Obama: I have Wasserman Schultz's back

[seafan]

The Hill, June 3, 2016


(via The Hill)

President Obama reiterated his support for DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz on Friday, saying he has her back.

"I don't know how she does it because she’s everywhere all the time, non-stop, and she’s a mom and a wife, and has been just an incredible supporter of my agenda. She’s taken tough votes when they’re the right thing to do, and she is somebody who I have counted on consistently," Obama said at a DNC fundraiser in Florida Friday, according to a White House release. "She’s had my back. I want to make sure we have her back — Debbie Wasserman Schultz."

Some Democratic lawmakers have openly discussed dropping Wasserman Schultz, saying that she has become too divisive within the party.

.....

The president gave his remarks at a fundraiser where tickets went for between $10,000 and $30,000. It was hosted by Robert Rubenstein.

The punching of progressives and all those who care about free and fair elections seems never to go out of style.

[LizetteWest]

1. The establishment.

[scscholar]

33. ...has the establishment's back (ntxt)

[AliceWonderland]

55. Same as it ever was. nt

[Orsino]

129. ...is well established.

It's right there in the name.

[SamKnause]

2. ...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. He has her back?

How about us?

Shame on him.

She has done real damage to the Democratic Party. She needs to go. NOW.

[mindwalker_i]

38. You're throwing Obama under the bus!!!11!1!!!1!!111!!!1!!11!!1

WAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!111!!!

[Meteor Man]

49. Obama threw himself under the bus

DWS is not the Democratic party.

[CobaltBlue]

84. Meteor Man—When it comes to the sector which yields the influence…

Debbie Wasserman Schultz is representative of the Democratic Party.

She is in that position not as some arbitrary pick.

She is there because she apparently delivers on getting the money—the money for the party to fund elections.

The 70th governor and junior U.S. senator from Virginia is Tim Kaine. He was the DNC chair when the Democrats were unseated when Republicans won their majority pickup of the U.S. House in 2010. Schwartz presided over the 2014 Republican majority control pickup of the U.S. Senate in 2014.

Debbie delivering on money brought into the DNC is why she is still there—for now—as DNC chair. Had she failed, she would have sacked from that position however long ago. This is key to why Barack Obama and Joe Biden have come out to endorse her for party re-nomination to the U.S. House from Florida #23.

[Meteor Man]

88. This is the problem

Debbie delivering on money brought into the DNC is why she is still there—for now—as DNC chair.

Delivering the money became more important to the Drmocratic Party than representing the voters.

The Democratic Party faces a stark choice. Represent the traditional views of the Democratic Party or lose the votes of people who still believe in the tradirional views of the Democratic Party. Not to mention the votes of millenials who are voting for the traditional New Deal values of the Democratic Party.

[lancer78]

86. This is the same man

who made Rahm Emanuel his Chief-of-Staff. Did anyone expect any different

[stillwaiting]

111. If he has her back, he does not have ours.

This Party Chair has been horrible for average Americans and the Democratic Party.

She has been great for the global corporate agenda though.

#notonmyside

[highprincipleswork]

4. I am going to be a thorn in the side of this bullshit forever, as much as I possibly can. And I

hope that many agree with me.

So if any of the rest of you, who think this is OK and just dandy, find us fighting you, for now, for then, for forever, just don't be surprised. We believe we are very right, and we are not going anywhere.

Prepare for a long, nasty fight for the soul of the Democratic Party.

[puffy socks]

16. threats

[highprincipleswork]

41. Exactly. Or I could be satisfied with the corporate takeover of the Democratic Party.

[puffy socks]

45. Hmmmm

What are you going to do?
Send them a sternly worded letter?

[highprincipleswork]

46. As they say, all options on the table. Guess you're pleased with corporatocracy?

[puffy socks]

57. I'm realistic enough to know that...

1 not all wealthy corporate executives are corrupt jerks..Ben and Jerry for example.

2 that corporations have been , are and will be a part of our economy for the foreseeable future.

3 the 99% depend heavily on corporations doing well since a ton of them are employed by them

4 throwing a hissy fit isn't going to get you what you want. It just annoys people and they shut their ears , which makes some shout louder and more forcefully and then people tune you out. Others will just want to get even.

5 Try to start understanding how to get what you want.

6 Ask yourself why it pisses off Bernie supporters to supposedly be "told how to vote" when simply pointing out that a vote for third party or not voting helps Trump, but when Bernie and his supporters make demands of the majority of Democrats and try a hostile take over of the Dem party Dems are supposed to cordially capitulate.

