The White House's dirty campaign against Keith Ellison

[portlander23]

The White House's dirty campaign against Keith Ellison
Ryan Cooper
The Week

With Democrats almost totally shut out of government, the most important position in the party is now the chair of the Democratic National Committee, who would be in charge of organizing the attempt to retake power. Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), perhaps the second- or third-most prominent member of the Bernie Sanders wing of the party, presented himself as a candidate.

Centrist liberals in the White House have challenged Ellison, putting up Labor Secretary Tom Perez as an alternative. But the underhanded way they have conducted their campaign is politically blinkered and morally hideous.

After losing in the 2016 presidential race, centrist liberals were stunned and disorganized, and so initially it seemed as though Ellison would cruise in unchallenged. He has very strong working-class bona fides, and is a black Muslim in a party composed in large part of minorities. He seemed like the perfect choice to unite the working class of all races that failed to turn out sufficiently for Clinton, and demonstrate the party's commitment to social justice. Sanders and Elizabeth Warren endorsed Ellison, but then so did Chuck Schumer (a relative centrist and upcoming Senate majority leader) and several large unions that had supported Clinton.

On the other hand, as Jeff Stein argues at Vox, beating back one of Bernie Sanders' most high-profile allies with an underhanded campaign is no small political risk, either. Many Sanders supporters are already quite annoyed at how the DNC was obviously in the tank for Clinton during the primary, and the fact that Ellison and Perez are quite close ideologically only adds to the frustration. It seems as though Ellison is unacceptable only because he didn't kiss the right rings during the primary. It risks re-opening the primary divide at a terribly unfortunate time, and further alienating young voters, for no real substantive reason.

[DURHAM D]

1. "Dirty" ????

[Cha]

23. It's a smear campaign against President Obama's White House.

[bettyellen]

2. More anti-Obama propaganda. Baselessly accusing Dems of being anti-Muslim and being dishonest just

Because they back a different candidate. This is BOB type bullshit. Fall in line with Sanders or suffer their bullshit smear campaign.

[Cha]

25. Exactly, bettyellen.. I'm saddened by this kind of smear campaign against

the White House on du.

Tom Perez would make an excellent DNC Chair..


Tom Perez
✔ ‎@tomperez
Proud to be backed by United Farm Workers in the fight for the rights and dignity of every worker. More: http://www.ufw.org/_board.php?mode=view&b_code=news_press&b_no=19028&page=1&field=&key=&n=1213 …
9:10 AM - 20 Dec 2016
87 87 Retweets 133 133 likes

The UFCW, the UFW and the Fire-fighters union endorse Tom Perez for DNC chair!

"The Democratic Party is at a crossroads, and it needs leaders with strong progressive voices as well as unique skills and experiences to lead the party forward. While there are a number of very good candidates in the DNC chair race, Tom Perez offers the party what it so desperately needs – bold leadership and ideas, strong experience managing an organization at the state and federal level, and someone singularly focused on rebuilding the party across the country.

He understands the realities faced by hard-working families all across America who are desperate for a better life. Our members saw firsthand his passion and commitment to improving the lives of union workers as he joined with us to push for safer working conditions at poultry plants, and as he fiercely advocated in favor of the Overtime Rule. As Labor Secretary, he not only pushed for progressive reforms, he helped manage a multi-billion dollar agency with thousands of employees.
In light of the challenges the party faces, Secretary Perez has the experience and vision for the changes the DNC must make, and is the right leader who can make these changes happen. We enthusiastically support his candidacy."

http://www.ufcw.org/2016/12/16/ufcw-endorses-tom-perez-for-dnc-chair/

More~ http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/12/19/1612780/-The-UFCW-the-UFW-and-the-Fire-fighters-union-endorse-Tom-Perez-for-DNC-chair

Today it became known that the International Association of Firefighters, the main union representing American firefighters, has broken with the AFL- CIO and endorsed Tom Perez too:

"In a statement, Schaitberger praised Perez as a "a tireless advocate for civil and human rights" who can transcend what the union president called "a narrow focus on identity and cultural politics that alienated" some longtime Democrats from the party.

"Tom Perez is the person who has the right mix of personal background, progressive values, experience and total commitment to all workers, in all regions and states across the country," Schaitberger said. "To have Tom Perez as the Chair of one of our nation's two major political parties would be a significant victory for workers across America."

http://services.prod.iaff.org/ContentFile/Get/30617

And, he's bi-lingual!

[cwydro]

32. Same ole same ole from this OP.

Sad.

[MineralMan]

3. Can we please have a break from Obama-bashing

just now? We had more than enough of it here on DU for eight years. I like Keith Ellison very much. He's the representative from the district that neighbors mine, and he has done an outstanding job of representing that district. I'd be happy for him to head the DNC, but I suspect he will not get the nod.

But, trashing the Obama administration over this is misguided and simply incorrect. This is little more than another hit piece on the President from a site that has published many of those in the past eight years.

Enough, already! Please don't do this any more. Obama will soon be the ex-President. Isn't that enough for those who have hated on the man throughout his time in office?

Enough!

[radical noodle]

30. This

[JustAnotherGen]

37. This

Amen.

[Gothmog]

4. I have met and like Keith Ellison but I do not support him for DNC chair.

I do not want a Sanders supporter to be DNC chair

[okasha]

26. Exactly.

[KittyWampus]

5. When you have to falsely paint your preferred candidate as a victim, you have a weak candidate.

[TSIAS]

33. Couldn't the same have been said about Hillary Clinton?

A lot of what was said about her was unfair, but she's been cast as the victim by many of her supporters.

[baldguy]

43. Are you saying the VRWC didn't try to victimize Clinton?

There's a very big difference between painting your candidate as a victim & pointing out that her enemies are trying to do so.

[dionysus]

45. No kidding, right?

[JI7]

6. conspiracy theory

[uponit7771]

7. FUCK FAKE NEWS !!!!!

[Cha]

21. Exactly, uponit. It's a smear campaign against Obama's White House..

Tom Perez would make an excellent DNC Chair..


Tom Perez
✔ ‎@tomperez
Proud to be backed by United Farm Workers in the fight for the rights and dignity of every worker. More: http://www.ufw.org/_board.php?mode=view&b_code=news_press&b_no=19028&page=1&field=&key=&n=1213 …
9:10 AM - 20 Dec 2016
87 87 Retweets 133 133 likes

The UFCW, the UFW and the Fire-fighters union endorse Tom Perez for DNC chair!

"The Democratic Party is at a crossroads, and it needs leaders with strong progressive voices as well as unique skills and experiences to lead the party forward. While there are a number of very good candidates in the DNC chair race, Tom Perez offers the party what it so desperately needs – bold leadership and ideas, strong experience managing an organization at the state and federal level, and someone singularly focused on rebuilding the party across the country.

He understands the realities faced by hard-working families all across America who are desperate for a better life. Our members saw firsthand his passion and commitment to improving the lives of union workers as he joined with us to push for safer working conditions at poultry plants, and as he fiercely advocated in favor of the Overtime Rule. As Labor Secretary, he not only pushed for progressive reforms, he helped manage a multi-billion dollar agency with thousands of employees.
In light of the challenges the party faces, Secretary Perez has the experience and vision for the changes the DNC must make, and is the right leader who can make these changes happen. We enthusiastically support his candidacy."

http://www.ufcw.org/2016/12/16/ufcw-endorses-tom-perez-for-dnc-chair/

More~ http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/12/19/1612780/-The-UFCW-the-UFW-and-the-Fire-fighters-union-endorse-Tom-Perez-for-DNC-chair

Today it became known that the International Association of Firefighters, the main union representing American firefighters, has broken with the AFL- CIO and endorsed Tom Perez too:

"In a statement, Schaitberger praised Perez as a "a tireless advocate for civil and human rights" who can transcend what the union president called "a narrow focus on identity and cultural politics that alienated" some longtime Democrats from the party.

