Democrats turn on Debbie Wasserman Schultz -

[TheNutcracker]

The party has lost confidence in her as a unifying leader and a party spokesperson. | AP Photo

By EDWARD-ISAAC DOVERE | 9/17/14 5:46 PM EDT Updated: 9/17/14 8:51 PM EDT

Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz is in a behind-the-scenes struggle with the White House, congressional Democrats and Washington insiders who have lost confidence in her as both a unifying leader and reliable party spokesperson at a time when they need her most. Long-simmering doubts about her have reached a peak after two recent public flubs: criticizing the White House’s handling of the border crisis and comparing the tea party to wife beaters.

The perception of critics is that Wasserman Schultz spends more energy tending to her own political ambitions than helping Democrats win. This includes using meetings with DNC donors to solicit contributions for her own PAC and campaign committee, traveling to uncompetitive districts to court House colleagues for her potential leadership bid and having DNC-paid staff focus on her personal political agenda.

She’s become a liability to the DNC, and even to her own prospects, critics say.

“I guess the best way to describe it is, it’s not that she’s losing a duel anywhere, it’s that she seems to keep shooting herself in the foot before she even gets the gun out of the holster,” said John Morgan, a major donor in Wasserman Schultz’s home state of Florida.


The stakes are high. Wasserman Schultz is a high-profile national figure who helped raise millions of dollars and served as a Democratic messenger to female voters during a presidential election in which Obama needed to exploit the gender gap to win, but November’s already difficult midterms are looming.
One example that sources point to as particularly troubling: Wasserman Schultz repeatedly trying to get the DNC to cover the costs of her wardrobe. In 2012, Wasserman Schultz attempted to get the DNC to pay for her clothing at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, multiple sources say, but was blocked by staff in the committee’s Capitol Hill headquarters and at President Barack Obama’s reelection campaign headquarters in Chicago.
She asked again around Obama’s inauguration in 2013, pushing so hard that Obama senior adviser — and one-time Wasserman Schultz booster — Valerie Jarrett had to call her directly to get her to stop. (Jarrett said she does not recall that conversation.) One more time, according to independent sources with direct knowledge of the conversations, she tried again, asking for the DNC to buy clothing for the 2013 White House Correspondents’ Dinner.


Wasserman Schultz denies that she ever tried to get the DNC to pick up her clothing tab. “I think that would be a totally inappropriate use of DNC funds,” she said in a statement. “I never asked someone to do that for me, I would hope that no one would seek that on my behalf, and I’m not aware that anyone did.”

Tracie Pough, Wasserman Schultz’s chief of staff at the DNC and her congressional office, was also involved in making inquiries about buying the clothing, according to sources. Pough denies making, directing or being aware of any inquiries. But sources with knowledge of the discussions say Wasserman Schultz’s efforts couldn’t have been clearer. “She felt firmly that it should happen,” said a then-DNC staffer of the clothing request. “Even after it was explained that it couldn’t, she remained indignant.”

This story is based on interviews with three dozen current and former DNC staffers, committee officers, elected officials, state party leaders and top Democratic operatives in Washington and across the country. Many expect a nascent Clinton campaign will engineer her ouster. Hurt feelings go back to spring 2008, when while serving as a co-chair of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, Wasserman Schultz secretly reached out to the Obama campaign to pledge her support once the primary was over, sources say.

Meanwhile, the Obama team was so serious about replacing her after 2012 that they found a replacement candidate to back before deciding against it, according to people familiar with those discussions.

Obama and Wasserman Schultz have rarely even talked since 2011. They don’t meet about strategy or messaging. They don’t talk much on the phone. Instead, the DNC chairwoman stakes out the president of the United States at the end of photo lines at events and fundraisers. “You need another picture, Debbie?” Obama tends to say, according to people who’ve been there for the encounters.

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/09/democrats-debbie-wasserman-schultz-111077_Page2.html#ixzz3DclmYe68

much more at link above...

