Black female leaders criticize Pelosi, Schumer for 'failure to protect' Waters

[babylonsister]

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/04/black-female-leaders-waters-pelosi-schumer-trump-693967

Black female leaders criticize Pelosi, Schumer for 'failure to protect' Waters
By REBECCA MORIN
07/04/2018 10:36 AM EDT


Black female leaders and allies expressed their “deep disappointment“ with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for their “recent failure to protect“ Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) “from unwarranted attacks from the Trump administration and others in the GOP.“

“We write to share our profound indignation and deep disappointment over your recent failure to protect Congresswoman Waters from unwarranted attacks from the Trump Administration and others in the GOP,” the women wrote in a letter sent Tuesday. “That failure was further compounded by your decision to unfairly deride her as being ‘uncivil‘ and ‘un-American.‘“

“In doing so, we believe this mischaracterizes her call to action for peaceful democratic assembly and the exercise of her constitutional rights to free speech in support of defenseless immigrant children and their families,” the letter continued.

Waters last month urged opponents of President Donald Trump to protest members of his Cabinet wherever they encounter them. Pelosi and Schumer have distanced themselves from the comments, with the House Minority Leader asking to conduct elections in a way that "achieves unity."

In a statement released Wednesday, Pelosi’s office said: "Congresswoman Maxine Waters is a valued leader whose passionate call for family reunification should be heard without any threats to her safety.

“Donald Trump has sullied the bully pulpit with reckless disregard for the safety of others ... He should stop his attacks on Congresswoman Waters and all Members of Congress, the free press, and all Americans who have the right and the responsibility to speak their minds."

Trump has since attacked Waters on Twitter and during rallies and called her the new “face of the Democrats.“

The California lawmaker has said she did not encourage anyone to "harm" Trump administration officials.

[G_j]

1. well said

I’m in total agreement.

[elleng]

2. I'm glad they did this but

I'm sorry such will be viewed as a growing 'wedge' issue.

[Squinch]

3. This is kind of a crap article. What black female leaders?

They wrote their criticism in "a letter." A letter to whom?

My new policy is: if an article is going to talk about any aspect of "Democratic division and disarray," its going to have to be a hell of a lot less cryptic and vague than this one.

Otherwise its just some cash-generating shit stirring.

[Rstrstx]

4. Their letter is linked on politico

https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000164-6635-d39f-a76d-fefd04720001

[G_j]

6. yep

all the names are there

[Tatiana]

5. It's interesting to see who signed the letter (which is brilliant, BTW).

Karen Finney, Donna Brazile, Shirley Sherrod, Marc Morial.....

<snip>

Much hangs in the balance this fall, with all 435 House seats and 33 Senate seats up for grabs.
Disparaging or failing to support Congresswoman Waters is an affront to her and Black women
across the country and telegraphs a message that the Democratic Party can ill afford: that it does
not respect Black women’s leadership and political power and discounts the impact of Black
women and millennial voters.

We call on the Democratic Party leadership to step up and publicly support Congresswoman
Waters, who has been receiving death threats for speaking truthfully and boldly in support of
immigrant families and challenging the Trump Administration to end their inhumane and immoral
policy that has yet to reunite over 2,000 children with their parents and continues to lock up
refugees seeking asylum in the United States of America. We further believe Congresswoman
Waters is owed an apology for your public comments insinuating she is “uncivil” and “unAmerican”
for challenging the Trump Administration.

As women whose ancestors have lived through the incivility of slavery, segregation, and all other
forms of discrimination, racism, and sexism, as people who have historically been told to “wait”
for justice, for freedom, for our turn, we consider it an insult to characterize Ms. Waters’ call for
the exercise of our constitutional rights as uncivil and un-American. We call on leaders of all
persuasion to practice the art of civil discourse.

https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000164-6635-d39f-a76d-fefd04720001

[tonyt53]

7. Yeah, lets bash Democratic leaders. That always helps win elections for Democrats.

Maxine Waters is one of those strong ladies that do not need others to fight for them.

[babylonsister]

10. And yea, let's treat other Dems with respect. nt

[vi5]

8. "Always Support Democrats!!!"

"You know....unless they say something mean about Trump and his supporters.

Or....unless that Democrat is too liberal.........

.....or if they do something that the guardians of our discourse deem too uncivil.....

Or.......well just support Democrats when we say support Democrats. But if we say it's o.k. to not support Democrats.....then it's o.k."