I have realized I don't give a shit if Ellison or Perez wins the DNC chair job

[La Lioness Priyanka]

i had a slight preference for Perez because of his ties to Obama, and I still have a slight preference for him. But I don't really give a shit.

If Keith wins it, good for Keith and I hope good for us too.

What i do care, is people falsely maligning Tom Perez, who is a hardworking, liberal, loyal Democrat. That I care about.

Tom Perez is not (a) neoliberal (b) corporatist and (c) or whatever the fuck establishment means.

And people who malign him as such are lying, dumb, and trying to break apart the Democratic party because they are still butthurt about something.

[MineralMan]

1. Perez is NOT endorsed by Bernie Sanders. So there!

What else could possibly matter?

[Rene]

34. Sanders isn't even a registered.Democrat. He gets no say.

can't get off the pot.

[ehrnst]

47. YES, 1000x this. (nt)

[nikibatts]

63. Let's have co-Chairs and get over it! We need to get to work and fast. We need to campaign

like the election is two months from now.

Who has a list of every House seat that is up and every Senate seat and every Governorship?

Who has a list of the top State House contenders in every state that we lost by less than 4 points?

Stop this stuff and start putting together a strategy to take back the House and Senate and the Presidential election will take care of itself. And we don't need to hear about "free shit" We need to hear about what the voters out there want to hear about, their JOBS and LIVABLE WAGES, their HEALTHCARE, their AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AFFORDABLE, QUALITY EDUCATION, THEIR SAFETY, IMMIGRATION REFORM, THEIR SAFE WATER, ...THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE.

[skylucy]

2. +100 I agree with you.

[LisaM]

3. I agree with you.....

and I really don't want someone currently in office. I think that is a mistake. I want someone with the time to get out on the road, visit local parties, strengthen the ground game.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

5. Ellison said he would step down from his Congressional role if he wins.

[crazycatlady]

4. I like that guy from IN too

He's a good dose of young blood that the party needs.

But I could live with the frontrunners.

[NCTraveler]

6. I'm about at the same spot.

Have recently said so. Ellison would probably be the front-runner if it wasn't for the HA Goodman crowd. Like Sanders, most of Ellisons support comes from really good people. Unfortunately, his most vocal supporters are a bunch of asshats with the same thought process as Bannon. It must be burned down in order to be built up. That isn't what Ellison himself is about, in my opinion.

[bravenak]

7. I do not care who wins at this point and no longer have a preference

I like that young guy. So maybe I prefer him just to be obstinate.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

8. the guy with the unpronounceable name?

[bravenak]

16. Yep. Fuck it. Give it to him and lets move on.

This feels like it's been a proxy war stemming from the primary for some and i'm exhausted. If Perez wins the wailing will start and if Ellison wins other groups will be pissed. I hope neither win so everyone can breathe again.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

17. you know, i'm PERFECTLY ok with that too

[bravenak]

18. I know. This has been tiresome in a way.

As long as the person cares about building the party we're there

[Wounded Bear]

9. IMHO the fight over the DNC chair is overstated bigly...

seems more like the media trying to find something exciting and controversial. It sounds like ALL of the frontrunners are interested in getting back to local grunt work to expand the party base and back basic progressive values. That's what matters.

Oh, and I agree about it being a full-time job. It needs to be, especially now.

I don't join into any threads on this that turn into cat fights.

[grantcart]

10. I will be very disappointed if either of them get in

They are both presented as surrogates. If one gets in then a sizeable part of the party will feel that "their side lost".

We need a chairman or chairwoman of the DNC that is not a surrogate for a side but will work to energize all of the party in all of the states. Both Perez and Ellison should step aside. Everyone in the party should feel connected to the new leader and no one should feel that their side "lost".

[La Lioness Priyanka]

11. isn't one of them highly likely to win?

although, who would not at this point be thought of as a surrogate for the primaries

[grantcart]

13. Well there is always the possibility that common sense could sprout.

IMO Sanders fouled this up by making a very impassioned high level endorsement. That made it about surrogates.

He should have, again IMO, worked with Secretary Clinton and President Obama to find a consensus candidate and then tried to win the argument. In his own way Sanders continues to try to bully an organization that he refuses to join.

The selection process weeds out the last place winner and then they reassign so that one candidate could start getting momentum (even besides Perez or Ellison) and that would attract more of the lower tier candidates. Its pretty interesting that the other candidates have not tried to impact by endorsing before the vote but are staying in.