This is on the heels of true shenanigans for years in Florida, by Shutlz

[TheNutcracker]

1. Florida cried out when she endorsed repukes over Dems who won hard fought primaries

Democrats were not heard.

But John Morgan is being heard......

[oldandhappy]

2. infighting

not effective

[tularetom]

3. For years I have suspected there was no there there

I occasionally heard her on some radio show and and I was stunned by how uninformed and shallow her responses were.

I was also troubled by her refusal to devote DNC resources to the campaigns of some promising progressive Democratic candidates.

It's amazing that so incompetent an individual has been able to hold onto a position like this for so long a time.

[Mnpaul]

63. She is a disaster on the Sunday talk shows

She is not helping us one bit. Long winded answers, short on facts, usually dodges the tough questions. She needs to be gone and now.

[LawDeeDah]

4. She works for the Clintons.

Many expect a nascent Clinton campaign will engineer her ouster. Hurt feelings go back to spring 2008, when while serving as a co-chair of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, Wasserman Schultz secretly reached out to the Obama campaign to pledge her support once the primary was over, sources say.

I'm not sure I believe this part.

[TheNutcracker]

5. and herself! Fine, then RESIGN as the one working for ALL!

[cali]

6. you didn't read the article, did you?

She reached out to Obama in 2008 behind Hillary's back and before the end of Clinton's campaign. That is the the sort of thing that puts you permanently on a shit list.

[TheNutcracker]

8. Cali, there is a lot more history of Wasserman shenanigans in FLA than the article gets into.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

52. Wouldn't be surprised if this behind the scenes maneuvering turns out having Hillary's fingerprints all over it - not that DWS didn't need to go anyway.

[ChiciB1]

32. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT PART AT ALL! n/t

[Rowdyboy]

7. Her refusal to campaign again her Florida republican colleagues says it all

She has no business in the party leadership in any way

[TheNutcracker]

9. That is true, and worse she would endorse a republican.

[LondonReign2]

26. She endorsd republicans???

[BuelahWitch]

48. People like that don't deserve the role of Chairperson

Obama should have kicked her out right there.

[TeamPooka]

21. Yup, wtf was she thinking?

[closeupready]

44. Maybe she was thinking, let me turn on Democrats before they turn on me.

LOL, just kidding - I mean, I'm sure she's a good person, but I would NOT call her a good Democrat. NEVER endorse your opposition. EVER EVER EVER.

But you know, I'm weird that way, I guess.

[Ikonoklast]

10. She was a horrible choice for the job to begin with.

Ineffective, waffling, and more concerned shown for her own ambitions than what was good for the party.

Never liked her one bit.

[QC]

11. We here at DU knew she was a disaster

when she was appointed. The reaction was mostly disbelief and horror around here.

[TheNutcracker]

13. Good to hear, as Florida has cried out for help here, during her shenanigans in 06

[bullwinkle428]

15. + a million. A few here at DU called us out as "bad Democrats"

for criticizing her when she endorsed Republicans a few years back.

[QC]

16. We were letting the team down!!!

I remember that well. The White House chose her, and who were we to question that?

[Eleanors38]

12. Ironic, John Morgan uses gun metaphors regarding WS...

She is clumsily anti-gun in a state that kicked off the modern movement for concealed-carry. Regardless of ones views on guns, that is leading with your chin. She became a bad fart in a good VW for stuff like that.

[TheNutcracker]

14. One more K&R to the greatest page, and give Florida the hug it needs!

[sabrina 1]

17. She just couldn't bring herself to go all out against her Republican buddies when it was

a choice between them and a progressive Dem.

Removing her from that position would be a good start to reforming the Dem Party, so long as she is not replaced with another Third Way Dino.

[TheNutcracker]

18. EXACTLY! She works against PROGRESSIVES! Her history proves that!

[ChiciB1]

34. What Was The Story About Jose Diaz-Balart??

Never found out what went on with them. They are or were Repukes at the time.

[Boom Sound 416]

19. You know it's a hit peice when they bring up wardrobe

[sabrina 1]

37. The wardrobe is a minor issue, the big issue with her has always been

her refusal to help Progressive Dems, even going so far as to support Republicans. She does NOT belong in that position and it's too bad it has taken so long to replace her. She has done a lot of harm to the chances of putting good Progressive Democrats in Congress.

[Boom Sound 416]

41. Agreed, that's why it's a hit peice

To mention it at all shows this.

But in the current atmosphere it's toxic. And it's a bit of a reoccurring method. What's so red herring about the issue itself it's a completely reasonable expense throughout business and politics, but it's turned into a class warfare weapon.

You're reasons are spot on but bloodless.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

54. Yes, sadly, that is my biggest criticism also, but I'm afraid her replacement, as dictated by the "powers that be," will be just as bad and, possibly, worse.

[hatrack]

56. Maybe they can get Mario Cuomo, or Rahm . . . .

[Raine1967]

40. You noticed that as well, I see.

I might be the only one in this thread that will say I thought she could be doing a better job… but I sure as hell am not going to toss her under the bus from some shit ht piece from Politico.

This is a hit piece. It's red meat.

[Boom Sound 416]

42. The reddest

[Raine1967]

45. This entire thread is a turd. EOM.

[oneshooter]

49. Jury results

On Fri Sep 19, 2014, 05:24 AM an alert was sent on the following post:

This entire thread is a turd. EOM.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5557340

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

Let the jury decide

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Fri Sep 19, 2014, 05:30 AM, and the Jury voted 1-6 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: It's an opinion, get over it.
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Personal opinion.
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: ummm, if you cannot explain why you feel a post is alert/hide worthy....why are you alerting?
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Let the Jury decide? That is a lame explanation for alerting a threat - LET THE JURY DECIDE????
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: This is a waste of time. Get over your hurt fee-fees and buck up little camper!
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: This is a comment on the post, not a comment on a person. No personal attack. Why would you even alert?
Juror #7 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given

[madfloridian]

20. Debbie has worked against progressive Democrats in Florida for years. Links to prove.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/2616
Wasserman Schultz insults FL Dem candidate...says "don't pull that populist stuff on me."

She undermined Annette Taddeo who is Crist's running mate now.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/2647

She and Kendrick Meek supported FL Republican candidates against their own party guys.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/2470

I have lots more.

[Octafish]

22. She seemed unaware of the unconstitutional, too.

The remarkable, unfathomable ignorance of Debbie Wasserman Schultz

The Chair of the Democratic National Committee is completely unaware of one of the biggest stories of the Obama years

Glenn Greenwald
theguardian.com, Friday 19 October 2012 20.38 ED

On 29 May 2012, the New York Times published a remarkable 6,000-word story on its front page about what it termed President Obama's "kill list". It detailed the president's personal role in deciding which individuals will end up being targeted for assassination by the CIA based on Obama's secret, unchecked decree that they are "terrorists" and deserve to die.

Based on interviews with "three dozen of his current and former advisers", the Times' Jo Becker and Scott Shane provided extraordinary detail about Obama's actions, including how he "por[es] over terrorist suspects' biographies on what one official calls the macabre 'baseball cards'" and how he "insist[s] on approving every new name on an expanding 'kill list'". At a weekly White House meeting dubbed "Terror Tuesdays", Obama then decides who will die without a whiff of due process, transparency or oversight. It was this process that resulted in the death of US citizen Anwar Awlaki in Yemen, and then two weeks later, the killing of his 16-year-old American son, Abdulrahman, by drone.

The Times "kill list" story made a huge impact and was widely discussed and condemned by media figures, politicians, analysts, and commentators. Among other outlets, the New York Times itself harshly editorialized against Obama's program in an editorial entitled "Too Much Power For a President", denouncing the revelations as "very troubling" and argued: "No one in that position should be able to unilaterally order the killing of American citizens or foreigners located far from a battlefield - depriving Americans of their due-process rights - without the consent of someone outside his political inner circle."

That Obama has a "kill list" has been known since January, 2010, and has been widely reported and discussed in every major American newspaper since April 2010. A major controversy over chronic White House leaks often featured complaints about this article (New York Times, 5 June 2012: "Senators to Open Inquiry Into 'Kill List' and Iran Security Leaks&quot . The Attorney General, Eric Holder, gave a major speech defending it.

But Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the Democratic Congresswoman from Florida and the Chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, does not know about any of this. She has never heard of any of it. She has managed to remain completely ignorant about the fact that President Obama has asserted and exercised the power to secretly place human beings, including US citizens, on his "kill list" and then order the CIA to extinguish their lives.

CONTINUED...

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/oct/20/wasserman-schultz-kill-list

Personally, I believe supporting the Bill of Rights is something ALL Democrats should do.

[Psephos]

47. great post n/t

[Baitball Blogger]

23. Yeah, and I guess we should not say a word about how she got on

John Morgan's bad side by not endorsing a marijuana bill he supported.

Though I agree that Schultz is the kind of Democrat that does nothing to excite the base. But few do in Florida.

[TheNutcracker]

24. Oh there are a few who excite and energize, but they are killed off by the debby's in FLA

[TheNutcracker]

25. PS...I did not want to inflame but you're right about Morgan's Medical Marijuana initiative.

She's a real bummer for progressives and farming candidates in Florida.

[TheNutcracker]

29. PSS. After Morgan spent over a million because 88% of Floridians WANTED it!

Now, because of right wing ads...the numbers are coming down. But Little Debby did not help matters. Never did.

[Marr]

27. Didn't she turn on Democrats first? /nt

[TheNutcracker]

30. Good point! She sure did turn on dems first

Even Obama gets it, asking at fundraisers while she waits for a pic last....

"Hi Debby, did you need another photo?"

Good for the president.

[Oilwellian]

28. Good riddance to bad rubbish n/t

[ChiciB1]

31. SHE WAS A BAD CHOICE FROM THE GET-GO!

I recall saying it when she became the head of the party! She's extremely DLC and here in FL many know she was never a fighter. I'm shocked to hear that the Clintons have a problem with her because she was cut from the same cloth IMO. And I've always heard stories about her and the Repuke Party down here. Never thought she would be the head so don't know real facts about the stories here in FL. Just knew many Dems didn't trust her.

I realize she's National, but here in FL the Democratic Party seems to be doing VERY LITTLE to help Charlie Crist. I haven't heard a peep from them regarding his run for Governor! And guess who's ahead in the polls even though his approval rating doesn't even top 30%, RICK SCOTT!

[MohRokTah]

33. It's Politico and it's not well sourced.

I'll take this story with a couple of truckloads of salt.

[TheNutcracker]

35. please read the comments, the florida activists are well sourced.

[MohRokTah]

36. Are they well sourced in DC?

No.

Her antics in Florida are beside the point of the article.

[TheNutcracker]

38. Well the point is she is not and has not been supported and needs to go.

[joeybee12]

39. The only time I ever see her on TV is on Fox...nt

[TheNutcracker]

43. And a few here accuse the nooze source when do many dems back up this article. Go figure.

[Raine1967]

46. she's such a loser:

Political Experience
Representative, United States House of Representatives, 2005-present
Chief Deputy Whip, United States House of Representatives, 2006-2008
Senior Whip, United States House of Representatives, 2005-2006
Senator, Florida State Senate, 2001-2004
Democratic Leader Pro Tempore, Florida State House of Representatives, 2000
Representative, Florida State House of Representatives, 1992-2000
Democratic Floor Leader, Florida State House of Representatives, 1998-1999