7 revolution tends to hurt the working class far more than the wealthy class as the wealthy have the resources to comfortably outlast them. This is why evolution is best.

8 In order to make changes Progressives must have strength in numbers. Progressive purity tests and division make it a breeze for the 1% to conquer the masses

9 It takes toughness, focus and endurance to stick it out because the wheels of change turn slowly , so mucking up the works because it's not going fast enough will only cause it to take more time as each out burst will be used as a political bludgeon by professionally crafted corporate media to prevent the election of Progressives or stop progressive initiatives..
Toughness is not cursing at people nor is it threatening people.

[highprincipleswork]

85. Tell it to the French and the Wobblies.

[puffy socks]

117. Perhaps you should actually

study the French Revolution as well as Robespierre's reign of terror before making such a comment. The French people tried all else first


And stop the drama...America isnt remotely in the kind of crisis France was in 1789


Revolutions are most painful to the working class ...always

[Miles Archer]

107. No, I'd much prefer sarcasm and "rofl" smileys

They're very effective, and show true insight, maturity, and a warrior spirit. The world steps back for the man or woman who knows how to use a strategically placed smiley and a "LOL."

[ciaobaby]

27. one of the many who agree with you !

[anotherproletariat]

83. You seem very passionate, but sounds like what you want is not at all in agreement with the

Democratic Party as it stands today. Have you thought about organizing a new party? There seems to be many people who feel the way you do, and with all that energy, maybe you really could make a difference. I think you are butting your heads against a wall trying to change a party that is comfortable with the status quo. Wouldn't it be easier to start fresh?

[Kentonio]

97. Given that the party has lost control of congress

How exactly is it 'comfortable with the status quo'?

[highprincipleswork]

103. Losing control of Congress is a specialty of the New Dems. They excel at it. If you look at this

chart...
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0774721.html

You will notice that the principles and policies and economics of the New Deal kept Democrats in control of both the Senate and the House for all but 8 years from 1933-1993, 52 out of 60 years.

Compare this with the results from Bill Clinton onward, as the Democratic Party has become increasingly timid and run by so-called "New Dems". From 1993-2016, 23 years, we have only had the majority in both houses for 4 years.

52 out of 60 versus 4 out of 23. 87% of the time versus 17% of the time.

Can you see why Bernie supporters, who like how his views hearken back to the New Deal, see this as an ass-backwards kind of situation? Frankly, we can't see how Hillary supporters find it in themselves to live with this situation.

Now that's the MATH I'm talking about.

[Lizzie Poppet]

6. In the immortal words of Severus Snape...

I may vomit.

[Aerows]

80. Can't disagree with that statement. n/t

[Hiraeth]

93. Little bit ... in my mouth. Yep

[Waiting For Everyman]

7. That's nasty.

He should be ashamed of himself.

[Kelvin Mace]

8. And we get sold down the river

once again.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. What a disappointment.

[Broward]

10. Third Way corporatists look out for their own.

[CobaltBlue]

23. Broward—Debbie Does Please The Party

[B Calm]

11. I think of all the congressional seats lost because of her lousy leadership, and he has her back.

Crazy world we live in. .

[CobaltBlue]

22. B Calm—No! Her endorsers reveal their intent. Obama, Biden, et al.

[SusanCalvin]

12. UGH. That is all. nt

[Salviati]

13. I'll just leave this here:

https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/du4timcanova

[Segami]

17. Perfect and thanks Salviati

[Segami]

14. Hey PO,..you forgot to tell us that.....

Last edited Sat Jun 4, 2016, 12:49 AM - Edit history (1)

'Hope and Change' was really meant for the Establishment.......supporting a DISGUSTING HACK like DWS just puts everything into perspective........it really does!

[seafan]

20. We add this to the long list of things we will not forget.

This feels like nothing short of deliberate provocation.

Peace to you, Segami. We will fight on.

[truedelphi]

47. When wasn't it provocation?

That a nation as a whole voted against Hillary Clinton, and he made her his Secretary of State.

That little toad Rahm got the Chief of Staff position. That probably was as payment for seeing to it that the progressives all across most Southern states could not get "D" Party monies or endorsements. Yes, he gave the "hatchet man" a top position.

And the hatchet man called us progressives "retards."

[Skwmom]

87. As soon as Obama made his appointments it was clear that Clinton was right when she said in the

one debate in 2008, he is no different than me.

And Biden, I am no populist, when a populist is someone who represents the common man...

It is what it is and wishing won't make it change...

[ciaobaby]

29. and it was so unnecessary

[nc4bo]

15. Go Tim Canova, Go!

[Live and Learn]

61. +10,000 nt

[Joob]

18. Thanks Obama

You couldn't have put that clearer for the people who had doubts on where you stood.

