"Debbie Wasserman Schultz to be new DNC chair: Obama's choice."

[Clio the Leo]

Debbie Wasserman Schultz to be new DNC chair: Obama's choice.
By Lynn Sweet on April 5, 2011

WASHINGTON--Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fl.) one of the most articulate spokespeople for Democratic candidates and causes--and a breast cancer survivor--is President Obama's choice to replace Democratic National Committee chair Tim Kaine, who announced Tuesday he will be stepping down to run for a U.S. Senate seat from Virginia.

Wasserman Schultz is well known to political junkies, but extended her reach to a new and different U.S. audience after Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Az.) was shot on Jan. 8 and Waserman Schultz, a close friend, rushed to the hospital to be by her side.

Though Wasserman Schultz was a supporter of Hillary Rodham Clinton during the 2008 Democratic presidential primary, the Obama team admired her for taking on high profile surrogate chores after Obama clinched the nomination.

Wasserman Schultz brings to the DNC a formidable package: she comes from Florida, a 2012 battleground state; a smashing fund-raising track record; an appeal to female voters and strong connections to the U.S. Jewish community.

Former DNC co-chair Lynn Cutler, called the selection of Wasserman Schultz a "brilliant pick! She is a great energetic spokesperson, an effective fund raiser, and a very smart politician."

http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2011/04/debbie_wasserman_schultz_to_be.html

Wasserman Schultz with Rep. Gabbie Giffords

[emulatorloo]

1. She will do a terrific job. EXCELLENT!

This is wonderful news. She is tough and she does not take any shit.

[kirby]

2. More DLC wing goodness n/t

[Cassandra]

4. I'd rather have someone more to the left but...

that's not going to happen. At least she is able to open her mouth and fight back, as opposed to mush-mouth Kaine.

[MadMaddie]

5. Agreed! She will fight and that's why she was picked.

She is not going to cower and be invisible like Kaine was.

[ThomCat]

6. Yes, but...

pros: Strong supporter of civil rights, LGBT rights, women's rights and Adamantly pro-choice, supports both the rights of Israel and peace with Palestinians, access to health care...

But her actual voting record is only 50% progressive. 15% conservative.

Supported the patriot act extension. Supported the tax cuts for billionaires.

Moderate on some issues. Progressive on some issues. Conservative on some issues. Very inconsistent overall. Willing to compromise issue.

Has a reputation for being too willing to compromise, perhaps because she is too personally ambitious and her advancement comes before the issues.

:shrug:

[vaberella]

3. greatness! n/t

[Ramulux]

7. This pick could have been much worse

[femmocrat]

8. I hope she is staying in Congress!

Anyone know?

[Clio the Leo]

10. she is. nt

[housewolf]

9. Why the he** would Obama pull yet ANOTHER Dem out of Congress??

I would have thought he would have learned that lesson last year....

[Clio the Leo]

11. You know what my BIGGEST gripe about those who like to bash the President is?

.... it's not that they're bashing him, freedom of expression and all, but that their opinions are often uninformed.

Wasserman Schultz will not give up her House seat. Former Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) also served concurrently as DNC chair and as a U.S. Senator.
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/04/05/6413344-wasserman-schultz-selected-as-dnc-chair


ETA: Also worth noting Debbie won her last election by a 60%/38% margin .... not exactly a an unsafe seat for Dems.

[mkultra]

13. quick to voice though arent they

The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. – Bertrand Russell

[dionysus]

12. she's a bit too blue-doggish, but a team player and a fighter.

[Exilednight]

14. I never understood why Democrats allow the leader of the party to appoint the DNC char and

Republicans take a more democratic approach and have supporters vote for the head of their national committee.

[Hippo_Tron]

16. They don't, it depends on what party is in power

When either party is in the White House, the President of the United States is the leader of the party and as such the members of the DNC or the RNC vote for whomever the President selects to be chairperson.

When the party is out of power, the members of the DNC or the RNC choose the chairperson. Ed Gillespie, Ken Mehlman, Mike Duncan, etc. were all appointed by President Bush. Michael Steele was the first elected RNC Chair since before Bush took office.

Frankly there's also nothing undemocratic about the President selecting the chairperson. The President is elected leader of the party when they are nominated by the party to run for President. The chairperson, when the party is in power, is not the actual leader of the party, but merely a surrogate of the President.

[CitizenLeft]

15. awesomeness abounds!

:loveya: love it LOVE IT! :loveya:

[Major Hogwash]

17. She's really good looking, and I like her a lot. She's smart, tough, and articulate.

I've seen her before on many of the political programs, and she doesn't waffle at all.
She's a great person, and a wonderful representative.

[Pryderi]

18. Why not Howard Dean?

[Rowdyboy]

19. He did a wonderful job as chairman but I thought he pretty strongly indicated

he didn't want the job again. Wasserman-Shultz is too conciliatory for my taste. She refused to campaign against several of her Republican colleagues in Florida because they were "friends". That kind of attitude won't cut it. If she wants this job she damn well better do it all out.

[Pryderi]

20. I don't think she can be effective being chair and congress person at the same time.