Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumTop Sanders adviser embezzled union funds in 2008
On Wednesday, the Sanders campaign announced it had reached an agreement on its historic union contract with United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 400.
Following the announcement, Charles Rocha, a senior adviser who helped orchestrate the agreement, announced on Twitter he was proud to have been on the negotiating committee that worked on the contract for Sanders campaign staff.
Rocha, who also worked for Sanders in 2016, was convicted six years ago for embezzling money from the United Steelworkers Union when he served as political director.
snip=========================================================================
In reaction to a 2016 report in Politico, Weaver, who was Sanders campaign manager at the time, said he had no issue with Rochas behavior. Its not politically sensitive at all, Weaver told Politico. Im not politically afraid of this story at all. Please, Im asking you to print.
Both the UFCW Local 400 and the United Steelworkers Union would not comment on Rochas role in the Sanders campaign or on the union contract negotiations.
Rocha, who rejoined the Sanders team in February, is also the president of Solidarity Strategies, a political consulting firm that has been paid $71,750 by the campaign for event planning this year, according to the most recent campaign finance filings.
https://vtdigger.org/2019/05/09/top-sanders-advisor-embezzled-union-funds-2008/
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
sheshe2
(83,955 posts)I wish to read the rest.
Ouch. This is not good for Rocha.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
lapucelle
(18,361 posts)Jeff Weaver said that VT Digger even reporting the story was an example of institutional racism.
Chuck Rocha made a mistake earlier in life and served his probation and paid his fine. He has since established a successful business that has served as a pipeline for young people of color into the world of politics, Weaver said.
Weaver went on to say that by reporting on Rocha, who is Latino, and his criminal conviction, VTDigger was helping to uphold systemic racism.
https://vtdigger.org/2019/05/09/top-sanders-advisor-embezzled-union-funds-2008/
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
sheshe2
(83,955 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
George II
(67,782 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
saidsimplesimon
(7,888 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
femmedem
(8,208 posts)I was proud to work in a municipality that banned the box on municipal employment applications.
Of course, the city did background checks before employment offers, but it meant a prior conviction wasn't the first thing we learned about potential hires. A person could at least have a chance to interview and also explain in a later interview if something came up in the background check.
It sounds as if this hire could be rehabilitated now and is contributing to society. I have various reasons for not supporting Sanders this time around, but this isn't one of them.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
MH1
(17,608 posts)Maybe that's just me.
I think an ex-con should be able to make a living doing something they know how to do (that's legal). That doesn't mean they should get hired into a top position.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
sheshe2
(83,955 posts)Serving on Sanders team. Holy SH*T.
I don't even want to think what would happen if this was Hillary,
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(297,805 posts)Last edited Fri May 10, 2019, 09:09 PM - Edit history (1)
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
thesquanderer
(11,996 posts)You shouldn't post links to Alex Jones' Infowars. That's about the last place you want to give clicks/views ($) or even just google-legitimacy to. (Google up-ranks sites that are referenced on other sites.)
Better sources for this story, which also better describe what happened:
https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdpa/pr/usw-political-director-sentenced-and-fined-embezzling-union-funds
https://archive.triblive.com/news/grand-jury-indicts-man-for-embezzling-from-united-steelworkers-international-union/
As for the topic at hand, though, I'm not against hiring those who have paid their debt to society.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(297,805 posts)the heads up!
Gotta watch those links!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)I know a lot of people think that BS is being treated unfairly, but I must point out... this is NOTHING compared to what the GOP would do to him. If BS was nominated, Trump would win a second term easily.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
dsc
(52,169 posts)A press corps that was dominated by charter members of the he man woman hater club would have roasted Hillary for this. People who ran against Hillary got kid gloves treatment. Whether it was Sanders or Trump it was the same thing.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Hillary was not my first choice in 2016, for many reasons. But I agree 100% with your observation.
I think the misogyny is still there. Unfortunately, we have to figure out who will be able to win - and oust these f*ckers - in the misogynistic culture we live in. Any one of our candidates will be an improvement for women, over the current mob. Even the "old white men", even Sanders (though I doubt he will come close to winning).
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
JI7
(89,279 posts)had to step aside for the ego of male losers.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
PHILADELPHIA Democrats arrived at their nominating convention on Sunday under a cloud of discord as Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, abruptly said she was resigning after a trove of leaked emails showed party officials conspiring to sabotage the campaign of Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/25/us/politics/debbie-wasserman-schultz-dnc-wikileaks-emails.html
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
JI7
(89,279 posts)which came from Russia rapist Assange etc
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
lapucelle
(18,361 posts)Isn't that what the NYT news story reported?
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/23/us/politics/dnc-emails-sanders-clinton.html?ref=politics&module=inline
Poor Jonathan Martin. He does try so hard, but it's difficult to take his brand of punditry seriously.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
thesquanderer
(11,996 posts)...for hiring someone with a record, Sanders would have come back with how people who have paid their debt to society should not be denied jobs, they deserve second chances. Who do you think wins that argument?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
JI7
(89,279 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
crazytown
(7,277 posts)The campaigns unionisation has been the big story for weeks. Now the guy who masterminded the contacts Turns out to be a fraudster.