Current Legislative Committees
Appropriations, Member
Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, Ranking Member
Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, Member
Caucuses/Non-Legislative Committees
Vice Chair, Democratic Party, Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues
Member, Florida Supreme Court Gender Bias Study Implementation Commission
Member, Southern Regional Education Board Legislative Advisory Council
Chair, South Florida Democratic Caucus
Vice President, Women's Political Caucus, Gwen Cherry Chapter
Co-Chair, Policy Committee, Senate Democratic Caucus, 2002-2004
Member, Governor's Commission on Education, 1996-1998
Member, Florida Education Facilities Study Committee, 1994
Member, Classrooms First Task Force, 1993

Professional Experience
Adjunct Instructor, Political Science, Broward Community College
Specialist, Public Policy Curriculum, Nova Southeastern University
Legislative Aide, Peter Deutsch, Florida State House of Representatives, 1989-1992
Religious, Civic, and other Memberships
Chair, Democratic National Committee, United States House of Representatives, 2011-present
Member, American Jewish Committee
Board Member, American Jewish Congress Southeast Region
Member, Broward National Organization for Women, South Palm Beach County
Member, Hadassah
Secretary, Hawkes Bluff Panel and Homeowner's Association
Member, Miramar Chamber of Commerce
Member, National Council of Jewish Women
Board Member, National Jewish Democratic Council
Board Member, National Safety Council, South Florida Chapter
Member, Pembroke Pines Chamber of Congress
Former Board Member, Planned Parenthood, Broward County
Former Board Member, Planned Parenthood, South Palm Beach County
Member, Weston Chamber of Commerce
Board Member, Westside Regional Medical Center
Board Member, Florida Distance Learning Network, 1995-1997
Vice President, Broward County Young Democrats, 1990-1992
Secretary, Broward County Young Democrats, 1990-1992
Secretary, Young Leadership Council, Jewish Federation, Greater Fort Lauderdale, 1989-1990

http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/24301/debbie-wasserman-schultz#.VBujW8Zf_8s

Here is her record at gov track: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/debbie_wasserman_schultz/400623a

But please let's slam her. Let's totally fall for a politico hit piece.

[hobbit709]

50. She endorsed Republicans over Democrats in races in Florida-that is a FACT regardless of the source

all of the above only shows that she knows how to play the game.

[B Calm]

51. Blue Dog's must go! She is also against marijuana legalization.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

53. I have to agree, though she did have a few noteworthy accomplishments.

[Romulox]

55. She's a proxy for Hills. nt

[vi5]

57. Ah good....a scapegoat.

Is anyone naive enough to believe she's anyone but the exact type of lackluster, "centrist", Washington General type of Democrat that the White House and Congressional Dems and especially Dem "insiders" wanted to run the DNC? And now that it's quite obvious what a failure this approach is proving to be, under the bus she goes.

I despise her, but this notion that somehow the WH and all the other mealy mouthed "centrist" Dems who run the party now are pinning this on her is a joke.

[TheNutcracker]

58. She will not campaign with real democrats!

She turned her back on dems long before this. Just read all the comments!

[vi5]

59. I know.

My point is that now everyone in power within the party are playing the "OMG we're so shocked that she's doing such a shitty job!"

Bullshit. Like a lot of issues and policies, many of us knew from the get go how this would turn out, but as always the silly leftwing hippies were told to shut the fuck up. So now putting Ms. Center Right corporatist Republican in charge of the national party is proving bad for the party and the same people who put here there in the first place are going "Who me?" Never met her!"

[TheNutcracker]

60. Exactly! And coming out against Morgan's MM initiative when 88% of voters wanted it? WTF over!

[TheNutcracker]

61. Little Debby will not be energizing the base for Hillary in Florida. That should be a problem here.

[TheNutcracker]

62. It should worry everyone who is supporting Hillary for Prez

[Warren DeMontague]

64. She lost me when she decided that continuing to throw cancer patients in prison for smoking pot

Was good public policy.

[TheNutcracker]

65. She was not with 88% of Florida citizens when she said that

She's an embarrassment!

[Warren DeMontague]

66. Agreed.