"Tom Perez is the person who has the right mix of personal background, progressive values, experience and total commitment to all workers, in all regions and states across the country," Schaitberger said. "To have Tom Perez as the Chair of one of our nation's two major political parties would be a significant victory for workers across America."

http://services.prod.iaff.org/ContentFile/Get/30617

And, he's bi-lingual!

[radical noodle]

31. Good info Cha! Thanks!

[TSIAS]

35. Where is the "fake news"?

This appears to be an opinion piece.

[uponit7771]

36. opinion piece based off of fake ass'd news just just as bad

[DemocraticWing]

8. A great article. The opposition to Ellison is mostly rooted in bigotry, spitefulness, and fear.

Some of the people are so opposed to Ellison they should examine their own biases and think what bothers them so much about religious minorities (first Sanders, now Ellison) leading the party. It's a disturbing trend.

[aidbo]

9. There's also quite a bit of 'But what would the Republicans say about him?!?' Nt

[BainsBane]

16. Just like the opposition to Clinton

But that didn't stop people from eagerly spreading it.

It is interesting how we were lectured for "voting with our vaginas" in the primary for once in our lives failing to support a man for president, but now we're told opposition to Ellison as DNC Chair--and even Bernie--is all about religion. This from people lecturing women and people of color about the ills of "identity politics."

I guess that's what happens when people orient their entire political consciousness around one politician.

[DemocraticWing]

24. I have never lectured anybody about "identity politics."

Perhaps the criticisms you wish to level at the left do not neatly apply. Maybe they often apply to Clinton supporters.

Perhaps my post was to emulate the tactics deployed by others on your side of the primary battle. Because they were effective and I recognize them for what they are (tactics to win) and what they are not (unyielding commitment to diversity and justice).

[BainsBane]

28. What tactics?

Last edited Tue Jan 3, 2017, 07:09 AM - Edit history (1)

Your post charges the President, the first African American to hold the office, with being a bigot for having the audacity to prefer someone else as head of the DNC. Those most concerned with Ellison are Jewish Americans, whom you insist are somehow anti-semitic for failing to follow Bernie's command. Meanwhile, Bernie tweets messages expressing shame that the Democratic Party lost the Midwest white working class, "where he "comes from." Only he isn't from the Midwest and hasn't held a laboring job. He's from Brooklyn, and his ethnicity/religion are the same as the journalists that some Trump supporters insisted should be burned in ovens, while chants of "JewSA" became commonplace at Trump rallies. Yet Bernie oddly decided to identity himself as part of the midwestern white working class.

Other candidates for DNC chair include a Latino and African American. To claim that a desire to see one of them in office is somehow anti diversity is absurd. Besides, the last chair of the DNC was Jewish, while the acting chair is an African American woman. Your argument is obviously forced and weak.

Unquestioningly following one man's demands is not a tactic to win, particularly when it involves ignoring election and exit poll data. Establishing Bernie's power base may help him, but it certainly isn't a tactic for winning. Bernie's post-election admonition was that Democrats need to get away from "identity politics" and instead make overtures toward white male voters. He has made that same argument for a long time, as this 2014 interview reveals. http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2014/11/19/365024592/sen-bernie-sanders-on-how-democrats-lost-white-voters

On African-American support for Democrats

Well, here's what you got. What you got is an African-American president, and the African-American community is very, very proud that this country has overcome racism and voted for him for president. And that's kind of natural. You've got a situation where the Republican Party has been strongly anti-immigration, and you've got a Hispanic community which is looking to the Democrats for help.

But that's not important. You should not be basing your politics based on your color. What you should be basing your politics on is, how is your family doing? ... In the last election, in state after state, you had an abysmally low vote for the Democrats among white, working-class people. And I think the reason for that is that the Democrats have not made it clear that they are prepared to stand with the working-class people of this country, take on the big money interests.

