Million-member organization that supported Sanders in 2015 withdraws endorsement of Northam in VA

[Pugster]

Democracy for America just withdrew its support of Northam, the Democratic candidate.
Although the motive is said to be related to immigration, the announcement comes right after comments by Donna Brazile and Elizabeth Warren stating that the primary was rigged.

Link to tweet

[renegade000]

1. This comment must be new... any link? n/t

[SaschaHM]

2. Here's to hoping this works as well as their previous endorsement in VA.

It's not like the election is in less than a week and the alternative is ACTUAL ANTI-IMMIGRANT POLICIES by a confederate statue loving shill.

Talk about pissing away one's political relevance.

[GeneMcM]

91. They did it deliberately

And probably with some helpful advice from their new alt-right friends. Screaming phony racist charges at the 11th hour in a neck and neck race where victory hinged on immigrant and minority turn-out. It was calculated and deliberate. Face facts.


This will cost us the VA Governorship. Stick a fork in it. The 'progessives' have done it again.

[american_ideals]

3. NO NO NO. NO, DFA. You MUST support NORTHAM.

DFA is throwing out support for Northam. This is throwing out the baby with the bathwater. They're going to get racist Trump-supporting Gillespie elected with moves like this.

This afternoon, following comments backtracking from support for immigrant families, Democracy for America announced that it was no longer doing "any work to directly aid" Democrat Ralph Northam's Virginia campaign for Governor.

"Ralph Northam's gutless, politically senseless, and morally debased decision yesterday to openly backtrack on (ed: one small aspect of immigration) is a picture-perfect example of why Democracy for America never endorsed him in the primary and focused the entirety of our efforts in Virginia on down-ticket races, like Justin Fairfax's campaign for Lieutenant Governor. It's also why, today, we're announcing that we will no longer do any work to directly aid Northam's gubernatorial efforts.

Then, if you look at the article DFA links you see their overreaction. Why are they trying to get Gillespie elected like this. Real progressives must back Northam.

During the legislative session in February, Republicans maneuvered Northam into the position of having to cast a tiebreaking vote on a sanctuary cities ban that was ultimately vetoed by Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe.

COME ON. This is a tempest in a teapot. Northam is going to help immigrants and Latinos VASTLY more than Gillespie, who wants to hurt and deport immigrants and wants big tax cuts for the wealthy and less health care for the poor. How could DFA support Gillespie like this? And make no mistake, withdrawing support for Northam is backing Gillespie. Who made this decision??

[renegade000]

8. Seriously, we have literal NAZIs and neo-confederate white supremacists holding rallies...

But it's evidently Northam that racist?

[american_ideals]

9. This is a very bad move. We need to support the good guys like Northam

And not let the GOP trick Dems into turning on each other. Come on DFA, don't you have anyone with half a brain running you? Who is running them?

[renegade000]

10. Well, based on the address in their press release...

DFA is based in Burlington, VT... so make of that what you will...

[american_ideals]

12. Who made the dumb decision is what I want to know. Because that person is harming progressives.

[karynnj]

72. True, because that is where HOWARD DEAN set it up - it is run by his brother

The action - if true - is beyond stupid.

[HootieMcBoob]

74. Formerly Dean For America

DFA is what was originally the organization set up by Howard Dean during his run for the Presidency. He was Governor of Vermont. DFA is not a Sanders organization. This is a stupid move and they need to fix this.

[R B Garr]

16. Its not even about racism, but about what Donna Brazile said

in her book excerpt that came out today. It’s that shallow.

[KTM]

33. Was that part of the statement they made ?

I didnt see that, did I miss it ?

[delisen]

34. Facing fact:There is a Left that is anti- Democratic

Party and would prefer that Republican Party succeed. This Left wants to to destroy so that they can build their version of American on the ashes of today's America.

It has some similarity to those on the Far Right who vote for the crass sinner Trump because they think it will hasten the Rapture, Armageddon, or the Rapture.

Politcs is a cycle and there is a place on that circle where the far left and far right meet.

[BannonsLiver]

48. Some are anti democracy as well.

That’s the vibe I’m getting.

[delisen]

83. Yes it is like an authoritarian left that is

amenable to strong man rule.

[renegade000]

50. Yeah, the German far left in Weimar actually had, "first Hitler, then our time!" as a motto

Worked out swimmingly...

[Demsrule86]

54. Yes and they have caused a great deal of damage...and are despicable...not truly progressive

either or they wouldn't prefer the GOP...if DFA withdraws their support from the only Democrat running than they support Gillespie by default. Fuck them.

[Blue_Tires]

64. I used to get shit on here for pointing that out...

Most of the fringe "Dems" out there are not our friends...

[shenmue]

76. Yes

[ehrnst]

93. Yes. I've heard it referred to as the Green Tea Party. (nt)

[lagomorph777]

78. WTF? Gillespie is openly neo-Nazi neo-Confederate, KKK

And DFA wants to install Gillespie?

[dem4decades]

4. Why would any Democrat want a Republican redrawing Virginia's Congressional Districts?

[SaschaHM]

6. Because as people suffer (including the immigrant families they claim to care for), they get to say.

"I told you so" and flex their political might. I wouldn't be surprised if "Perriello would have won" starts popping up if Northam loses.

[Demsrule86]

57. A gerrymander will result in this...

[LexVegas]

5. ....

[highplainsdem]

7. Trump, the alt-right, and Putin will be cheering their decision.

[Not Ruth]

11. DFA never endorsed Northam in the Gubernatorial race

They never endorsed anyone

[former9thward]

45. They were aiding him.

A progressive grassroots group announced Thursday that it will no longer "directly aid" Virginia's Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ralph Northam, citing his comments on immigration.

Democracy for America (DFA) announced in a statement that it would no longer mobilize voters in Virginia to vote for Northam, and instead would focus on down-ballot races.

The DFA had never officially endorsed Northam, but had worked on coordinated campaign efforts. The group pointed to Northam's comments saying he would oppose sanctuary cities in the state of Virginia as one reason for pulling "direct aid" from his campaign.

"Ralph Northam's gutless, politically senseless, and morally debased decision yesterday to openly backtrack on his commitment to standing up for immigrant families is a picture-perfect example of why Democracy for America never endorsed him in the primary and focused the entirety of our efforts in Virginia on down-ticket races, like Justin Fairfax's campaign for Lieutenant Governor. It's also why, today, we're announcing that we will no longer do any work to directly aid Northam's gubernatorial efforts," DFA Executive Director Charles Chamberlain said in a statement.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/358557-dfa-announces-end-of-direct-aid-for-northam-in-va-gubernatorial-race

[Demsrule86]

59. They publicly withdrew support...that is awful.

They now support Gillespie...and are dead to me.

[Freethinker65]

13. Direct Aid ?

[Dawson Leery]

14. Fascist and Communist alike are working together

to destroy the free world.

[HopeAgain]

30. The commies are back?

Maybe we should invade an Asian country if we're doing the 60's again...

[nycbos]

36. I think the point is the extreme right has a lot in common with the extreme left.

[coolsandy]

15. Does Warren even know all the facts surrounding the Brazlle allegations? Liz really crushed me.

A move like this show exactly what is at the core of the Bernie band. Sad to see this happen. Never should the party allow someone who hasn't been a registered Dem prior to filing for the campaign.

[Dawson Leery]

17. Agreed.

I will oppose him if he runs again in 2020.

[comradebillyboy]

82. I'll oppose Liz as well

With friends like Donna and Liz and DFA who the hell needs enemies.

[StevieM]

21. Senator Warren really disappointed me today with her reckless and incorrect comment. (eom)

[american_ideals]

37. No you do not get to attack Liz Warren like that

Warren has done nothing but fight for progressives. She is on our side. Embrace her values.

[StevieM]

44. It wasn't much of an attack. I just said she disappointed me today. In any event, I don't dispute

that Warren is on our side. But I don't know if it is a good idea to instruct anyone to embrace somebody else's values. People have to decide for themselves which values they do or don't agree with.

[NCTraveler]

79. That was very mild and was restricted to one comment.

Your thought that people have to be either bad or good, not in between, is flawed.

That was extremely mild criticism and you pulled out the "how dare you".

"Warren has done nothing but fight for progressives."

Even Warren't most ardent supporters, of which I am one, fully know that is a highly inaccurate statement.

[smirkymonkey]

47. She's my senator and I must say, I am very disappointed in her.

In fact, I am furious. I am going to find it hard to support her in the future. I will never vote for an R over her, but if a better Democratic candidate comes out, I will consider voting her out.

[former9thward]

46. What about states that don't have party registration?

There are plenty of them. Those people don't get to run for anything?

[Demsrule86]

55. Really-come on...just because you don't have to register doesn't mean you aren't a member

of a party. Two completely different things...They still have Democrats and Republicans running in those states...and if you are not a member of either party...run as an independent. In Ohio we don't register but I am a Democrat. You can vote in any primary and that is the only difference...and the GOP screws with primaries too...

[Raine1967]

18. DFA? are you fucking kidding me?

What the ever loving hell.

ONCE AGAIN, we are eating our own.

This race is way more important than people realize.You all want to end gerrymandering? Vote the DEM and let's get this going.

[brush]

19. WTF? One step forward and three steps back. How stupid can you get?

[FSogol]

20. Pure ratfucking from DFA. Fuck all those guys.

[GaryCnf]

22. OR

Northam could reverse his immoral position on sanctuary cities, I guess.

[FSogol]

24. Instead of parroting RW talking points, why don't you figure out what you are talking about?

From WAPO in August:

Ralph Northam cast the deciding vote in favor of sanctuary cities that let illegal immigrants who commit crimes back on the street,” the narrator says.

But the claim, which suggests Northam cast a vote allowing for the establishment of so-called sanctuary cities, does not provide the complicated context behind the vote.

The Republican-controlled General Assembly considered legislation in February to ban sanctuary cities, or localities that refuse to help detain and deport people who are in the country illegally.

Northam, the lieutenant governor, presides over the 40-member state Senate, and only votes when there’s a tie.

Senate Majority Leader Thomas K. Norment (R-James City) initially voted against the ban. It was an odd move for the GOP leader to break from his party, but it set up a tie forcing Northam to go on record on a contentious issue.

Northam voted against the bill, and Gillespie’s campaign promptly put out a statement condemning him for it.

The bill came for another vote, and passed with Norment’s support. Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) vetoed the legislation.

Asked if he deliberately voted against the bill to force a vote from Northam, Norment walked away from reporters.

Complicating matters further: Virginia technically doesn’t have sanctuary cities.

Whole article here:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/did-ralph-northam-cast-the-deciding-vote-to-allow-sanctuary-cities-in-virginia/2017/08/30/c2e874ce-8d95-11e7-8df5-c2e5cf46c1e2_story.html?utm_term=.afe1eeddc3bc

[GaryCnf]

29. K

http://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/government-politics/northam-says-he-d-ban-sanctuary-cities-if-one-ever/article_f7284d85-4de8-5ac2-b2ad-9564074a6480.html

[american_ideals]

38. Gary - some views? GOP has a racist and a billionaire wing

What do you stand FOR, Gary, outside your parroting if talking points on Northam? Do you agree that the GOP has embraced racists for years because that’s the only way for them to get votes for their agenda that gives rich people more money and takes healthcare away from poor kids? That’s the agenda Gillespie stands for.

[GaryCnf]

62. On a personal level

I accept the "binary choice" ultimatum. I always vote for the candidate who has a (D) next to their name OR who has a proven track records of voting with the Democratic caucus because the alternative is worse. I admit voting for candidates with whom I do not fully agree and even being bludgeoned into voting for some candidates whom I find almost reprehensible. The (R) is always worse.

That, however, is not the question. The question is whether Ralph Northam's campaign's best course of action is to rely on intimidating voters (who will be directly and intimately harmed by his promised blocking of any city-level effort to establish sanctuary cities) by threatening "Vote for me or you'll get that racist, gerrymandering puke Gillespie" or whether the better course would be to come out with a statement about how the reaction to his recent anti-sanctuary city statements has shown him how important this issue is and how he now takes the position that he will never even consider overruling democratically-elected local officials who have decided that their communities should offer a respite for the most immediate victims of the Trump administration.

This discussion is critical to the future of our party if for no other reason than that using the "binary choice" ultimatum on loyal Democratic constituencies may not harm us when it comes to the percentage of votes we get from these constituencies, however, it is not inspiring them to get to the polls and that is costing us elections. See, Wayne County, Michigan.

Moreover, while openly standing with these constituencies may alienate some privileged, white, upper-middle class, middle of the road voters (who many claim are the key to electoral victory), the fact of the matter is that we have catered to those voters with such tactics as opposing sanctuary cities and still are not getting a majority of those votes. It is time to build our coalition around our loyal constituencies and that segment of white, upper-middle class, middle of the road voters who have the human decency to stand with those without privilege.

[GaryCnf]

75. Crickets?

Not surprised.

[Nevernose]

23. Does Howard Dean still run DFA?

And why link it to Sanders except to cause an even bigger rift than the one DFA just opened a little wider?

[leftofcool]

28. No, he does not.

[elleng]

31. No; his brother.

[NurseJackie]

25. ###

[SaschaHM]

42. Get this: The head of the group screaming racism is a 48 year old white guy from VT.

Apparently, he can't bite the bullet that people of color have had to bite for years to ensure that their rights are protected.

He practically wraps himself up in black and brown voters and can't see the political consequences for those voters if Northam loses. As a African American Democrat, that pisses me off.

[NurseJackie]

67. It's all very Sarandonesque.

It's as if some people actually WANT the very worst outcome so that they can have some sort of sadistic pleasure in the agony of others. We've seen it all before in the way that Susan Sarandon behaves. It's sickening.

[uponit7771]

26. I officially don't trust DFA after this bullshit baby out with bathwater crap

[beachbum bob]

32. this is how these people gave trump the whitehouse

shameful if true

[nycbos]

35. Have these people received any donations in Rubles lately.

[american_ideals]

39. Or from Rove, like Nader did?

[Stinky The Clown]

40. Where is this group's HQ? St Petersburg?

[greyl]

49. Unbelievably possible, yeah. nt

[WillowTree]

41. I also heard that there was a nasty backlash against a pro-Northam TV ad.

It was apparently run by one of his PACs or support groups or something and has since been taken down, but the implication was that damage was done. I didn't catch the specifics.

[dlk]

43. Just Like Those Who Didn't Want to Vote for Hillary -- And Now We Have Trump. Gillespie is Better?

[Tiggeroshii]

51. That doesn't seem like a good idea

[Doodley]

52. If they are doing this, they may as well just say vote Trump/GOP.

[Demsrule86]

56. That is what they are saying. This means...vote for Gillespie.

The DFA is dead to me.

[Demsrule86]

53. So the primary will cost us Virginia? The gift the keeps on giving...yeah...

and Democracy for America...I stopped you donations. You are dead to me. Virginia is a very important state for 18 and 20.

[PatsFan87]

58. While I think it's a poor decision by DFA, it's inaccurate to say it's because of Brazile

or Warren. DFA says it has to do with a statement made by Northam on Wednesday where he said he'd sign a bill banning sanctuary cities in the state if one came to his desk. The other reason DFA pointed to was Lieutenant Governor candidate Justin Fairfax's name being left off of literature given to canvassers.

It looks like DFA will shift all of its support to down-ballot races and Fairfax's race.

[Pugster]

87. The timing is suspicious

Right after Brazile's article.

[KPN]

60. Intentionally misleading thread.

DFA is not a Sanders' organization. DFA has financially supported many elected democrats over its relatively short existence ... including blue dog Dems.

Linking this to Brazile and Warren is reading into it. DFA has taken a principled position re Virginia GOPs proposed ban on sanctuary cities. What does that have to do with the Brazile thing?

A disingenuous OP - but it illicited the intended hysteria i suppose.

[Vinca]

61. It seems to be one more attempt to divide us. I say "nyet."

[Pugster]

66. You lied about my thread

I typed, "organization that supported Sanders in 2015".
This group endorsed Bernie Sanders over everyone else in 2015. True or false?

[KPN]

68. BS.

DFA has supported the Democratic Party throughout its existence. The fact that it endorsed Bernie during the primary has nothing to do with the position it has taken re Northram. It has endorsed hundreds of Democrats -- even blue dog Dems -- over its life including Hillary in 2016.

Stop dividing. Stop attacking and stirring hysteria.

[Pugster]

85. What do you think about the group founder's tweet?

Link to tweet

[Kirk Lover]

69. I don't even care about the supposed Sanders/Brazile link...why the hell are they not supporting

Northam...whom is the better alternative? I find this to be a real problem.

[KPN]

70. Northam said he would sign a bill

banning sanctuary cities in VA if the Republican state legislature passed it. DFA said they disagree with that position.

[Kirk Lover]

71. Ok..but can't they disagree with that position but still support him? Who is the better

alternative? Again I find this a real problem. The stupid Repubilcons would never do this...they stick together no matter what.

[KPN]

73. If "support" means voluntarily donating their financial resources to Northam, apparently not.

They are apparently guided by their principles on this.

[Blue_Tires]

63. This is a ratfucking, plain and simple

[FSogol]

65. Exactly. n/t

[NCTraveler]

77. Sanders was a leading force and instrumental in blocking a pathway to citizenship...

for over ten million people. Sanders was literally one of the opposition leaders.

He fought against Obama, Biden, Boxer, etc and fought on the side of Republicans.

I guess many have been correct. These groups are fully willing to support extremist Republicans.

[leftynyc]

80. Never heard of them

and now I'll pretend I never did. Fuck them.

[moda253]

81. There is a very large movement afoot to destroy the Democratic party

I really wish DU and other democrats would wake up and realize that people who claim to be our allies and those we think of allies.... ARE NOT OUR FUCKING ALLIES!!!!!

[KPN]

89. Really? Who are these people?

For what goal? Sure, right-wingers and Russia. But who else is trying to destroy the party?

[Autumn]

84. What does Howard Dean have to say about his organization he founded doing this?

I thought his brother was still in charge of DFA. Northam is a thousand times better than Gillespee on a bad day.

[Pugster]

86. Howard Dean is in shock. He tweeted this:

Link to tweet

[Autumn]

88. It's not as if Gillespie wouldn't sign a bill banning sanctuary cities in a heartbeat.

[Blue_Tires]

90. AND Gillespie is already running on it... Thanks for nothing you DFA useful idiots...

Link to tweet

[GeneMcM]

92. Yup and I don't doubt for a moment that they strategized with the Cons on this either

throwing a last minute racist charge at the last moment before anyone could respond, to dissuade the very voters needed is straight out of the Tea Party playbook.