[grasswire]

30. Now I don't care if Clinton drags him down with her.

Previously, I felt sympathetic about his legacy.

Gone.

[CobaltBlue]

19. I think many of us recognized Obama as a Wall Street Democrat years ago.

[2banon]

81. True, but I did respect a few of his foreign policiy efforts with SoS Kerry on board.

This news reminded me on why I was so deeply disappointed with him during his first term. I had held out hope for a different exit.

demoralizing, and depressing.

[Warren DeMontague]

21. What is "progressive" about voting to send cancer patients to prison for using medical pot?

[Warren DeMontague]

36. And when people pretend like this is all some airy academic exercise perpetrated by stoners

I remind them of stories like this one, the 53 year old medical marijuana patient who moved to Florida and was arrested in 2014 - the same year DWS teamed up with Sheldon Adelson to kill medical marijuana reform in that state- for growing plants in her own house after cops followed her home from a hydroponics store.

http://www.wptv.com/news/region-martin-county/stuart/stuart-woman-faces-10-years-in-prison-in-medical-marijuana-case

She's now facing 10 years in state prison- no prior offenses, no violence, just cops following her home from the garden shop.

Thanks, Debbie.

[ciaobaby]

31. I don't know what a democrat is anymore. I want out.

[jack_krass]

53. But but she's a fighter and a hard worker. Screw the cancer patients, let them rot

[jack_krass]

56. Oh, and a loyal Democrat too don't forget

[seabeyond]

24. Good for him... Nt

[DonCoquixote]

44. thinks she apologized for

working behind his back to kill the Iran Deal?

[jack_krass]

25. Disappointing

[840high]

43. Yes - very

[PowerToThePeople]

26. .

[Trust Buster]

32. The Big "O" is not going to bend to the radical Left. DWS will continue to lead the DNC through this

cycle. Bullying tactics will not be successful. The soul of the Democratic Party is not in question.

[Skwmom]

90. To be for the people is considered radical left. Wow...

[Trust Buster]

114. You are for far less people than Hillary has. Yes, you represent a minority of people and you

lean much farther Left. That cannot be denied.

[opiate69]

123. "You are for far less people than Hillary has"

[ThePhilosopher04]

34. Sorry I ever voted for the guy. TWICE! He's turned his back

on progressives and true liberals. Time to rise up!!!

[JEB]

35. This is a signal that

they will shit all over the dirty hippies and then blame them for the mess. No change, no hope.

[MisterP]

37. 12 Senators, 69 Reps, 13 Govenrmors, 913 state seats

if I was this bad at my job there'd be dead students ev-a-ry-wher

why does this chucklenut get anyone's time of day?

[jack_krass]

50. She greased the skids where needed to get HRC rammed through the primary

For this, she'll be justly rewarded.

Expect to see her making $250,000 speeches soon.

[StevieM]

63. Actually, most of those losses came in 2010 when Tim Kaine was party chair. (eom)

[stevenleser]

69. Shhh, they're on a roll, like after the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor.

[msanthrope]

105. He's Rolling.

&app=desktop

[stevenleser]

122. And I think it is silly to blame 2010 on Kaine too

Let's face it, when your party has the Presidency and both Houses of Congress, those leaders and their agenda (or in this case the false narrative of it that Republicans were able to create) are front and center. No one is going to change their vote due to the DNC chairs statement or actions.

Besides the fact that the other poster got the individual who was chair laughably wrong, it would be wrong to blame election 2010 on the DNC chair regardless of who it was.

[StevieM]

124. Agreed. (eom)

[Warren DeMontague]

39. I like Obama, but I disagree with him here.

Still, it wouldn't look good for him to publicly repudiate the DNC chair a month or two before the convention.

[DonCoquixote]

42. has been just an incredible supporter of my agenda.

Like when she encouraged Bibi to come and a whole "don't you wish someone like ME was president" schitck?

I try to defend you Obama, but moments like this make it damned hard.

[LonePirate]

58. If you think he and his record are indefensible due to his support of DWS then he's not the problem.

He's undeniably been the best president we've had in many, many decades. It's disgusting that people are questioning or trashing him because of one endorsement.

[DonCoquixote]

66. rthere is a difference between questioning and trashing

especially when the reason you question is because you do not want to see someone backstab him again.

[LonePirate]

71. You're flat out trashing him which is guaranteed to drive away rank and file Dems from your cause.

You may think Bernie is a savior; but far more Dems in this country have unyielding support for Obama. If you want to alienate them and put an end to your cause, then by all means, keep saying stupid crap like being unable to defend him. Go right ahead and see how detrimental that is for your cause.

