Jaime Harrison: 'If you expect me to go away or roll into a ball & whimper you picked the wrong one'

[bigtree]

ABC News Politics @ABCPolitics 1h
NEW: The Democratic National Committee announces it hit new fundraising highs, raking in $10.7 million in December and $157 million in 2021.

Both figures are records for the committee in a non-presidential election year.

___The Democratic National Committee announced it hit new fundraising highs, raking in $10.7 million in December and $157 million in 2021. Both figures are records for the committee in a non-presidential election year.

Harrison took to Twitter Sunday to defend himself and his work.

"Only in DC … can you break a fundraising record & have folks complain it isn't enough. That's what the DNC did in '21! The DNC work isn't always easy & covid has created its own challenges. Our offices have been closed since 2020, but despite barriers we are making a difference," Harrison tweeted as part of a longer thread.

"To unnamed sources … if you expect me to go away or roll into a ball and whimper… you picked the wrong one. The focus is upending the party of fraud, fear and fascism. You have the mission, now get with the program," Harrison continued.

An advisor to President Joe Biden told ABC News Sunday that it has full confidence in Harrison's leadership at the DNC.

“President Biden and Democrats are united – we’re focused on lowering costs for the American people while talking to the American people about our accomplishments - we created more jobs than in any one year in the history of the country and passed a historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law," the advisor said. "Jaime Harrison has been a critical partner in this effort, helping share our message with the American people, while working to put Democrats in the best position to win in 2022 and 2024."

read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/dnc-pulls-record-fundraising-end-year-hauls-leading/story?id=82553399&cid=social_twitter_abcnp

related:

NBC: DNC chair Jaime Harrison strikes back at 'unnamed' critics
The Democratic Party’s top official bristled at an NBC News article (claiming) tension between him and White House officials.

"There is a lot of unnamed bulls--- in politics, but no one can ever say that I don’t work my ass off for what I believe in," Harrison wrote in the first of eight threaded tweets.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/dnc-chair-jaime-harrison-strikes-back-unnamed-critics-rcna14128

Link to tweet

[Bettie]

1. I'm glad he's starting to speak out

and push back on things.

He's going on podcasts and radio shows. He's getting the message out, which is a big part of the battle.

[Demsrule86]

13. I still do not believe he is the right person for this job...raising money is great but you

must win elections. He has little experience. And if Biden wants him to go then he should go. Who is he fighting Democrats? That is not acceptable.

[jimfields33]

2. It's virtually impossible to make everyone happy

As long as he feels he’s doing a good job, that’s what matters. Good for him not cow towing to naysayers. Keep going!

[Demsrule86]

14. What? Feelings have nothing to do with it. After this statement, he needs to go.

You have to win elections.

[bigtree]

20. so defending himself means 'he has to go?'

...that's your response to our party and leaders defending against anonymous media attacks?

Did you see the statement of support for the chairman from the WH?

Besides, by your standards, no DNC chairman would remain after just one loss. You don't seem to realize that by your own standards he 'won' New Jersey's governor's race.

It's an absurd measure. Candidates are responsible for winning their races, not the DNC. I hope they realize this.

[Demsrule86]

28. In a job like this, if you become the issue, your usefulness is over. If Biden wants him gone...

as I said before then he should go. I don't like the public statement he made. He needs to fight Republicans not fellow Democrats. That is just how I feel about it. I will say in fairness, I never thought he should get the job in the first place. I want an old political hand in this job who can save the midterm.

[bigtree]

32. one article citing anonymous sources doesn't make the DNC chairman 'the issue'

...interesting, though, how you're drafting off the Democratic chairman's defense of his organization and the party against the anonymous slander in the NBC article to lob your own nonfactual criticisms at him.

[Demsrule86]

37. Harris still responded to it ...he didn't have to do so.

Thus, he kind of made himself the issue.

[bigtree]

44. thankful we don't have a Democratic party chairman who's going to shy away from defending his org.

...from defending his party against media attacks which become political shorthand when left unaddressed.

Just, wow...

[oasis]

3. I like the guy. He rolls his sleeves up and gets it done.

[Hortensis]

4. Well, hope he is a good man for the job and he can come to

agreement with his boss about how to do it. He was the assistant chair to Tom Perez and was nominated by Biden and voted on by his colleagues. I have no idea how well he is or isn't doing the job, but I feel sure those who recommended him hoped he would.

