Wasserman-Schultz: Is Anything Really Changing?

[Land Shark]

Before the convention and during the campaign, Wasserman-Schultz worked to promote Hillary's campaign, and she will continue to do so until the nomination is formalized. Then, at the end of the convention she resigns from the DNC, and per Hillary's statement today she will become "honorary chair" of her 50-sfate strategy. https://www.hillaryclinton.com/briefing/statements/2016/07/24/hillary-clinton-statement-on-the-resignation-of-democratic-national-committee-chair-debbie-wasserman-schultz/

So Wasserman-Schultz's support for Hillary goes from subtle/denied (supply your own adjectives here) to open and honorary.

What is really going to change? Little or nothing with respect to Hillary. Some, if you consider the non-campaign aspects of being DNC chair. It doesn't seem like Wasserman-Schultz will be "gone" -- because usually there is a gap, hiatus or "time out" before a return to public life. That will not happen here.

I'm more troubled by Hillary's follow-up hiring, than by the "damn emails" in this context. How does such a honorary position promote unity??? Do you think the hiring promotes unity? Vote below.

27 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	Naming Wasserman honorary chair in Clinton campaign makes unity harder
	21 (78%)
	Naming Wasserman honorary chair in Clinton campaign makes unity EASIER
	0 (0%)
	Making Wasserman honorary chair in Clinton campaign has no effect on unity
	4 (15%)
	Other (specify below)
	2 (7%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
Show usernames Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll

[Metric System]

1. NOTHING will make the hardliners happy. That's my conclusion. They're after Donna Brazile now.

[Land Shark]

4. Maybe. But the hiring seems to transform a unity-helping event into a unity-defeating event.

[emulatorloo]

14. Dunno, public flogging might do it. Sorry to hear mob's going after Brazile

I'm happy that DWS has resigned, I always felt someone else could do a better job.

That being said, don't understand folks who can't take "Yes" for an answer. People wanted her gone, and she's gone. People asked for her to resign and she did. Dunno why this is not enough for some DU'ers.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

60. They want Bernie nominated

Sure, the DNC gave they Cornell West on the platform committee (after which he promptly endorsed the Green Party candidate for POTUS), the DNC agreed to a commission to discuss Superdelagates, and now they've given them the head of DWS, who is going to be out of a job after this election anyway. All that's left now is for the DNC to crown Bernie the nominee because a few people within the DNC didn't like him.

[MohRokTah]

2. I think we should just write off the extreme leftists making an issue of this and pivot right.

They've proved their unreliability after being given their pound of flesh now that they are demanding more.

It's not worth it when there are millions in the middle who reliably vote every election, and we'll need those votes come 2018, so just throw the miscreants overboard and move on.

[DLevine]

6. "Pivot right". Seriously? nt

[MohRokTah]

8. Extreme leftists said "We won't vote unless DWS goes"

DWS goes and now they demand more.

Only choice left is pivot right and forget them because they are simply not worth it.

[Land Shark]

12. While there are huge numbers of Independents, the # of votes truly on the fence is much tinker

[MohRokTah]

16. REliabiulity is the factor.

If you cannot count on a demographic, you must jettison any attempts for their support and spend your resources where it really makes a difference.

[Land Shark]

24. If that were a standard you would have to jettison any attempt to capture the center

The center is fickle, probably more fickle than the Left.

What I think a couple in this thread are onto is that there is a mood for a party shift or split, i.e. "pivot right" and forget the Left. Agreed?

[MohRokTah]

26. History has proved time and again,...

the center is far easier to pickup than an extreme left that has already declared it will not support the candidate.

[Land Shark]

27. Maybe. But the far left only describes a small slice of that campaign but

This move announced by Hillary will tend to rankled all Bernie supporters, not just the far left.

[MohRokTah]

30. Then it is my opinion that what constitutes "extreme left" to you is skewed from reality. eom

[Land Shark]

33. I've met lots of folks in the Bernie campaign at the caucuses and convention

And your diagnosis of them as all being far left is both off, and reminds me of how Fox news refers to all Democrats, so it may not be the most descriptive or accurate term to use for anyone

[Exilednight]

62. What extreme leftist do you speak of?

I mean seriously, where are the Marzist, Trotsky and Maoists?

They may exist in very very minute numbers, but I haven't seen one in the MSM, liberal media, or even the conservative media. Unlike on the right where gun lovers and KKK VB types regularly make primetime, we have no such version on the left.

[Land Shark]

10. I choked on "pivot right" as well.

[DinahMoeHum]

3. Lesson learned: Acting legislators should NOT run the DNC. . .

. . .former legislators would be OK, though. or better yet, campaign strategists who are not currently working for a candidate.

As I see it, this is now a full-time job.

DWS was essentially serving two masters: the Democratic Party apparatus and her own constituency. If you try to do both at the same time, you won't do either one well.

[Takket]

9. Trumps thanks you for your support.

[MohRokTah]

11. OUCH!

You probably should have read the TOS instead of just clicking through because that is probably your last post here.

[emulatorloo]

19. Bizarre, because Sanders positions are the opposite of Trump's positions.

So if you are seriously tempted, you don't give a shit about progressive policy.

[Jemmons]

35. Dont be shortsighted or reckless

There is a well knows psychology experiment where they split people into two groups: Members from each group plays a cooperative game together with someone from the other group. But there is an uneven distribution of power, such that people in one group can be unfair to their partner from the other group at no cost to themselves. People in the weak group can punish this behavior, but only at a cost in virtual money.

When they ran the experiment they found that people will suck up a certain level of unfairness, but beyond that, most people are happy to pay a price for the privilege of punishing unfairness.

I think that disregarding this understanding of human behavior is shortsighted and stupid.

[emulatorloo]

37. So I have to pretend Bernie's policies are the same as Trump's?

Ok, even though there is no overlap AT ALL between the predatory racist capitalist and the democratic socialist, I will do my best to pretend they are the same if that's what it takes to be 'fair'

thanks for explaining the rules.

[Jemmons]

40. No - you just have to not shot yourself in either foot. nt.

[emulatorloo]

45. Perhaps I'm over-sensitive to those who claim to support Bernie but appear not to care about

about what Bernie is fighting for.

Have a nice evening.

[Jemmons]

54. Im just pointing out a bit of information about human nature

I think it applies to a lot of the tension between the left wing of the party and the Clinton camp.

The real issue is to make sure that ordinary people can finally see some opportunity and some real progress.

[MohRokTah]

20. No, you said youo WOULDN'T vote for Hillary

That's a blatant TOS violation here.

[Metric System]

13. Millions more voted for Hillary.

[Takket]

7. "per Hillary's statement today she will become "honorary chair" of her 50-state strategy"

With all due respect to Hillary, that is insanity. DWS has had a 0 state strategy that has seen the GOP massacre Dem candidates in every place except the oval office. While Obama has been in the white house we've lost the House, the Senate, and governorship and state legislatures across the country.

[cherokeeprogressive]

46. "You OWE me. Big Time. Remember that. You OWE me."

Given all the seats DWS has lost in all the different places, it seems there has to be a quid pro quo somewhere that's attached to her performance in this presidential primary.

[genna]

47. Kaine started moving away from the 50 state strategy

DWS should not be credited with that brilliant strategy: he who has should receive more and the state parties that don't should go without resources. It also helps you notice those qualities in those elected from more reliably democratic localities.

The consequences should be obvious throughout state and local elected officials.

[msongs]

15. for some people nothing will ever be enough nt

[NuclearDem]

17. Why should Clinton waste time trying to appease the people

who are never going to vote for her anyway?

DWS stepped down, and the continued whining and complaining out of the people who kept demanding it proves they're just looking for things to be upset about. Fuck it.

[Duckhunter935]

25. She needs to leave today, not after she rubs it in

No unity there

[Land Shark]

28. Because she wants to be a president of ALL people, and can't just serve one slice

[emulatorloo]

48. In general 'Honorary Position' = no power, no influence, no nothing.

So to me it seems like too insignificant a thing to get bent out of shape over.

DWS had been humiliated, she's resigned, she no longer has the actual power of head of the DNC.

You/we got what we wanted.

[suffragette]

58. Hasn't Hillary been fund raising for 50 state effort?

I think it's important for Clinton to support down ticket races for Democrats.

I also think there are much better and less divisive people than DWS to head such an effort.

In my district, McDermott retired and he was very progressive. We have a top two system, so this will be Democrats vying against each other for the seat. I would not like to see DWS intervene here since her track record is not supportive of the more progressive candidates.

[Scurrilous]

29. I agree.

There's no pleasing some people so why try or worry about it.

[Duckhunter935]

21. More of the same

Appointment of Donna Brazile will help somewhat.

[XemaSab]

22. I am not in the least bit surprised

And of course it makes "unity" harder to put someone who worked to throw an election on your campaign staff.

[Yo_Mama]

23. Other - I think realistically,

naming her to the Clinton campaign post will BOTH piss off some people and preserve her influence where it is useful in the campaign.

In the long run, unity will best be served by winning the presidency. I realize this probably feels like a slap in the face to some, but I think it's necessary to back off and look at the big picture.

[Land Shark]

31. Interesting. But the resignation is NOT something Clinton can say she conceded or acquiesced to

When she is doing all in her power to keep her as prominent as possible. If she hadn't hired h3r, then she could claim the Bernie folks got the head of Wasserman-Schultz, but they didnt. Hillary got her as head, and got her back....