Did he draft Sirotas contract too?
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)... but it really has taken a toll on the respectability of the BS campaign workings. They really shouldn't have been boasting about it.
I had read elsewhere that it made as much sense as a convicted DUI driver boasting that s/he had a breathalyzer locking device on their car and that everyone should get one. Well, uh... no... not everyone! It's not the big "honor" that they're making it out to be.
And neither is a campaign that has workers who feel like they NEED to be unionized. The whole thing was just messed up from the beginning.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
R B Garr
(16,995 posts)as some kind of purity test to preemptively point fingers at others. Instead of taking questions about their wrongdoings, accusing others of not unionizing was the goal. Very messed up.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)Do they think we're idiots?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
R B Garr
(16,995 posts)It was very obvious.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)People are seeing more than the campaign wants them to see or understand.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
R B Garr
(16,995 posts)Rev Al saying Biden's numbers are only good because of old people who were polled. Insulting people more just isn't going to cut it.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
betsuni
(25,687 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LibFarmer
(772 posts)This is so Trump-like
Scary that they don't even care that poor union members' dues were embezzled. Such a guy won't even get a dog-grooming license in most states but now he is Sanders' top campaign advisor!
wow .... just wow
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
WeekiWater
(3,259 posts)Yet the info on him wasnt used or promoted. His last major opponent was not looking to create enemies on the left and the election was never in doubt.
Each time we see Sanders attack the party or a candidate on a certain issue the back of the proverbial hand is raised almost immediately. He isnt getting away with it this time. The responses are on topic an almost immediate.
Folks, coalition building really is a good thing if you are truly interested in accomplishing great things.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
RandySF
(59,414 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NBachers
(17,149 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
comradebillyboy
(10,178 posts)But it's not nearly enough to assuage my otherwise poor opinion of Sanders.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
lapucelle
(18,361 posts)Why is Rocha on the BS pay roll collecting tens of thousands of dollars for arranging "events"? Is that where people's donations are going?
https://vtdigger.org/2019/05/09/top-sanders-advisor-embezzled-union-funds-2008/
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Scurrilous
(38,687 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(145,666 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
DesertRat
(27,995 posts)Again - no female candidate would get away with this.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LongtimeAZDem
(4,494 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LibFarmer
(772 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
MineralMan
(146,338 posts)Maybe it's just me, but hiring campaign staffers who proudly proclaim that they voted third party in 2016 does not increase the likelihood that I will support a primary candidate who did that.
The current President of the United States should be Hillary Clinton. She won the popular vote, but lost in three states by fewer votes than were cast for Jill Stein. I'm not saying that those votes would have gone for Clinton, but I'm counting those votes all the same as if they were votes for Donald J. Trump.
I cannot support a candidate in this primary election who has hired Stein voters for top campaign positions. I simply cannot.
As for someone who embezzled funds from a labor union, well that's pretty bad, too. Indeed it is.
Both things call into question the judgment of the person who did the hiring, in my opinion.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LibFarmer
(772 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LongtimeAZDem
(4,494 posts)Had to be said
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
MineralMan
(146,338 posts)One can only hire those who are willing to be part of your campaign. Sometimes, that leads to having only some choices who might not be the best choices.
Being a candidate for the nomination as the party's choice for President is a huge challenge. Not everyone is up to that challenge. That's why it's always a good idea to see who a candidate selects to represent him in the campaign. Much can be learned by doing that, I think.
I have been concerned about some of Senator Sanders' choices from the very beginning, and not just in this year's campaign.
Who I support depends on many factors.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LongtimeAZDem
(4,494 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
R B Garr
(16,995 posts)"In 2013, Rocha was sentenced to two years probation and to pay a $2,000 fine for embezzling United Steelworkers Union funds. Before pleading guilty to the embezzlement charge and being sentenced, Rocha had already been ordered to pay $12,449 back to the union, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Rocha illegally used union money to buy $400 in Stanley Cup finals tickets. He also paid thousands of dollars for golf trips in South Carolina and Florida between the end of 2008 and midway through 2009, according to court document...!"
Why isn't Sanders asked about this?! Instead I heard Rev Al today asking Sanders if he was going to attack Biden. Sanders should be answering his own vetting questions. Embezzeling from unions?? Wow...
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)staffers.
Just like other candidates do.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)Interesting pastimes.
Interesting that Jeff Weaver, and not Bernie's current press lead, is the one who spoke on behalf of the campaign. And that he's changed his reaction at the reporing of this from 2016.
2019:
2016:
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)Or because this Vermont publication doesn't handle Bernie with kid gloves when it comes to investigative reporting?
Sanders refuses to grant them any interviews, but is fine with Weaver going on FoxNews as a regular guest.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
stonecutter357
(12,697 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LakeArenal
(28,858 posts)Personally, all of them.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden