50% of both Clinton & DWS's platform committee picks are women. Sanders only chose one

[bigtree]

Skye M. @almasecretkey
50% of both Clinton & DWS's picks are women. Sanders chose 1.

from TPM:

Under the new arrangement, the Washington Post reported Monday, Clinton will appoint six representatives to the platform committee while Sanders will appoint five.

The Post reported that Clinton has selected president of the Center for American Progress Neera Tanden, Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) who has worked extensively on immigration reform in the House, Wendy Sherman, who worked with Clinton at the Department of State, Carol Browner, an environmentalist who worked in the Obama administration, Ohio lawmaker Alicia Reece, and Paul Booth who is the executive assistant to the president at the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union

The paper also reported that Sanders picked James Zogby, the president of the Arab-American Institute in Washington and a well-known advocate for Palestinian issues, Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), one of two Muslim members of Congress, Dr. Cornel West, an academic and an activist for racial equality, author and environmentalist Bill McKibben and Deborah Parker, an advocate for the Native American community.

DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz named Rep. Elijah Cummings, who served as the the ranking member in the select committee on Benghazi, to be the chairman. She also selected former CEO Bonnie Schaefer, one-time Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA) and current Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) to serve.

[AgingAmerican]

1. Gender should never be a deciding factor in these matters

EVER.

Sanders was allowed to take over the platform because Hillary has been surpassed by Trump in national polls. Deal with it.

[Recursion]

2. That's an odd claim. Why not?

I'd hope we'd have diversity as a goal in choosing our platform committee. You don't?

[JonLeibowitz]

6. Is there a female equivalent of McKibben?

There may be and I'm not aware -- genuinely curious. I would not have chosen Cornel West (prefer Alexander)

[Recursion]

9. Winona LaDuke, Hunter Lovins, Temple Grandin (sort of)...

The West pick was a pretty predictable "fuck you" to Obama, and is neither here nor there, IMO

[WhiteTara]

102. Carol Browner is on the committee

[AgingAmerican]

8. Because then we get people like Neera Tanden

[Recursion]

10. I like Tanden

Plus it's good to see an Indian-American on the committee

[JonLeibowitz]

79. Tanden suggested forcing Libya to pay us for our intervention there, since they are oil-rich

I'm not okay with that kind of naked imperalism, and I don't think you are either, right?

[msanthrope]

13. Why? nt

[AgingAmerican]

14. Because ideas are more important than window dressing

[msanthrope]

17. Women are window dressing? Nt

[AgingAmerican]

19. If someone is chosen because of their gender or race, then yes

Male is also a gender, BTW.

[msanthrope]

24. How interesting that you think being chosen because you are female is a negative. Nt

E

[AgingAmerican]

25. Yes

And being chosen because you are a male is equally 'a negative'.

[bettyellen]

60. no,being chosen as a man has been the default setting for centuries.

[TwilightZone]

26. He insists that the N word isn't a slur....

so this position isn't terribly surprising.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=2037869

[still_one]

80. everyone one of the women chosen on that commiteee are extremely qualified

[Gore1FL]

58. Are you really that lost that you can't piece this together?

Or are you trolling?

[okasha]

27. Sanders was not allowed to "take over" the platform.

He named 5 out of 17 co.mittee members.

That said, Keith Ellison is a good choice, and Deborah Parker an even better one.

[AgingAmerican]

29. Sanders to the rescue!

The DNC is experiencing BUYERS REMORSE since Trump has now surpassed Clinton.

[okasha]

42. Now, that is just silly.

It's a "feel good" concession. Nothing will make it onto the platform without at least nine votes. Math again.

[riversedge]

28. Hillary knows how to negotiate instead of like Sanders who bullies his way though. She is the

peacemaker-and has had to be, esp in her role as SOS. Deal with that.

[Fawke Em]

39. She knows how to negotiate our jobs away.

She knows how negotiate us into war.

She knows how to negotiate so that Wall Street gets all the spoils while Main Street suffers.

But, peacemaker? LOL! She's the biggest war hawk running.

[tazkcmo]

52. Peacemaker!

Good one! lol

[athena]

44. You're male, aren't you?

You're really making a statement to the effect that you should have unfair privilege thanks to your gender.

Anyone who thinks women and men play on a level playing field in our society is either clueless, or male, or, more likely, both.

P.S. When a group is made up entirely of men, or overwhelmingly of men, that is not evidence that the members were chosen fairly, based on their merits. Quite the contrary. But to some people, bias is perfectly acceptable as long as it benefits men.

[Dems2002]

46. As someone who was employed by the sanders campaign, I noticed

I saw his list of names and I immediately noticed 4-1 male/female. There is no way it needed to be this way. You know who he could have easily picked? Nina Turner.