Politics is different of course, genuinely, but I'm just imagining taking internal disagreements about my performance at work to social media. Whatever. I do feel pretty sure he's supposed to be able to devote his political talents to doing the job.

[bigtree]

5. you 'have no idea how well he is or isn't doing the job?' Harrison offers a clue:

Jaime Harrison, DNC Chair @harrisonjaime Jan 29
How? Here are some of my/our ‘21 receipts:

* $150M raised in the 2021- off yr record

*$23M for state parties;

$20M for organizing staff; $25M voter protection & voter registration

* Summer Bus Tour- stops in NJ, PA, VA, NC, AZ, SC, GA

* Over 1,000+ fundraising calls

* 200+ 1:1 zooms w/ major donors; $ meetings in CA,NY, IL, DC

*250+ state party mtgs & events

* 100+ mtgs/events w/ Dem orgs; 21 chair chat town halls with various coalition caucuses & councils

* 160+ Interviews; 12 major press events like National Press Club

7:55 PM · Jan 29, 2022

[Hortensis]

6. And how does that compare to...?

[bigtree]

7. google.

[Hortensis]

9. Google what? Tom Perez's "stats" at this time in 2020?

And assuming he issued anything like that, and they could be compared meaningfully, they would not tell us how well this person was doing this job at this time the way it needs to be done. How about everything required to do this very complex job well?

Fwiw, this morning my husband was able to turn on a high overhead light 3 days in a row 6 months following his shoulder replacement. That is very meaningful to us, but you would need to know that he did it with the right shoulder that was replaced and how high the end of the chain is above his shoulder to begin to understand if we should be pleased or dissatisfied with his progress and how much. That, of course, is not all you would need to know; on top of that you would need expertise in the subject.

Really, WHY are you taking any "side" at all? To me these guys, from Biden on down, are all means to my ends, never the ends in themselves. I never get tricked into forgetting who the bad guys are and who I have to protect our grandchildren from.

[bigtree]

10. look up the figures

...you won't get me running around the internet looking for receipts to disprove your nonfactual cynicism.

Harrison provided his. Tell us where you think he's wrong.

I think it's enough that the news orgs and journos who are writing these criticisms have access to the same figures, as much or more than most of us, and they haven't disputed them.

[Hortensis]

11. I now suspect he's likely doing wrong because notions that

stimulate people to turn anger and dissatisfaction inward against ourselves are bad.

Angry partisans should be gnawing at Republican ankles. These are very serious times. How do you imagine they'd keep control permanently without police power? How many people would they allow to die off whenever it suited them? But, carry on as you must.

[bigtree]

17. I'm a retired grocery worker from Maryland

Last edited Mon Jan 31, 2022, 02:00 PM - Edit history (1)

...defending the elected head of our party's political organization against anonymous attacks in an NBC article. (I see where you took down the sentence claiming my own defense of Harison is the reason for your distrust of his defenses against NBC. Just monumentally weird, but whatever).

Same for Jaime Harrison. He's provided reciepts contradicting the assertions in the NBC article that he's been isolated, ineffective, and in conflict with the WH.

All of those points have been contradicted by the chairman.

None of that make me, nor Jaime Harrison, an 'angry partisan.'

You have every right to be cynical and contradict the chirman or the Democratic party, but you really haven't. All you've done here is further the nonfactual cynicism with your own., and you've extended that animus to me.

Now I can handle being called 'angry.' I don't happen to think that's a fault, and I don't have any trouble making myself clear, angry or not. Nothing you've said here has anything to do with what the chairman is actually doing, and you've made it clear you don't intend to find out, so I'm going to guess you don't know a wit of anything substantive about me.

I'd imagine this hit piece really hit home with folks with similar disinterest in finding out the truth, even about members of their own party, even about people they interact with everyday (although I see you tried to personalize your cynicism with a non sequiter about your own family).

And, I will 'carry on,' Hortenis, but I can't imagine why you would take any interest in that at all.

[bigtree]

12. you edited this to ask "WHY are you taking any "side" at all?

...you say, "these guys, from Biden on down, are all means to my ends, never the ends in themselves. I never get tricked into forgetting who the bad guys are and who I have to protect our grandchildren from."

This is just talking down the president and the party, with nothing substantive, just your cynicism.

You don't really need to wonder why I'm taking a side. It's why I post here. I'm on the side of our president, our legislators, and our party, because they are the most effective vehicle for advancing my interests and concerns through our political process to enactment into law or action.

I'm left to wonder why you are not?

[Demsrule86]

16. I agree with you about who's side we must be on...But Biden is the head of the party and if

Biden wants him gone then he should go. And I do not approve of the confrontational IMHO statement. Again, I never thought he had the experience needed for this difficult job. This is a tough job and we need someone who can excel at it...it should never be some political trophy given to people we like...and who doesn't like the guy? That is not the issue. The issue is we have a must-win midterm this year.

[bigtree]

18. you've come at him with empty homilies, not facts about his leadership

...not one fact.

I'd like to know where you get the notion that 'Biden wants him to go.'

An advisor to President Joe Biden told ABC News Sunday that it has full confidence in Harrison's leadership at the DNC.

“President Biden and Democrats are united – we’re focused on lowering costs for the American people while talking to the American people about our accomplishments - we created more jobs than in any one year in the history of the country and passed a historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law," the advisor said. "Jaime Harrison has been a critical partner in this effort, helping share our message with the American people, while working to put Democrats in the best position to win in 2022 and 2024."

[Demsrule86]

24. Then why the statement?

I doubt Biden wants an argument right now...but what has happened with recruiting candidates, etc? The other parts of the job...there is more than fundraising you know. I would prefer a more experienced head of the DNC. I have to tell you I would not have picked this guy...and I like him. I just don't think he has the experience needed for the job. Time will change that and I think he has a good future in this party. But we have a midterm to try to win.

[bigtree]

27. why defend himself against scurrilous, anonymous attacks in the press cited as political gospel?

...jesus, if you don't know the answer to that...

[Hortensis]

30. +100. Not that I have an opinion on his competence.

Since I don't know, I leave the door open to this possibly being within the realm of competent politicking in a person who's supposed to be capable of defending himself from attack -- without needing help from Biden.

It may be that taking internal problems public, into the social media sewers, is part of that and that any very regrettable strife stirred up on our side is acceptable collateral damage.

But maybe it's just plain as bad as it looks and in a man in his position far worse than it would be if any of us did it in our workplace.

Ideally, this resolves quickly and won't obtrude again.

[Demsrule86]

15. If Biden wants him gone then he should go period. And I do not appreciate his statement either. We

face a tough midterm race. I was not impressed with GOTV in Virginia. My cousin worked it and said it was the worst she had ever seen.

[bigtree]

19. the DNC dropped millions of dollars into McAulliffe's race

...funny McAulliffe hasn't blamed Harrison or the DNC.

It would be absurd. Terry McAulliffe lost that race, not Harrison.

[Demsrule86]

21. The guy is a great fund - raiser. I get that. But there is more to the job than fundraising...and I

trust Biden. As head of the Party, it is his call. And I don't appreciate the statement made. It seems divisive. My cousin referred to the GOTV run by the Party...DNC.

[bigtree]

23. you don't look to actually 'trust Biden' on this

..an advisor to President Joe Biden told ABC News Sunday that it has full confidence in Harrison's leadership at the DNC.

“President Biden and Democrats are united – we’re focused on lowering costs for the American people while talking to the American people about our accomplishments - we created more jobs than in any one year in the history of the country and passed a historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law," the advisor said. "Jaime Harrison has been a critical partner in this effort, helping share our message with the American people, while working to put Democrats in the best position to win in 2022 and 2024."

And who do you think was Harrison being 'divisive' to? What nonsense. He was responding to an anonymously sourced hit piece from NBC. You couldn't be more wrong.

If you 'trust Biden' like you say, you'll give more weight to his spokespeople than to NBC.

[Demsrule86]

22. That is not the point. The point is that can he handle the job. I have always felt he lacked

electoral experience. And I repeat if Biden wants him gone then he should go without a big fuss I might add.

[bigtree]

25. so you're going with the media's nonfactual attacks on our party chairman

...and disregarding what the WH is actually saying on the record.

Got it.

[Demsrule86]

29. Jaime Harris made the statement which indicates to me that something is going on...and it

sounded defensive and confrontational which is the last thing we need at the moment.

[bigtree]

33. you're not even in the ballpark

...and you're calling strikes.

Try reading the article, and try and acknowledge the phony chatter drafting off of an anonymously sourced hit piece from NBC. Chatter which you look more than comfortable repeating as if it were gospel.

On top of all that, you're slamming Harrison for defending hinself, his organization, and the party, actually using the unsourced nonsense to rebuke and demean the Democratic party chaiman.

Who are you defending here? The WH has denied the report. The chairman is denying the report. The question I have is why you are comfortable attacking the chairman behind reports which have been denied by the party and WH.

Hell, even Jim Clyburn has weighed in, defending Harrison. You can't make those criticisms on behalf of Pres. Biden. It's just sophistry.

[Demsrule86]

39. The question is who was Harrison defending himself from...if it is a scurrilous GOP attack...then

fine. I wouldn't have done it that way. but whatever. However, if it is the president who wants a change then it is not OK...we can't have a DNC chairman at odds with the head of the party...not saying that is the case. We shall have to wait and see...hope for the best. But I still don't think Harrison is experienced enough for this job in these really difficult times. That is just my opinion.

[BlackSkimmer]

8. K and r.

[crickets]

26. Good for you, Jaime Harrison. 💙

[Hekate]

31. It is about time Democrats fought back.The GOP, "unnamed sources," & the media are trying to kill us

The above-named entities are not at all happy with Joe Biden’s “performance” either. They’d love to see Kamala Harris gone. They want Joe to declare he’s a lame duck one year in to his first term.

Divide and conquer, guys. It truly works on their behalf — especially if we cooperate with them.

[Raven123]

34. I have no problem with laying low, till the time is right

Just make sure you have a plan, Jaime. Pick your targets, roll out the ads. Fill the airwaves and billboards with ads noting the Infrastructure Plan “No” votes cast by the GOP candidates in those winnable districts- and if there is any money left ovwr, send a few ads tho those less competitive districts where there are issues that the GOP candidates haven’t addressed.

[StrictlyRockers]

35. Jamie Harrison is for real. He speaks for all of us.

"To unnamed sources … if you expect me to go away or roll into a ball and whimper… you picked the wrong one. The focus is upending the party of fraud, fear and fascism. You have the mission, now get with the program,"
-Jaime Harrison

[JanMichael]

36. He wasted $104 million in the 2020 senate race in South Carolina. Money doesn't win in many cases.

McGrath did too to the tune of $73,000,000 and Gideon raised $48,000,000.

Great at raising money not so great at winning.

I would think that raising $104,000,000 just to lose would be humbling. Not for this guy though.

Like an NFL cornerback that gets burned for a long touchdown they come back the next play thinking they are invincible. Instant amnesia.

Good for him I guess.

[bigtree]

41. the DNC doesn't run campaigns

...the candidates are responsible for winning, but you probably know that.

There isn't a DNC chairman who hasn't presided over some candidate unable to successfully advantage themselves of the money the DNC raises for them. None of those dollars just appear. They come as a result of the chairman and others in his org. reaching out across the country on behalf of Democratic candidates.

In that fundraising effort, which is his primary job, why he was recommended and hired, Harrison exceeded the efforts of his predecessors who also presided over lost races amid ones that succeeded.

Good for Murphy in NJ, too, huh, who got 400k from the DNC in his successful bid for reelection?

[JanMichael]

42. Thank gawd for that.

[bigtree]

45. sure, thank god the absurdity of supposing the DNC lost SC by advantaging the candidate with money

...or anywhere else Harrison provided funds, for that matter, is just internet chatter and not something that actually has anything to do with anything.

[JanMichael]

46. DNC then is not what I am talking about. I am not "supposing" that at all.

I am talking about his, Jaime Harrison for Senate, candidacy in 2020.

It was a mix of PACs and individual donors.

[bigtree]

47. you mean when Harrison was a mostly unknown challenger to the entrenched incumbent, Graham

...and raised more money for that race than any other Senate candidate in history?

The black candidate in a deep red southern state that hasn't elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1998, who got 1,110,828 votes against Lindsay Graham?

Trying to think who bettered that effort against the sitting senator.

[Fiendish Thingy]

38. Since Dems have a lot of cash, how about spending some on local election boards? Nt

[ancianita]

40. I'm totally down with Jaime. He will mobilize even more of the Black vote.

[Tommymac]

43. Best Chair IMO since Howard Dean ran the Party in the 2008 race.

Both are advocates of a 50 state strategy, not a 50+1 which is part of the reason we are here today. The party has ignored non-battleground states to our detriment over the last 20 years.

I like Jamie. He has my full support.