Surrogates please step aside and lets find someone who is process oriented and not ideological oriented so that they can help all Democrats of all ideologies win. Not every battle should be for ideology.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

15. perez wasn't even a high level clinton guy.

i dont remember hearing much about him during the primaries.

most Democrats endorsed Clinton, so at some point almost any democrat running for this job will be seen as her surrogate if people keep refighting a primary

[grantcart]

22. It was Sanders very high level endorsement of Ellison that made this into a fight of surrogates.

All of the principles should have simply stayed out of it. Anyone who becomes DNC chair as a surrogate will be damaged goods and not their own leader.

[Cha]

61. Yeah, and the way he said it.

[BlueMTexpat]

35. +1! eom

[NCTraveler]

14. Well stated.

Thanks for sharing that in the way you did.

[msongs]

12. perez endorses the TPP at 2:25 in this video.

http://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/tom-perez-pres-obama-and-hillary-clinton-disagree-over-tpp-717796931642

[mvd]

20. Maybe that is because he was part of the administration?

I don't recall him coming out for it in the DNC race. Anyway, I support Ellison, but feel Perez would be better than DWS. Unless they use him winning as something against Sanders supporters.

[grantcart]

21. You mean the TPP that peer review analysis shows will add $ 300 billion to US wages?

It amazes me how Democrats will recommend peer review analysis of climate change to Republicans but not accept it for economics.

https://piie.com/publications/wp/wp16-2.pdf

And what are the countries that want to be part of the TPP

Canada
New Zealand
Singapore
Japan
etc

And Bernie's REASON for being against the TPP? Let's go to his official "Feel the Bern" Website

http://feelthebern.org/bernie-sanders-on-china/

Bernie firmly believes that current trade relations with China are detrimental to job growth and wealth equality in the United States. Referring specifically to the 2015 Trans-Pacific Partnership, Bernie has decried trade deals with China as being “designed to protect the interests of the largest multi-national corporations at the expense of workers, consumers, the environment and the foundations of American democracy.”

A growing trade deficit with China has led to the loss of over 2 million U.S. manufacturing jobs since 2001.

This is nonsensical jibberish. The TPP is not an agreement with the Chinese, it is a grouping of countries that want to fight Chinese economic expansion.

It was originated by the developed and fast developing countries of the Pacific that want to find an alternative to China over the next century. They have two basic alternatives, US or Europe.

China's neighbors have long term concerns about China and are looking for a trade deal where their lower wage, lower capital, lower skill products can find a market here (in factories that haven't done well in the US for decades) and want to buy high wage, high capital, high skill products like this:

http://www.geekwire.com/2016/boeing-seals-deal-11-3-billion-sale-737-max-jets-vietjet-airlines/

So I wonder if Elllison is also against the TPP because it is so generous to the Chinese (as Bernie mistakenly thinks) when it is in fact an anti Chinese trade platform.

[bluedye33139]

31. I remember anti-TPP folks being shocked China wasn't part of it

It kind of made me wonder why they kept beating the anti-China drum to prove their point. Now, China will dominate Pacific Rim commerce, and we will be sidelined. How is that progress?

[Alice11111]

53. Agree completely. Said it all along. I like bernie ok, but that is flawed thinking

I still want Dean. Dont know his TPP position. He wants to work on all 50 states! He's aggressive. Doesn't trust repubs. Experienced. Hillary IMHO would be our prez if he had taken over for Wasserman Schultz, and Mook and Palmieri had deferred .
I think these are not the times for novices or to try new people. Not the time to raise the kids. Not the time to try people we like, even though they are weak.
We should be in Georgia fighting in that special election for a seat. Instead, like Wisconsin, NBD, not worth it.

[Cha]

59. Thank you for that Detailed Report on the Reality of TPP, Grant.

President Obama fought for it because it was the best deal for the American Workers.. and now..

[La Lioness Priyanka]

37. as do i. nt

[mvd]

40. Well, we can strongly disagree on that

I agree with you on many other things, though. I feel Ellison would be better, but Perez has a decent track record on labor. I don't think he would push for TPP considering party division over it.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

41. no one is pushing for TPP now, and china could not be happier about that

also, i dont think one policy or trade deal defines a politician. just like any one action of mine, doesn't define me.

glad that we agree on more than we disagree on.