I wouldn't have noticed 3-2. But 4-1 when this is a continuous issue for his campaign really shows he doesn't get it.

Not surprising. He's old. His lead staff are old white men too. But I wish he could have learned to do better on this issue.

[bettyellen]

61. And that is what happens when people think platitudes is a substitute for action-

they always expect someone else to go out and start doing the work.... but they have set themselves up to not even understand what the work should look like by excluding so many.

[Dems2002]

62. Being blind on this doesn't equal platitudes

Sanders is mission focus. He has a one track mind. He's completely focused on the economic front and he gets easily exacerbated by other items. He cares, but he thinks if we fix the economic side first that will do the most good for women and minorities. He isn't wrong, but he isn't completely right either.

Such is life.

I've been around the block for a long time. And the reason I went to work for him is the fact that he is strong, he doesn't back down and he knows how to bring back the moral frame necessary to push a liberal economic agenda.

To me, this is vital. Working people deserve dignity. And our crony capitalism has stripped it from us and then told us we're to blame.

I am proud to have worked for Bernie. I don't worship anyone though. It's up to us to carry his legacy forward.

[bettyellen]

64. his "stance" on abortion is an empty platitude, and most other social justice issues he

has not don;t the work and picked up facile ideas on how to cope. it;s not his wheelhouse, and he has not done the work to improve it much. it is lip service. he's not actually that interested in anything but Wall St and financial issues.

[George II]

72. Sanders didn't "take over the platform".

[mythology]

73. Until the default isn't a straight white male

I have no problem with having gender, race or orientation being substantial factors in these matters, especially when the opposing side talks about women bleeding out of their wherever or Mexicans being rapists etc.

People who have different life experiences bring different perspectives. What's wrong with wanting to take advantage of that?

[JonLeibowitz]

81. Using Trump to smear wholesome respectful, unbigoted Democratic white men is not a good look

[LiberalFighter]

75. Then you must be opposed to gender division being used for national delegates.

[insta8er]

3. A the rehash...The Sexism Clubber. Not this time!

[JonLeibowitz]

4. I would have dropped Cornel West for Michelle Alexander on the merits.

Otherwise, I think it's a good idea to select powerful voices on the most pressing issues facing America, not try to exactly represent every constituency proportionally.

[floppyboo]

33. maybe Alexander is a VP consideration? Just guessing...

[JRLeft]

5. Neera Tanden is awful, she's a staunch corporatist and

completed controlled by AIPAC.

[wendylaroux]

7. no,just stop.divide and conquer sucks,no matter who does it.

[bigtree]

15. when it comes to attempting to divide the Democratic party

...the Sanders campaign takes the prize.

Wanting women proportionately represented at the negotiating table isn't divisive. ALL of Sanders top campaign staff are men. There should be a point where representation of women is more than just a campaign slogan.

[timmymoff]

34. The democratic platform and hillary is the divide

you know the lobbyist money, the corporate money, the super pac money, the fracking etc.. stop making shit up never has the democratic platform been to make our water dirtier, but it is under Hillary. never has it been Big business is great , but it is under Hillary's vision.

[Scootaloo]

53. By joining in to build the Platform Committee?

No matter what he does, nothing, but nothing is ever anything but "proof" of what a godawful piece of shit he is, huh?

[NWCorona]

11. Is this the first time for a Native American advocate to have been selected?

[DURHAM D]

50. Not sure what all committees she has served on for the DNC

but here is a real shero -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LaDonna_Harris

Her husband former Senator Fred Harris is a SuperD.

[hellofromreddit]

12. It does appear that way. What are we to deduce from this observation?

[Doctor_J]

16. 100% of Sanders picks are liberals

Admit it, that's what you're unhappy about

[bigtree]

18. admit it

...you don't know a damn thing of substance about the people you project against here.

Blocking you.

[insta8er]

21. .....oh come on..don't get mad..

[bigtree]

31. this is the face of the Sanders campaign

...ugly personal attacks posing as progressiveness.

What a fraud.

[jillan]

20. Everybody must go to the convention and strip so we can count how many vaginas vs penises are in

attendance.



Seriously people?

[cali]

22. Some of Hillary's picks are awful. Particularly Neera Tanden.

[TwilightZone]

23. Has she ever called the President of the United States the N word?

Compared him to George Zimmerman?

Called him a war criminal?

No one is a worse choice than Cornel West. He makes any other "bad" choices look like Paul Wellstone.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

30. I care more about policies than inborn traits

Better a male with empathy and understanding for ordinary Americans than a female corporatist and hawk.

[bigtree]

32. problem has been

...the majority of men making political and policy decisions have not given priority or inclusion of issues which predominately affect women.

Moreover, it's way past time for women to have a seat at the political table. Unless you feel there are no qualified women to include in the deliberations, there isn't any excuse for excluding or under-representing them.

[okasha]

48. Texas Democratic delegate-selection rules

require gender parity. That seems pretty "progressive" to me.

[bigtree]

68. interesting

...I agree.

[DURHAM D]

88. I believe there was a time when the DNC

required gender parity in pledged delegates from each state unless they requested and received an exemption.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

76. There are plenty of qualified women

I just don't happen to like this particular one who is running for president.

And not because of Whitewater or Vince Foster or covens in the White House or any other such right-wing nonsense.

It's because of being a corporatist and a hawk and a defender of the status quo. It's because of valuing harmony with the Republicans over the good of the country.

[bigtree]

86. that's a different issue. Opposing Hillary would seem moot in this primary

...highlighted by Sanders already assuming a lesser role in the convention platform process.

This concerns representation of women on the platform committee.

[pmorlan1]

35. Sanders Only Gets 5 Picks

and now the Hillary supporters want to make those picks for him? You guys are unbelievable.

[bigtree]

38. he's responsible for his picks

...and not above criticism for them.

[pmorlan1]

40. Give the Sexism Meme

a rest. I've been a feminist for over 40 years and I'm so sick of the faux outrage from Clinton supporters. It's really getting embarrassing. Stop using women to gain political advantage for your candidate. You're turning off a lot of feminists who support the other candidate and you need us in the Fall if she gets the nomination.

[bigtree]

45. it's not a meme, it's a reality

...one that women in politics have been enduring for decades.

It's really simple.There are more than enough women in Democratic politics for the Sanders camp to find who are qualified to make these decisions. It's a shame he didn't care enough to include them.

That, and these deflections are more of a 'turn off' than pointing this out.

[pmorlan1]

49. I've been here for the entire campaign

I've seen the meme pushed all over DU. Spare me.

[bigtree]

66. okay.

...blocking you.

[anotherproletariat]

63. Do you realize that by accepting 5 picks, he admitted defeat? If he really thinks he might win, he

would not have settled for less than Hillary.

[TheFarseer]

36. Oh for fuck sake

In you estimation, is there any group bernie doesn't hate? Hillary didn't pick any native Americans. Why does she hate native Americans?

[bigtree]

37. didn't say hate, that's just a deflection

...they just weren't included, for whatever reason, and it sucks.

I have noticed the lack of discussion by Hillary of Native American issues and the lack of prominent representation of those citizens in her campaign, and it's ripe for criticism.

[Scootaloo]

104. Of course you didn't SAY. SAYING things means you can be held to them

So instead you just insinuate endlessly.

[Eric J in MN]

41. Four of Sanders' five choices are non-white

...but you still found a way to imply he's against diversity.

[riderinthestorm]

43. +1. Way to diss Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, Native Americans...it's sick

The hatred of Bernie renders them blind to anything positive.

[bigtree]

47. I pointed out that his platform committee picks only include one woman

...you can make of it what you want, but it stands as an exclusion on this influential committee.

(heading to work now, will check on this thread later)

[jillan]

51. Does Hillary have any Native Americans in her group?

[Orsino]

90. Why does Hillary Clinton dismiss Native Americans?

Yep. Stupid talking points are stupid.

[TheKentuckian]

55. Let's just do away with names and identify by penis or vagina followed by a number

Sure, we can throw in a few more labels in there. I'll be black, male, straight penis #24 million because apparently all we are and ever can be is a demographic.

My friend white female lesbian vagina #501,071 just texted me she is upset with Asian female lesbian vagina #18,976 cause she talked shit about her brother white male straight penis #98,536,237.

[bigtree]

67. let's just ignore the fact that the male-dominated political system has NOT met the needs of women

...and continue to pretend that their particular needs and concerns are already being addressed by the majority of men in our national legislature.

[TheKentuckian]

69. I don't see anyone's needs met below about the the top 10%, not even men. Not even white men

The problems go way, way deeper than how many vaginas and penises one can count.

It is the who not the what that is at the root. You can have 535 Joni Ernst in DC and women would be worse off than ever by and you can have 535 Bernie Sanders and women and minorities would never have been better off.

It's the conservatives and the regressives, not the dicks and pussies at the root of the problems.

[bigtree]

74. you're acting as if there aren't progressive women who could fill those roles

...and making what has been, for decades, a conservative argument.

[TheKentuckian]

98. Conservatives have been arguing to focus on being more inclusive of strong liberals?

I'm going to have to ask for a link to that, never heard that a single time in my life.

[bigtree]

99. what a joke

...of an argument.