That doesn't sound like a priority of diversity to me. In fact, the notion that the Democrats don't win the working class vote ignores the fact that much of that working class is not white. The 2016 election merely served as an opportunity for Bernie to renew his preexisting views, which are entirely unencumbered by exit poll data showing that Clinton won voters earning under $75k and Trump voters over. Her greatest margin was among voters earning less than $30k.
The fact is the Democrats dominate among lower and middle-income voters, even if it Bernie doesn't understand that women and people of color are a sizable portion of the working class. I imagine Bernie might find it awkward to admit he does best with white male voters earning above the national mean, but of course he does. The poor overwhelmingly broke for Clinton in the primary.

What these cries of dirty tricks reveal is the same demonstration of entitlement we saw throughout the primaries. Bernie and his supporters believe he is owed power, and that anyone who disagrees or competes against him is somehow malicious. Why should Bernie or his chosen candidate for DNC chair be expected to win an election? Why should he be subject to the votes of mere citizens?

You don't have to care about anything but Bernie and his efforts to consolidate power, but you ought to think more carefully before coming up with excuses because that one doesn't pass the laugh test.

[bettyellen]

34. Exactly this- and it should be an OP

[NastyRiffraff]

41. BRAVO, Baines!

Thank you. Great response. I'm really tired of hearing how not supporting Ellison as DNC Chair means we're anti-semetic, against diversity, etc. etc. Bernie can demand all he wants, and whine when he doesn't get his way, but that doesn't mean all of us have to bow down.

[brer cat]

42. Excellent post, Bains.

The "Bernie Sanders wing" of the party he doesn't belong to and continually bashes has become an autocracy, and is as thin-skinned as trump. The efforts to smear contrary opinions as "dirty tricks" is nothing more than a tactic to stifle debate and shut down the voices they don't want to hear. The fact that those voices actually represent the majority of the party is immaterial to those who believe that only the special elite members of this "wing" matter. Their arrogance and sense of entitlement is astounding.

[mcar]

46. Well said!

[sheshe2]

48. Thank you!

[Tarheel_Dem]

27. Perfectly stated, BainsBane.

[SaschaHM]

10. I guess it's never too early to set up the conspiracy/victimization complex

if/when Ellison loses the race. Maybe folks think that Perez, Harrison, Brown, or Buckley are just better candidates for the job.

[BzaDem]

11. I'm at a loss to find any evidence in the article that the White House's campaign is "underhanded"

I see one statement about a private donor claiming Ellison is anti-Semitic, which is ridiculous, but that has nothing to do with the White House.

Perhaps the implication of the article is that the White House is "underhanded" because they have a different preference for DNC?

[Cha]

20. I think the article is a smear campaign against the Obama White House.

Mahalo for your post, BzaDem!


Tom Perez
✔ ‎@tomperez
Proud to be backed by United Farm Workers in the fight for the rights and dignity of every worker. More: http://www.ufw.org/_board.php?mode=view&b_code=news_press&b_no=19028&page=1&field=&key=&n=1213 …
9:10 AM - 20 Dec 2016
87 87 Retweets 133 133 likes

The UFCW, the UFW and the Fire-fighters union endorse Tom Perez for DNC chair!

"The Democratic Party is at a crossroads, and it needs leaders with strong progressive voices as well as unique skills and experiences to lead the party forward. While there are a number of very good candidates in the DNC chair race, Tom Perez offers the party what it so desperately needs – bold leadership and ideas, strong experience managing an organization at the state and federal level, and someone singularly focused on rebuilding the party across the country.

He understands the realities faced by hard-working families all across America who are desperate for a better life. Our members saw firsthand his passion and commitment to improving the lives of union workers as he joined with us to push for safer working conditions at poultry plants, and as he fiercely advocated in favor of the Overtime Rule. As Labor Secretary, he not only pushed for progressive reforms, he helped manage a multi-billion dollar agency with thousands of employees.
In light of the challenges the party faces, Secretary Perez has the experience and vision for the changes the DNC must make, and is the right leader who can make these changes happen. We enthusiastically support his candidacy."

http://www.ufcw.org/2016/12/16/ufcw-endorses-tom-perez-for-dnc-chair/

More~ http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/12/19/1612780/-The-UFCW-the-UFW-and-the-Fire-fighters-union-endorse-Tom-Perez-for-DNC-chair

Today it became known that the International Association of Firefighters, the main union representing American firefighters, has broken with the AFL- CIO and endorsed Tom Perez too:

"In a statement, Schaitberger praised Perez as a "a tireless advocate for civil and human rights" who can transcend what the union president called "a narrow focus on identity and cultural politics that alienated" some longtime Democrats from the party.