[PatrickforO]

32. You know, Land Shark, putting up a poll like this is what makes unity harder.

I supported Bernie just as hard as you did, and love him just as much. But you have to admit this election is different.

If the Repubs were running somebody like Ryan or Romney, as odious as those guys are, the world wouldn't fall apart if they got elected. But Trump?

NO.

NO.

NO!

We cannot let Trump anywhere near the White House, because life as we know it might REALLY fall apart of he gets hold of the nuclear football. Look what's going in with all the racism and threats to start 'registering' people? And a fucking wall???

You want that?

For now, we need to get behind Clinton, and then hold her feet to the fire for stuff we want. Get some Social Democrats in the local Dem political apparatus. Just like the crazy right did starting back in 82. And look what they achieved. They've stopped the government from doing anything pretty much. It's up to us to inject some sanity.

But, if Trump gets elected because we don't get behind Clinton, we've basically shot ourselves in the foot. That's why I'm respectfully suggesting things like this poll might be an unnecessary poke at the Dem party establishment, and right now we need to be supporting them even if they are a bit too far right for our tastes.

[Land Shark]

34. Realizing the implications of this doesn't help unity

I'm flattered you think I might impact people but I really think they would all figure this out for themselves. We just look to DU for breaking news and cutting edge thoughts (some good some bad)

[Land Shark]

38. The issue is not "getting behind Hillary"

It's the question of telling a friend they did something wrong (that doesn't help unity) but you support them anyway. If there is no feedback system, things get crazier

[genna]

51. Unity is not conformity

The poll could go either way.

By clearly defining the party line one way we are in danger of creating the bubble the Republicans had in 2012. The polling tells us how tight the race is especially considering how crazy Trump is.

Do we really benefit by not resolving this issue before fighting Trump?

[HereSince1628]

36. Realistically it changed the narrative about the RNC being incompetent plagiarists

because it opened up the reply that the DNC was a bunch of untrustworthy cheats.

Getting this out of the news is important. I expect giving DWS some cover as honorary chair of the campaign was negotiated in order to get a quick resignation and to try to get it out of the news ASAP.

[Land Shark]

39. But I think it will sadly have the opposite effect. Wasserman chairs, speaks, then honorary chair.

It keeps it in the news, actually.

[HereSince1628]

42. If true, comments about how DWS threatened to embarrass Obama

by calling him anti-woman and anti-Semitic when DWS thought he wanted a new DNC chair

It's reasonable to think that giving DWS some cover was important to getting the resignation.

Being an honorary chair may not mean much.

In weeks DWS may have nothing to do but try to get re-elected.

[Darb]

41. You forgot "Clinton won...Deal."

By mistake I'd guess.

[Land Shark]

44. We're talking about winning unity. I thought that was sealed with resig, but not anymore

[Darb]

49. Go ahead,

vote for Rump. Or don't vote. It makes no difference. Most people, like, just about all people, don't give a flying fuck about DWS. Really. There will be no President Rump, no matter how hard you try.

[Land Shark]

43. So far the poll proves my fear: Hon. Chair changes resignation from unity-promoting to unity defeati

Which is why I had an omg moment whEN I first read it, and had to get and link to the original source. We're at 18 saying makes unity harder, 4 for no effect and 5 "other" right now

[Darb]

50. Really? A DU poll?

Ahh geeeez.

[Duckhunter935]

53. I agree with what you say

So many are tone deaf and still are saying we won shut the F up. Party unity, lol

[elehhhhna]

52. Unity means suspending all belief and ignoring facts now, right?

[Red Mountain]

55. meh....

I don't think it will have much of an effect on 'unity' if that's what you want to call it.

Democratic voters will vote for Hillary. To do otherwise would be insanity.

After the election, however........

[Land Shark]

56. One can vote for Hillary and support party with $ etc, or not do anything bUT vote. Big difference

[XemaSab]

57. Exactly

And if people who would otherwise be enthusiastic dems are like "Meh, time to go pull the lever for Hill," how many voters are going to be like "Meh, time to go organize my shoe collection?"

Lack of enthusiasm, like shit, rolls downhill.

[Warren DeMontague]

59. I don't care if she's named honorary poobah of Narnia. Doesnt matter.

She should not be representing our party in an official capacity (namely, DNC chair), and that's done. Beyond that, I'll be perfectly happy if she also loses her primary election to a different Democrat, someone who isn't a hard core cannabis prohibitionist.

But Hillary values loyalty, so I don't really care if she's on her campaign.

[B Calm]

61. If this is Hillary's idea of uniting the Democratic party, we're screwed!