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In reply to the discussion: At what point is a self-proclaimed "Democrat" not a Democrat? [View all]bvar22
(39,909 posts)91. Would include Debbie Wasserman Schultz?
In 2008, she refused to endorse Democrats in Florida, and was seen at fundraisers for her Republican "colleagues".
Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, the co-chair of the Democratic Red to Blue committee at that time, refused to endorse of campaign for the following 3 Democratic challengers for 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.
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,
and don't forget them easily.
---bvar22
cursed with a memory
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with the way that the parties are shifting right-ward, I call myself more a "liberal" than "Democrat
NRaleighLiberal
Jun 2014
#2
Right. So what makes a democrat? Is the only requirement "not republican?'
Ed Suspicious
Jun 2014
#26
Right. I think the point of the OP might be that the tent is too big. Does the third way represent
Ed Suspicious
Jun 2014
#31
I guess some are comfortable with the changing beliefs of the party. I certainly am not. I voted
liberal_at_heart
Jun 2014
#12
i think so. i do not know what will happen in iraq, but i think obama's history with these
seabeyond
Jun 2014
#29
i am sure those that have pre existing are not gonna really agree with you, you think? nt
seabeyond
Jun 2014
#43
When they never actually vote for Democrats and encourage other people not to do so.
pnwmom
Jun 2014
#27
A fair point, but Miller crossed the line. And not endorsing a candidate is beside the point.
Liberal Veteran
Jun 2014
#34
All I know is anyone who says "you must do this to be a Democrat" is full of crap
quinnox
Jun 2014
#36
Giving or not giving speeches to Goldmann-Sachs does or does not make one a Democrat.
Thinkingabout
Jun 2014
#101
Abortion prevents us from being competitive in a lot of western states we used to compete in
Hippo_Tron
Jun 2014
#113
A long history of being a Republican and supporting some of the most deadly ignorant policies
Bluenorthwest
Jun 2014
#79
Your disregard for history and your snarky replies to extremely serious questions define you.
Bluenorthwest
Jun 2014
#88
If you voted for John Kerry, then you favor the Iraq and Afghanistan war, no?
MannyGoldstein
Jun 2014
#89
When did your question to me transition to an attack on me? I'm not standing for office.
Bluenorthwest
Jun 2014
#90
When I see a person promote the idea that an anti choice, anti gay activist should be the pattern
Bluenorthwest
Jun 2014
#97