[DonCoquixote]

94. ok first off

I did not vote for bernie, but obviously you did nto check.

Second, the reason I am angry at DWS is BECAUSE SHE DID NOT SUPPORT OBAMA, she tried to undermine his Iran policy. What gave her a pass to do that?

My cause is getting DWS out of influence before she can continue her train wreck and backstabbing of democrats, you know, that party that lost congress and several governorship under HER tenure?

But then, if one had to defend Debbie with facts, I suspect that would be a short op. That's ok, it will not be long before she crashes 2016 into the same ditch she crashed Hillary's 2008 campaign, unless someone gets her hands of the wheel.

[mmonk]

116. I have to agree with you. How many seats have we lost since she's

been in charge? And I've been gerrymandered for the first time in my life.

[tularetom]

74. He probably is the best president we've had in decades

Unfortunately that says more about how lousy the competition was than it does about how good Obama has been.

It's a very low bar.

He has been a huge disappointment, to a large extent because he raised expectations so high and was unable to deliver.

[LonePirate]

75. Raised expectations so high, huh?

Sounds like a current Dem presidential candidate and I don't mean the one known for her pantsuits.

[tularetom]

77. I think you're missing the point

I wouldn't expect that Sen Sanders would deliver on everything he campaigned for.

Obama for the most part didn't even try.

[LonePirate]

78. Yeah, he got nothing done in his first two years with a Dem Congress.

And he's done nothing since then, right?

The stupidity around here is boundless it seems.

[ibegurpard]

91. Not unable to deliver

Unwilling.

[bravenak]

48. She is a loyal Democrat and a fighter and hard worker

[CaliforniaPeggy]

54. She is none of those things for us, bravenak. n/t

[bravenak]

59. She raises quite a bit for the party

I do not agree with her on many things but hate to see her trashed here constantly

[Kentonio]

99. She deserves to be trashed constantly

If only for selling out Dem candidates because she didn't want to upset her Republican friends in Florida. Oh and payday lending. And supporting jailing cancer patients for using medical marijuana. The list goes on, she's a terrible Democrat, and her raising a lot of money does nothing to change that.

[jack_krass]

60. She helped Hillary slither and wallow through the primary. She'll be richly rewarded like everyone

else "in the club"

[TSIAS]

67. If you're one of her friends

I'd ask those who ran against Diaz-Balart and Ros-Lehtinen how loyal a Democrat she is.

I know she's for Hillary so you love her, but just look at her history. She's a hard worker for the private prison industry as well.

[bravenak]

68. Our views are opposed in many ways but I hate to watch her eviscerated daily

[DonCoquixote]

95. was this loyal?

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/08/will-the-democratic-party-chief-desert-obama-on-iran/402625/

[bravenak]

96. He does not seem to be holding a grudge

I was mad too, but things worked out. She has to think about her constituents, and I have not checked the polling in her distruct but I suspect it is a pro Israel area and Bibi was ranting against the deal. I really blame Bibi for ratcheting the rhetoric up and scaring people.

[DonCoquixote]

98. I can appreciate that you blame Bibi

especially as, let's be honest, he was playing the hatred of a black president like a virtuoso violinist. My problem is that unless they get Debbie off, she will do that again, and while no one of us know the real Hillary, I will tell you that the lady who wrote hard choices, aka "Obama did not let me bomb Syria" sounds lie someone that would let Bibi play Debbie again.

Just because I vote against trump does not mean I want to get dragged into yet another Mid east war. This is on top of the fact I am still wonderign why Hillary would put the head of the 2008 and 2010 fiascos in charge of this campaign.

[JDPriestly]

51. K&R. Do I really care about Trump one way or another?

I've got lots of time to decide.

[Nyan]

52. So does Karl Rove. nt

[MinnesotaRob]

62. Funny how she just dropped opposition to payday loan regulations...

Not related I'm sure.

[stillwaiting]

113. That will most likely last for the primary season only.

If she makes it through, I do not expect her to bring up payday lenders again.

She was forced to by Canova's campaign. That is the only reason she changed positions.

[Turin_C3PO]

64. I like Obama but...

I don't necessarily agree with him on this. She's been OK in Congress I guess but I really don't think she's done a good job as DNC head. We need someone else at the helm.

