22
Cursed with a memory

"I want to thank Debbie Wasserman-Schultz for being an outstanding chair of our party. (Applause.) She is a great partner."--President Obama

With "partners" like this, we don't need Republicans!

[SusanCalvin]

55. Given the above, there is NO reason

for her to hold her current position, and never was.

[Betty Karlson]

75. Well said.

You took the words out of my heart and mouth.

[LovingA2andMI]

70. Whoa!!!

This information needs to SPREAD like Wildfire.....

And it will, on our Tuesday Night Podcast -- next week. So BOOKMARKING this thread.

Thanks for the information!!

[Left Coast2020]

71. I just left comment on DNC website for her to step down.

It's in small print at the bottom of main page.

http://my.democrats.org/page/s/contact-the-democrats

And if you want to call, the number is 202-863-8000. If we make the phones ring off the hook, it may make things a bit hotter for her. I plan on calling in the morning until I get through.

[True Blue American]

76. Signed

And left a few choice words

[merrily]

2. Of course, the article doesn't tell even half the story.

The debates are limited in number.

The first debate is not until mid October, after the deadline for voter registration and switching party affiliation in NY and other states. Also as the fall holiday season is starting (first caucus is February 1)

The debates are exclusive: you don't get to participate in them at all if you participate in other debates.

All the above rules disadvantage lesser known candidates, meaning they disadvantage everyone who is running in the Democratic primary this go round, with the sole exception of Hillary Clinton.

The above rules also disadvantage good speakers/debaters, candidates who are not trying to avoid questions, etc.

And that's just the debates. Then we go to her brilliant election strategy for 2014, namely, "Obama who? Obamacare what?" And the "great" outcomes. And that was the supposedly highly electable Blue Dog and Third Way candidates so beloved by our party. If you did that gobsmackingly poorly at the biggest task in your job in two years, what do you think would happen to you?

[SoapBox]

4. And they reduce the exposure

of her.

[MissDeeds]

15. Which is all part of the plan

because HRC has a history of being terrible in debates. I think "cringe worthy" was mentioned in our home during the debates last time.

[glinda]

63. She will not come across well I think.

[jeff47]

5. There's also the selection of dates.

For example, the December debate is the Saturday before Christmas. Golly, I wonder if a lot of people will be traveling that day instead of watching TV.

(Btw, minor correction - first caucus is Feb 1st, first primary is Feb 9th. Still not going to get debate #5 in before either one.)

[merrily]

12. Traveling or holiday shopping or attending holiday parties or whatever.

Saturday night before Christmas is a big day for office parties in larger companies that have formal parties in a venue outside the office


The Iowa caucus is before the NH primary? Thanks. I will edit.

[tk2kewl]

3. some one accidently hit 'Caps' there?

[daleanime]

6. ......

[tk2kewl]

8. DNC chief faces perilous Fall (fall)

the season of the year "Fall" vs "fall" as in "...from leadership"

[mak3cats]

10. Under grammar rules, the seasons are generic nouns and do not require capitalization...

...however, I think the poster was trying to make it clear that the article referred to the season.

[tk2kewl]

13. I wasn't trying to be nit picky

just trying to draw attention to the double entendre.

[mak3cats]

14. I for one appreciated the cap so I didn't have my hopes up!

DWS is beyond useless.

[leftcoastmountains]

21. Exactly

[barbtries]

7. i'm surprised no one has begun an organized campaign to get rid of her.

she's horrible. no democrat as far as i can tell.

[merrily]

17. Oh, I think the campaign is underway. There's this story. Pierce did a column last week.

Granholm's name is being floated as a replacement.

Who is behind the campaign and will it succeed are two good questions. But, you don't get one story after another about how awful the DNC head is unless someone is stirring the pot. And I don't think it's Sanders and O'Malley, even though they are agitating about the debates.

[zeemike]

36. Don't worry, she will keep her job until the nominee is selected.

And that is all that matters.