Shifting to arguing about 'strong liberals' is a hell of a way to address a vast majority of men making decisions for women for decades in our political system. Thanks for making my point.

[TheKentuckian]

100. Your point is plumbing over policy, ideology, and worldview, I'm glad to help.

I didn't shift shit, that is bull. My focus was ever on the who not the what.

If there was a shift it was from whatever crap you made up in your head.

[bigtree]

105. again, you're supposing there are no progressive women available

...not much of a progressive policy which under-represents women; supposing as the male-dominated system has for decades, that men are fully capable of representing those concerns. History say no.

[Thinkingabout]

56. I am very happy to see Rep Elijah Cummings, he is very strong and smart, he will be an asset.

Hopefully West will arrive without his disparaging remarks.

[RazBerryBeret]

57. expecting or giving preferential treatment

because of one's gender is sexism. This campaign screams sexism at every turn, yet they have proven themselves to be sexist, IMO.

[slipslidingaway]

59. Do you realize how divisive the title of this OP is? Many people do not automatically segment a ...

person by gender, race, religion, sexual orientation etc.

Forgot about age, another large dividing line we'll be seeing more of in the coming months/years.

Does a woman who is Native American get more weighting than a white woman? Maybe we should devise a rating system where we break people down by factors they cannot change and ignore their positions on issues? Great idea

That is not something I wish to do in politics or life and I say that as a woman over 60.

[bigtree]

65. women have been fighting for political access for decades

...under representation on this influential committee is a travesty. Pointing that out isn't divisive, it's a reality check. You're not going to keep women out of the decision-making circle by trying to shame those calling for equal access at the political bargaining table.

I'm surprised anyone objecting can call themselves progressive.

[choie]

78. Somebody who supports a Neocon

as the Democratic nominee is not in the position to decide who can call themselves Progressive..

[bigtree]

83. I support Hillary over the leader of this hapless revolution against the Democratic party

...not everyone believes progressiveness begins and ends with Bernie Sanders.

[choie]

85. It neither begins, ends or middles

with Clinton. You can demean Bernie all you want, but nothing will change the wolf in sheep's clothing (and not very credible clothing) you are supporting.

[bigtree]

87. it's been a hoot, but this primary is over

...and the debate over which candidate in our Democratic primary is good or bad is over, like Bernie's bid to be president.

See, I spared you all of that. I'm not all bad.

[MineralMan]

70. Here, in the Minnesota DFL party, every party leadership

position must be equally divided between men and woman. If there are six positions, say for a district body, there must be three men and three women on that body.

It's a strict rule and one that is followed rigorously. Even for individual positions, such as Precinct Chair, if a male is the chair, a woman must be the vice-chair, and vice-versa.

We also have rules regarding other demographic equality, and our party leadership is supposed to be a mirror of the community.

That's a progressive goal and, in Minnesota, we work hard to achieve that goal. If you ever attend a Minnesota DFL Party convention at any level, you'll see the results in action. It works.

Hillary appears to share that goal.

[George II]

71. Interesting.

[still_one]

77. I noticed that one also

[LAS14]

82. Wo! How could they let that happen!!! nt

[MariaThinks]

84. Excellent

[Larkspur]

89. Sanders picks were excellent choices

His choices help balance the ones HRC made.

Just because they are men does not mean that they have less value than women.

[bigtree]

91. nice try

...the 'value' of women in our political system, at bargaining tables just like this influential one, is evidently not enough for Sanders to provide more than a token of representation (reflecting our political system, on the whole).

Does he not know any progressive women who will represent him?

[Hell Hath No Fury]

92. I am a woman and a feminist.

I looked over Sander's picks and am VERY happy with what I see. The many interest I find most important -- including equality -- will be well represented in that mix.

[jillan]

95. Ditto. I don't judge people based on their genitals.

[Sunlei]

93. Those are all good choices by all 3 of them and actually balance the D-platform.

[Nye Bevan]

94. A lot of white men of Bernie Sanders' generation

simply don't see this kind of thing as an issue. It doesn't mean that they are bad people, more that they are "of their time".

[BlueStateLib]

96. males yell louder

[snowy owl]

97. I wish he'd picked M. Alexander or Holmes Norton. He missed a chance here to add women, I agree

But it's not a issue to me. He's known for selecting smart and honest people. Key to his success No Rubin, Kissinger or Summers in his administration.

[Warren DeMontague]

101. How many support putting medical marijuana users in prison, like DWS does?

[Tiggeroshii]

103. Say what you want about whoever. The picks are excellent from both sides.

A progressive majority!

[Demsrule86]

106. Naturally

Bernie has few women of any stature in his cabinet and has totally ignored women's issues.

[bigtree]

107. he has zero women senior staffers