[mvd]

44. It's more than about China, but yes, I agree

that one issue shouldn't define someone. It's just a major one for me. I don't want Bernie and Hillary supporters to be at each other at times like this.

[Cha]

58. So?

[mcar]

19. K&R

The maligning of him has been distressing.

[OKNancy]

23. I agree!!!!!

He's a good man.

[Pacifist Patriot]

24. I honestly don't care.

Just want the party to roll up their sleeves and get to work!

[GoCubsGo]

25. I don't care, either.

Six of one. A half dozen of the other. The ones who are maligning either of the candidates are just succumbing to "divide and conquer." I am not falling into that trap.

[wryter2000]

26. Thank you

I'm so sick of the "not pure enough" BS. And I wonder about the agenda of people pushing it.

[Tarheel_Dem]

27. I still have a preference, and it's for all the reasons you named. Tom Perez for me. n/t

[bluedye33139]

28. I would support Ellison or Perez or any Democrat really

It's unlikely that the DNC chair will be transforming the nation in 2017 and 2018 anyway. The burden really falls to local and state parties, and we all have to work harder to elect Democrats for the next several years.

Perez is a wonderful candidate, and I too have been weirded out by attacks on him by people outside the party.

[kentuck]

29. They should be Co-Chairs.

In my opinion. It would make the Party stronger.

[BainsBane]

30. The determination that Perez is unacceptable

makes me wonder what those people have against battling voter disenfranchisement, which is what Perez has highlighted as his principal focus. Is the problem that he doesn't privilege the right kind of voters (Trump supporters) over the disenfranchised?

Or is it as petty as the fact he isn't Bernie's choice, and that what a Democrat stands for doesn't matter compared to patronage networks?

[NurseJackie]

55. I think it's the second thing you mentioned there.

And if that's their ONLY reason for opposing Perez, then that's also a good enough reason for me to oppose Ellison. (That, and the fact that Susan Sarandon adores him.)

I wonder if Nina Turner has shouted out anything about this. Has she bellowed her preference? Or has she pretty much dropped off the face of the planet?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

32. I don't either. Both would be fine. I lean a bit towards Ellison

because he's my Congressman and he's awesome - but if got the DNC job he'll leave Congress, so that's the down side. I'd be happy with Perez, though. The good thing is that DWS is gone, and either Ellison or Perez should be able to make the organization function again. I hope whoever it is brings back something like Howard Dean's 50-state strategy; it was a huge mistake to let that go.

[HopeAgain]

33. I don't either as long as all democratic candidates are treated fairly. nt

[BlueMTexpat]

36. This.

What i do care, is people falsely maligning Tom Perez, who is a hardworking, liberal, loyal Democrat. That I care about.

Tom Perez is not (a) neoliberal (b) corporatist and (c) or whatever the fuck establishment means.

And people who malign him as such are lying, dumb, and trying to break apart the Democratic party because they are still butthurt about something.

And anyone here who is doing such maligning should NOT be here. Period.

[TomCADem]

38. I Would Have Preferred Howard Dean...

...but Ellison or Perez will be fine.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

39. i would have preferred O'malley as he remained neutral during the fucking primaries

and so no one can use him for this proxy war

jesus fuck

[Alice11111]

54. !!! I still want Dean. He wants to work on all 50 states! He's aggressive. Doesn't take stuff from R

but he's reasonable. We would have hillary if we had had Dean, and Mook would have deferred

[NurseJackie]

42. I used to not care ... until I discovered that Susan Sarandon adores Ellison. Then ...

... that was enough for me to dismiss him out of hand without another thought. If Sarandon is for a candidate, then it's a damn safe bet that I should be opposed to it.

It would be incorrect for me to say "I support Perez, but Ellison would be fine too" ... the more accurate statement would be "I support Perez and I actively OPPOSE Ellison"

And if some well know characters around here want to try and bully others by accusing them of being "anti-Muslim" for not supporting Ellison (or, in my case, OPPOSING Ellison) then I'll just have to spend .5 extra seconds of my life ignoring their bullshit. Such is life.

Sarandon is the canary in the mine. When she supports something that means there's danger ahead that should be avoided at all costs. Susan Sarandon is a red warning flag.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

43. sarandon is a overprivileged idiot, i cant take her endorsements or anything seriously

[Cha]

57. I want #Tom Perez because I think he will be the very best for the job..

Link to tweet

But, smug ratfucker SS endorsing anyone is certainly a red flag for me.