[PufPuf23]

65. Sad and troubling regards POTUS Obama.

DWS at DNC:

1. Lost multitudes of Democratic seats at all levels of government.
2. Supported GOP candidates over Democrats in FLA.
3. Favors payday lenders and does not support more intelligent marijuana policy.
4. Bungled the 2016 Democratic primary season. With better strategy and tactics, Hillary Clinton most likely could have been "wired" into the slot without all the gnashing of teeth, $ cost, and bitterness that will follow.

I am convinced that some Democrats do not want the support of liberal antiwar Democrats.

[LuvLoogie]

70. He said as much about a month ago. Time to move on.

Debbie will not be offered up.

[TSIAS]

72. I wish Obama had done differently

He's not running, so I would have preferred he simply gave no fucks. If DWS wants to call him anti-Semitic or sexist, go right ahead.

I suspect he just wants to get through this election and not cause a ruckus by upending the chair.

[shanti]

130. he's saving his own ass

where else is the money going to come from once he's finished his term? despicable...

[okieinpain]

73. 1. So now you berns don't like pres. Obama

2. If bernie sanders gets the nom , do you folks really think he isn't going to have to raise money from the money grubbers.

[stevenleser]

121. They tried to assert otherwise when Hillary was saying she is the rightful heir to the

Obama legacy and that Bernie and his followers bash Obama a lot. They wanted to have everyone believe that wasn't true.

You are seeing how true it is right here under this OP. Folks who support the President weren't fooled, and made that known at the ballot box.

[demwing]

125. Some people have a moral compass, some don't

[The empressof all]

76. He's wrong...He's human

Perhaps he feels a misguided sense of loyalty. Perhaps he knows she dead meat in the water...who knows....It really doesn't matter. He is't God. She needs to go.

[2banon]

79. Very unfortunate news..

Sad. So incredibly sad.

[agracie]

82. Wrong on SO many levels.

[ucrdem]

89. When you get down to it what has she done to incur the wrath of Bernie?

And the wrath of B will just about guarantee that his revenge candidate Canova goes down to the ignominious defeat he deserves. What a lousy, vindictive, pointless waste of contributions.

[Kentonio]

100. It has nothing to do with Sanders

She's despised by many, many people here in both camps because of her terrible track record.

[AzDar]

92. Mmmm... his favorite candy bar must be Payday (lending).

[Ash_F]

101. Can he get the backs of people who are targeted by predatory lenders?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/debbie-wasserman-schultz-payday-lenders_us_56e1a9d6e4b065e2e3d50764

[Thinkingabout]

102. Agree with Obama saying he has her back, good for him, she has been

A good chair, blaming her for the losses in the Senate is wrong, with a 36% voter turnout the blame goes to the non voters.

[rjsquirrel]

104. Good for the president

The seething hatred for DWS on DU is more than a bit misogynistic in tone. I am not her biggest fan but the way Bernie Bros have gone after her makes me want to see her stay.

If you don't like the party feel free to start your own. But you lost the election so you don't get to change everything to your liking now.

[Gothmog]

106. There will be no change of DNC leadership prior to the convention

[Vinca]

108. That's nice, but take notice of many of the rest of us.

DWS, besides being an odious individual during this election cycle, is one of the many politicians who assume they are "lifers." No one should make a career in the House or Senate. Time for new blood.

[99Forever]

109. Let me put on my most phony *surprised* face.

There are only two Presidential votes I wish I could take back. They share one thing, they were for the same person.

Never again.

[Sunlei]

110. Good. I want the Bashers & Antis knocked off their perches. All they've wanted to do is wreck OUR-

Primary to try to make the disaster of republicans seem somehow closer to normal.

[jfern]

112. The Democratic party has truly lost its way. Last one out, turn off the lights.

[stillwaiting]

119. Thanks for that. Bye Bye now!!

[NorthCarolina]

118. ...

[Octafish]

120. Does she even know what Obama does?

Old, but under-reported news:

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 EDT

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 over terrorist suspects' biographies on what one official calls the macabre 'baseball cards'" and how he "insist 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

Drones have come home to roost:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2016/03/09/pentagon-admits-has-deployed-military-spy-drones-over-us/81474702/

[CrowCityDem]

126. Politics is about relationships. You support the people who support you.

[PaulaFarrell]

127. "and she's a wife and a mom"

What the hell's that got to do with the price of eggs? Whoever says about Obama "and he's a husband and a dad"? Jesus H

[Ferd Berfel]

128. So the Third Way neocon that put Social Security on the chopping block

is using drone strikes to kill non-combatant women and children
and is pushing form the end of Government sovereignty (TPP)
is supporting the champion of the 300% loan shark industry?

Huh. Whoda thunk?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

131. What he is really saying is

you had better watch your back.

[winter is coming]

132. Heckova job, Debbie. n/t