[merrily]

37. Nauseatingly enough, I think you're right on the money. (no pun intended).

[zeemike]

39. But I laughed at it anyway.

[leveymg]

69. DWS wants a job with HRC. Simple as that.

[True Blue American]

77. Granholm would be perfect

She is one feisty fighter!

[merrily]

78. Please see Reply 28

[NBachers]

18. Here are some petitions:

1. White House.gov: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/remove-debbie-wasserman-schulz-effective-immediately-chairwoman-dnc-democratic-national-committee

2. Move On: http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/remove-debbie-wasserman?source=s.fwd&r_by=4888841

MoveOn's petition web site is down for maintenance right now, you may have to check back. "We should be back up by 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT."

[Jack Rabbit]

26. That one from whitehouse.gov needs some love

OK, evil DUers, let's DU it to it.

[dorkzilla]

27. Signed and posted on FB

What a bunch of pot-stirring, evil Berniebots we are.

[barbtries]

30. signed and tweeted.

i tried to post to fb too but got a 404 message.

[merrily]

38. Did that last week or early this week--forget which.

[barbtries]

29. thank you.

i just went and left a comment to "dump her" on the DNC website. she gotta go.

[jwirr]

59. Went into White House.gov but do not know how to

vote. I tried earlier today and the numbers are the same. I wonder if this is working.

[NBachers]

68. I clicked on the White House.gov link, and found 7,712 signatures. It's been up since August 18th.

I'd expect more signatures than that by now. I'll check back tomorrow, and see if the signature count has changed. When I signed, I just filled out the spaces on the right under "Add Your Name," and clicked the "Sign Now" button. It went through fine for me yesterday.

[jwirr]

74. Thank you. Will try again.

[NBachers]

79. I went back this morning, and it's moved up to 7,869. It must be working, just not getting many

signatures.

[passiveporcupine]

56. I didn't think I could despise her any more than I already did

But as three Miami Democrats look to unseat three of her South Florida Republican colleagues, Wasserman Schultz is staying on the sidelines. So is Rep. Kendrick Meek, a Miami Democrat and loyal ally to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

This time around, Wasserman Schultz and Meek say their relationships with the Republican incumbents, Reps. Lincoln Diaz-Balart and his brother Mario, and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, leave them little choice but to sit out the three races.

[ananda]

9. Put Howard Dean in charge!

nuff said

[erronis]

20. +1 - and I'd like to hear his war cry!

[merrily]

28. In my fondest dreams, the DNC head is super effective, but not a Third Way type.

And Howard either always was a "moderate" except perhaps as to health care, as some DUers claim, or he has gone that way.

[Jack Rabbit]

31. This Bernie supporter could live with that

I don't care if the DNC chair is working for Bernie or even anti-establishment. I just want the DNC chair to be fair, which is something that DWS is not being.

[beltanefauve]

48. Sorry

Howard Dean has already endorsed HRC. The debate schedule is already rigged in her favor. Would Dean do better?

[nxylas]

72. There's a difference between endorsing someone...

...and putting your thumb on the scale for them. Dean may have a personal preference, but I don't think he would risk giving Republicans the advantage by refusing to hold debates.

[Yallow]

11. Don't Let Bernie Get His Populist Message Out

Whatever you do.

I am not a Democrat, because I don't think
Wall Street criminals should get away every
time.

I don't blame Obama for not going after the
bankers single handedly, but where are the
Democrats screaming for justice?

I mean the ones besides Sanders and Warren.

Debbie, take a hike.

Stop protecting Hillary and Wall Street or hit the road.

[dougolat]

16. Petitions to remove DWS at both Move-on.org and whitehouse.gov

(thanks, Lorien!)

[merrily]

19. Links are in Reply 18.

[turbinetree]

40. Just signed the

white house one and the Move on is in maintenance mode

[merrily]

42. Hope it does some good!

[turbinetree]

44. I think it will

Honk----------for a political revolution Bernie 2016

[merrily]

45. I love the optimism and steadfastness of Bernie Group members!

[turbinetree]

46. That's the way we are and we call it like it is ..................................

were all in this same boat



Honk--------------for a political revolution Bernie 2016

[zentrum]

22. Not sure Sanders...

…and O'Malley are big powers within the Party Machine, which is why they are so important to us (the people).