[JHan]

45. Post of the week. K & R.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

46. thanks man!

[kwassa]

48. WHAT? NO OUTRAGE? WE ONLY DEAL IN OUTRAGE !!!!

It is our reason to be.

[Progressive dog]

49. I agree with you.

It doesn't matter much to me who wins this, and I am also sick of the childish name calling.
We have the world's oldest existing Republic and more rights, protected by a written Constitution, than almost any country in the world. The mainstream establishment has been in charge for our entire history. We have had no revolutions, because we've had established institutions.

[Hekate]

50. Amen, Lioness. I'm sick of the divisiveness from certain quarters.

[PatsFan87]

51. I will support whoever the chair is and hope they're nowhere near as disastrous as DWS.

I do believe that Ellison would be more effective since he's had electoral experience, get out the vote experience (and a track record of increasing turnout in his district), fundraising experience, grassroots organizing experience, etc. He's more prepared to hit the ground running which is what we need. I also like seeing that prominent supporters of Bernie and Hillary have endorsed him. It makes going forward as a unit seem more realistic. I'd like to see Perez run for governor of Maryland though. Buttigieg is also wonderful and I hope he runs for higher office. Buckley has a special place in my heart too.

[Iggo]

52. I don't care who it is as much as I care what they do.

Be like Dean? Fine.

Be like DWS? No fucking thanks.

[Cha]

56. I really think Tom Perez will make the very best DNC chair..

Link to tweet

[butdiduvote]

60. Agreed!

If I were asked to select the person personally, I would go with Perez, but I just don't really care that much.

[watoos]

62. I'm behind Ellison

if he doesn't win I will still support Perez but I will send my money to the ACLU.

[killbotfactory]

64. This is turning out to be a fight between state level parties and big money consultants.

I don't trust the consultants with my money. The party needs rebuilding at the state level, and it needs to ween itself off big money (pro-corporate) donors. If Ellison wins, I'll give to the dnc. If not, my money goes elsewhere. Perez seems like a good guy, but from what he's been saying, he's not going to fundamentally change the way the DNC operates. Which means my few bucks a month will be drowned out in corporate and lobbyist cash, and they'll keep chasing big money ad buys instead of growing our ground game.

[Rex]

65. Both would make great leaders of the DNC.

Win, win in my book.

[LexVegas]

66. Dont like Ellison because of his Sanders ties. nt

[otohara]

69. Ditto n/t

[ismnotwasm]

67. Yup

Nailed it

[Crunchy Frog]

68. I care about results and nothing else.

[Warren DeMontague]

70. Either will be way better than DWS.

The last thing we need is another party chair who supports sending cancer grannies to prison for using medical marijuana.

[Rex]

74. Plus she could not win seats, have to agree anyone is better than DWS.

Or at least way better.

[Warren DeMontague]

75. Perez himself slammed Debbie Wasserman Schultz's DNC performance as simply atrocious recently

He knows she was a disaster for our brand.

[Rex]

77. Im loving our two choices.

I didnt think Perez would be given a chance. So happy to see I was wrong. Ellison warned us about taking, at the time, candidate Trump seriously.

[erinlough]

71. I know these are the front runners but take a look at Pete Buttigieg

I live in lower Michigan next to South Bend. He is very smart and creative, a veteran, I'm very impressed with his work in South Bend. He is the kind of politician who works with people to solve problems.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

72. One of these two will win.

I like Pete just fine too.

[RayOfHope]

73. Agreed. Heard him interviewed on NPR yesterday. I was very impressed n/t

[Blue_true]

76. Perez was a longtime labor rights lawyer before

taking the job of Labor Secretary. The guy has a long history fighting for worker rights. Republicans put up a massive stink when President Obama nominated Perez, because he was liberal way beyond anyone they would have wanted for the job.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

78. Yup. To see someone like him maligned on du

Makes me lose all respect for some du'ers

[DesertFlower]

79. i don't give a shit either. i also agree with you

about perez.

[Golden Raisin]

80. DNC stalled and infighting over Chair.

Meanwhile Trump and Republican Congress basically raping the Constitution, installing deliberate vandals and greedy, self-interested in the Cabinet, and dragging the Country into the gutter of chaos, hatred, greed, division and fascism. The fucking barbarians have broken through the gates of Rome and are openly pillaging and burning. DNC (and all Dems in Congress) needs to unify, wise up and wake up before it's completely too late.