"Tom Perez is the person who has the right mix of personal background, progressive values, experience and total commitment to all workers, in all regions and states across the country," Schaitberger said. "To have Tom Perez as the Chair of one of our nation's two major political parties would be a significant victory for workers across America."

http://services.prod.iaff.org/ContentFile/Get/30617

And, he's bi-lingual!

[tritsofme]

12. I don't care about the Bernie angle, the ADL says he has disqualified himself

and I agree with them. Tom Perez will be a strong, noncontroversial, and unifying party chair in a way that Ellison can never be.

[DemocraticWing]

14. The ADL seems to think all Democrats are bad but looks the other way at the Nazis around Trump

We don't need to be listening to Republicans on how to run our party.

[Cha]

19. The UFCW, the UFW and the Fire-fighters union endorse Tom Perez for DNC chair!

"The Democratic Party is at a crossroads, and it needs leaders with strong progressive voices as well as unique skills and experiences to lead the party forward. While there are a number of very good candidates in the DNC chair race, Tom Perez offers the party what it so desperately needs – bold leadership and ideas, strong experience managing an organization at the state and federal level, and someone singularly focused on rebuilding the party across the country.

He understands the realities faced by hard-working families all across America who are desperate for a better life. Our members saw firsthand his passion and commitment to improving the lives of union workers as he joined with us to push for safer working conditions at poultry plants, and as he fiercely advocated in favor of the Overtime Rule. As Labor Secretary, he not only pushed for progressive reforms, he helped manage a multi-billion dollar agency with thousands of employees.
In light of the challenges the party faces, Secretary Perez has the experience and vision for the changes the DNC must make, and is the right leader who can make these changes happen. We enthusiastically support his candidacy."

http://www.ufcw.org/2016/12/16/ufcw-endorses-tom-perez-for-dnc-chair/

More~ http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/12/19/1612780/-The-UFCW-the-UFW-and-the-Fire-fighters-union-endorse-Tom-Perez-for-DNC-chair

Today it became known that the International Association of Firefighters, the main union representing American firefighters, has broken with the AFL- CIO and endorsed Tom Perez too:

"In a statement, Schaitberger praised Perez as a "a tireless advocate for civil and human rights" who can transcend what the union president called "a narrow focus on identity and cultural politics that alienated" some longtime Democrats from the party.

"Tom Perez is the person who has the right mix of personal background, progressive values, experience and total commitment to all workers, in all regions and states across the country," Schaitberger said. "To have Tom Perez as the Chair of one of our nation's two major political parties would be a significant victory for workers across America."

http://services.prod.iaff.org/ContentFile/Get/30617

tritsofme

[uponit7771]

22. +1, My understanding is Perez wants to go full time and go all county ... that's a winner for me

[Amimnoch]

13. Perhaps I'm missing the entire "dirty campaign?

Drilling down to the evidence as presented by the author:

Whitehouse "reportedly" didn't like the selction of Ellison. Is a viable opinion, one that may be disagreed with, but fully within reasonable political bounds.

Haimm Saban calls Ellison an Anti semite. Incorrect, and outdated assessment of Rep. Ellison imo, but Saban is a donor, not DNC leadership, and I hardly see where his opinion, regardless of accuracy, constitutes being part of a "dirty campaign". On a seperate note, image does have meaning, and if Ellison's earlier ties would give the perception (again correctly or incorrectly) of an anti-semite position, then that is a viable consideration for selection of the DNC chair.

As in my reply headliner, exactly what are the "cheap shots" mentioned in the article, or the "dirty campaign" mentioned in the article title?

[BainsBane]

17. That's simple

Bernie is entitled to rule. Therefore anyone who interferes with that birthright is dirty. Political disagreements are not acceptable when the singular goal is enforcing obedience to one man.

We have people who don't even know Ellison's name trashing others running for DNC chair solely because Ellison is Bernie's choice. That is ALL that matters because Bernie is all that matters.

[George II]

15. What is the purpose of this except to further denigrate the Obama administration?

[Cha]

18. That article is a smear campaign against our Beloved President.. nothing

more.

Tom Perez will make an Excellent DNC Chair..


Tom Perez
✔ ‎@tomperez
Proud to be backed by United Farm Workers in the fight for the rights and dignity of every worker. More: http://www.ufw.org/_board.php?mode=view&b_code=news_press&b_no=19028&page=1&field=&key=&n=1213 …
9:10 AM - 20 Dec 2016
87 87 Retweets 133 133 likes

The UFCW, the UFW and the Fire-fighters union endorse Tom Perez for DNC chair!

"The Democratic Party is at a crossroads, and it needs leaders with strong progressive voices as well as unique skills and experiences to lead the party forward. While there are a number of very good candidates in the DNC chair race, Tom Perez offers the party what it so desperately needs – bold leadership and ideas, strong experience managing an organization at the state and federal level, and someone singularly focused on rebuilding the party across the country.

He understands the realities faced by hard-working families all across America who are desperate for a better life. Our members saw firsthand his passion and commitment to improving the lives of union workers as he joined with us to push for safer working conditions at poultry plants, and as he fiercely advocated in favor of the Overtime Rule. As Labor Secretary, he not only pushed for progressive reforms, he helped manage a multi-billion dollar agency with thousands of employees.
In light of the challenges the party faces, Secretary Perez has the experience and vision for the changes the DNC must make, and is the right leader who can make these changes happen. We enthusiastically support his candidacy."

http://www.ufcw.org/2016/12/16/ufcw-endorses-tom-perez-for-dnc-chair/

More~ http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/12/19/1612780/-The-UFCW-the-UFW-and-the-Fire-fighters-union-endorse-Tom-Perez-for-DNC-chair

Today it became known that the International Association of Firefighters, the main union representing American firefighters, has broken with the AFL- CIO and endorsed Tom Perez too:

"In a statement, Schaitberger praised Perez as a "a tireless advocate for civil and human rights" who can transcend what the union president called "a narrow focus on identity and cultural politics that alienated" some longtime Democrats from the party.

"Tom Perez is the person who has the right mix of personal background, progressive values, experience and total commitment to all workers, in all regions and states across the country," Schaitberger said. "To have Tom Perez as the Chair of one of our nation's two major political parties would be a significant victory for workers across America."

http://services.prod.iaff.org/ContentFile/Get/30617

And, he's bi-lingual!

[radical noodle]

29. Bernie Sanders doesn't have a "wing of the Party"

He isn't a Democrat so that makes no sense whatever. After months of them bitching about the party being in the tank for one candidate running unopposed, suddenly it's terrible that someone they want is required to run against someone else? I've heard a whole lot less "dirty" things about him than I heard from the "Bernie Sanders wing" about Hillary. I am tired of this back and forth with Bernie believers all the time. They cannot always have their way and we all need to learn to get along. I do not have a favorite in this fight, but I'm certainly not opposed to Perez running. In addition, the headline of the White House waging a dirty campaign against Elliston seems a bit misleading. Let the people vote for the person they think can do a better job.

I don't mean to be snarky but it's late and I have bronchitis and am feeling like Oscar the Grouch.

[Cha]

38. The Headline is complete FAKE NEWS and it's allowed here..

Tom Perez is an excellent candidate for DNC chair.. this guy is just whining about nothing.


Tom Perez
✔ ‎@tomperez
Proud to be backed by United Farm Workers in the fight for the rights and dignity of every worker. More: http://www.ufw.org/_board.php?mode=view&b_code=news_press&b_no=19028&page=1&field=&key=&n=1213 …
9:10 AM - 20 Dec 2016
87 87 Retweets 133 133 likes

The UFCW, the UFW and the Fire-fighters union endorse Tom Perez for DNC chair!