What DWS is doing is strictly an inside game, a Machine game.

It's toxic but it's Court politics.

I've signed petitions and called her office over her Iran deal wavering. She's a terrible leader and is costing us elections, given what happened in the midterms.

The only way to topple her is to call our own Democratic reps and insist they get rid of her. It's outrageous that the leader of the DNC should oppose the Democratic President on foreign affairs (the Iran treaty).

[fbc]

23. Why isn't she fired yet?

It's like the DNC wants to lose.

[closeupready]

34. I detest DNC's current leadership, but I think it's not that they WANT to lose, but

rather, members of the DNC leadership will WIN whether Democrats win or lose. If Democrats win, then that's an obvious win. If Democrats lose to Republicans, then they can present that as bona fides to hedge funds and think tanks that they are now and always were on the side of corporate hegemony, and thus, deserve to be rewarded with overpaid Mickey Mouse jobs like Cantor was.

[Uncle Joe]

24. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, leftcoastmountains.

[lark]

32. Wasserman-Schultz is an AIPAC tool and needs to go.

She's awful and needs to be replaced ASAP. Any Dem who cares more for what little murderer wants than what's good for the world doesn't deserve to be Chair of the Dem party.

[beltanefauve]

50. Funny,

The article states that, "..she's been a fierce defender of Israel and it's chief lobbying group in Washington, which opposes the nuclear accord."

So why couldn't they just come out and say AIPAC ?

[closeupready]

33. DWS needs to go, pronto. K&R

[840high]

43. She needs to go - like yesterday. +1

[rurallib]

35. hold it! She's the head of the DNC and she has to think about voting for the Iran deal?

WTF???

[MoveIt]

54. exactly

worst dnc chair ever?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

47. Debbie should go because she lost congress.

[pscot]

51. How can someone who has supported Republican

candidates for Congress be head of the DNC? And what kind of Democrats put her there?

[yurbud]

52. like Rahm, she excels only at corporate toadying

[pa28]

62. We lost everything that wasn't bolted down on her watch yet somehow she stays employed.

Howard Dean was there to win seats and majorities (which he did) and the Democratic establishment couldn't wait to get rid of him.

[left-of-center2012]

53. DNC chief faces perilous Fall

"Bibi" Netanyahu and the GOP have her back.

[snot]

57. K&R'D.

[dorkzilla]

58. when I used to see her being interviewed alongside Rince Penis

She just let him run roughshod over her. He always controlled the conversation and she would just totally capitulate. I was always scratching my head wondering why she didn't fight harder but fighting for Democrats is apparently anathema to DWS.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

73. Me too. She's got no ability. Compared to Howard Dean she's a disaster.

[nikto]

60. Debbie Wasserman Schultz acts like a GOP mole, IMO

Double-agent, traitor, saboteur, whatever.

Methinks she's in the wrong party.

See what happens when you let your party become contaminated with
corporate money?
All the self-serving riff-raf want in.

[GETPLANING]

61. Debbie Wasserman- Schultz is an Israel-Firster

about as reliable a patriot as Chuck Shumer or Joe Lieberman.

[emsimon33]

64. Wasserman Schultzis not only incompetent

But she is corrupt.

It is an embarrassment that Obama chose her to be DNC chair.

[emsimon33]

64. Wasserman Schultzis not only incompetent

But she is corrupt.

It is an embarrassment that Obama chose her to be DNC chair.

[emsimon33]

64. Wasserman Schultzis not only incompetent

But she is corrupt.

It is an embarrassment that Obama chose her to be DNC chair.

[emsimon33]

67. Wasserman Schultzis not only incompetent

But she is corrupt.

It is an embarrassment that Obama chose her to be DNC chair.

[HooptieWagon]

80. You can say that again.

...and have.

[emsimon33]

81. LOL! I don't know what my computer was thinking

But, as you noted, it was right on the mark!