"The Democratic Party is at a crossroads, and it needs leaders with strong progressive voices as well as unique skills and experiences to lead the party forward. While there are a number of very good candidates in the DNC chair race, Tom Perez offers the party what it so desperately needs – bold leadership and ideas, strong experience managing an organization at the state and federal level, and someone singularly focused on rebuilding the party across the country.

He understands the realities faced by hard-working families all across America who are desperate for a better life. Our members saw firsthand his passion and commitment to improving the lives of union workers as he joined with us to push for safer working conditions at poultry plants, and as he fiercely advocated in favor of the Overtime Rule. As Labor Secretary, he not only pushed for progressive reforms, he helped manage a multi-billion dollar agency with thousands of employees.
In light of the challenges the party faces, Secretary Perez has the experience and vision for the changes the DNC must make, and is the right leader who can make these changes happen. We enthusiastically support his candidacy."

http://www.ufcw.org/2016/12/16/ufcw-endorses-tom-perez-for-dnc-chair/

More~ http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/12/19/1612780/-The-UFCW-the-UFW-and-the-Fire-fighters-union-endorse-Tom-Perez-for-DNC-chair

Today it became known that the International Association of Firefighters, the main union representing American firefighters, has broken with the AFL- CIO and endorsed Tom Perez too:

"In a statement, Schaitberger praised Perez as a "a tireless advocate for civil and human rights" who can transcend what the union president called "a narrow focus on identity and cultural politics that alienated" some longtime Democrats from the party.

"Tom Perez is the person who has the right mix of personal background, progressive values, experience and total commitment to all workers, in all regions and states across the country," Schaitberger said. "To have Tom Perez as the Chair of one of our nation's two major political parties would be a significant victory for workers across America."

http://services.prod.iaff.org/ContentFile/Get/30617

And, he's bi-lingual!

Hope you feel better soon, rad! Sorry, it's so long.

[radical noodle]

39. Appreciate the info and the get well wishes.

I like Tom Perez and his ideas.

[Gothmog]

40. ADL has 'serious concerns' whether Ellison can lead DNC

As a Jewish voter, I place a great deal of trust in the ADL http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/anti-defamation-league-keith-ellison-concerns-dnc-232071

The Anti-Defamation League is questioning whether Rep. Keith Ellison should be chairman of the Democratic National Committee in light of resurfaced comments the Minnesota congressman and candidate for the top DNC job said years ago.

In particular, the ADL, in a statement from CEO Jonathan Greenblatt, points to Ellison saying in a 2010 speech in reference to Israel that "The United States foreign policy in the Middle East is governed by what is good or bad through a country of 7 million people. A region of 350 million all turns on a country of 7 million. Does that make sense? Is that logic? Right? When the Americans who trace their roots back to those 350 million get involved, everything changes."

"New information recently has come to light that raises serious concerns about whether Rep. Ellison faithfully could represent the Democratic Party’s traditional support for a strong and secure Israel," Greenblatt said in a statement.

Greenblatt went on to say that "Rep. Ellison’s remarks are both deeply disturbing and disqualifying."

"His words imply that U.S. foreign policy is based on religiously or national origin-based special interests rather than simply on America’s best interests," Greenblatt said. "Additionally, whether intentional or not, his words raise the specter of age-old stereotypes about Jewish control of our government, a poisonous myth that may persist in parts of the world where intolerance thrives, but that has no place in open societies like the U.S. These comments sharply contrast with the Democratic National Committee platform position, which states: “A strong and secure Israel is vital to the United States because we share overarching strategic interests and the common values of democracy, equality, tolerance, and pluralism.”

[LWolf]

44. Oxymoron:

"centrist liberals."

Why doesn't Cooper just call them the neo-liberals that they are?

Dirty campaigns against the left wing of the party from the neo-liberal establishment are par for the political course and to be expected. Especially now.

[dionysus]

47. Centrist liberal os an oxymoron