Cher has a message for DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz

[seafan]

Cher ‏ @cher

D.W.Schultz if u & dems do Nothing 2help ppl suffering in Wisconsin under the tyranny of Scott Walker my immense respect 4 u will plummet!

9:05 PM - 15 May 12

Light a fire under her, Cher.

[No Elephants]

1. Do we think withholding money from Wisconsin Democrats after recalls is a DWS level decision?

Or is it the call of the head of the Democratic Party?

I just keep getting a Martha Coakley deja vu.

[seafan]

2. Last week the O campaign jumped into the recall, organizing phone banks/canvassing. Where is DNC??

DNC Chair Wasserman Schultz called Barrett only yesterday (Tuesday), to promise him 'a fundraiser later this month', only after this report hit the WP on Monday.


May 15, 2012

Following a report that the Democratic Party of Wisconsin is "furious" with the Democratic National Committee for not pouring more money into the Scott Walker recall effort, DNC chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz will visit Wisconsin this month to campaign with Walker's challenger — but there's still no indication that the Wisconsinites can expect more help than that.

"Enjoyed our conversation, @Barrett4WI," Wasserman Schultz tweeted today. "Looking forward to my trip this month to raise money & recruit vols to win back the governor's seat."

"We are confident that they will be here for us," said Wisconsin Democratic Party spokesman Graeme Zielinski when asked if the visit meant more monetary support from the DNC.

"The chair spoke to Mayor Barrett today and pledged the DNC's support for his successful election," said DNC spokeswoman Melanie Roussell. Roussell said that Wasserman Schultz will host a fundraiser for Barrett, though a date and location have not been chosen.

..... Link

With less than three weeks before this critically important recall election, it seems like it's time for the DNC Chair to park it or put it in gear.


May 15, 2012

DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) called Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett (D) on Tuesday, pledging her full support of his gubernatorial campaign, according to DNC spokeswoman Melanie Roussell.

Wasserman Schultz will host a fundraiser for Barrett in Wisconsin later this month; the exact date has not been set.

"The DNC is going to use both its substantial network of volunteers and supporters, and our online resources to help build the ground game that will be necessary to win on election day," Roussell told The Huffington Post.

The call comes less than a week after the Obama campaign jumped into the recall, organizing phone banks and canvassing operations to get out the vote for the June 5 election.

....Link

Meanwhile, she reacts to James Carville's worry about what he feels is Party complacency toward Obama's re-election, with a somewhat patronizing tone.


May 15th, 2012

.....

Blitzer asked Wasserman Schultz to respond to Carville’s recent column in which he chides his fellow Democrats for overconfidence that President Barack Obama is a shoo-in to be reelected.

“WTFU. Translated – wake the you-know-what up, there is an earthquake,” wrote Carville. “What are you smoking? What are you drinking? What are you snorting or just what the hell are you thinking?”

“Well, I guess it’s my job to peel folks like James Carville off the ceiling, because it’s certainly not time to panic,” said Wasserman Schultz. “I haven’t noticed complacency at all.” She went on to say that she had witnessed a lot of focus among supporters of President Obama.

..... Link

Bottom line:

The Scott Walker recall election in Wisconsin has national ramifications. If the DNC withholds the requested $500K from the Wisconsin Democrats for this battle, and Walker wins, Ms. Wasserman Schultz will pay a heavy price for that. And it just may derail any future political ambition she harbors.

There are many of us who wonder just what the *%$# she is thinking.

If there ever were a cause for the DNC to send money to support a candidate, this is it. And not just to hold a woefully inadequate fundraiser, whenever and wherever she can put it on her schedule, with less than three weeks left.



If DNC money is not forthcoming for support in this recall election in Wisconsin, I would predict that future funds for the DNC itself will be substantially curtailed.

[No Elephants]

3. The reality is that, if Obama wanted DWS out of the DNC chair, she would be out.

She knows that. She does not strike me as insubordinate or "mavericky." One c

all from the WH is all it would take.

http://www.nationalreview.com/campaign-spot/299976/stephanie-cutter-wisconsin-recall-what-wisconsin-recall



As far as Carville, I never really know what his agenda is.

I remember a story about his calling his wife in Cheney's office in 2004 to tell her Kerry's plans to contest.

I also remember his sitting in the front row of the nominating convention in 2008, with his legs stuck way out, wearing his PUMA sneakers, barely suppressing a smirk. Nice and divisive, just what the Republicans were trying to do at that time.

I don't trust him.

That said, my broken record about elections is always some variation of, "Never despair and never be complacent.

[seafan]

4. Let's hope that Obama is placing a phone call of encouragement for DWS to act, and act now.

IMHO, both the president and the DNC have mistakenly stayed on the sidelines in the face of the national importance of what's going on in Wisconsin.


We have multiple GOP governors with GOP legislatures just salivating to follow in Walker's footsteps in going after the same rights of workers in their states. Failing to take a strong and early stand against what Walker has done in Wisconsin has been a mistake, in my opinion.


We will soon see if it has affected the outcome.

[No Elephants]

5. I think, if there is a large enough public outcry, something may happen.

Meanwhile, I think they hope the fundraising efforts will do the trick.

Hell, it's more than Coakley got from the DNC.

ETA: Meanwhile, we can donate to Wisconsin. I posted the link on another thread and am too lazy right now to get it again. Just google Wisconsin Democratic Party. Its website gives a link to the Act Blue page that is taking donations for the Wisconin election in June.

[Leopolds Ghost]

17. I suspect the fix is in, she views it has part of her job to ignore the recall election. n/t

[No Elephants]

19. Fix, what fix? Asked Senators Ned Lamont, Martha Coakley, Joe Sestak and others.

In Rhode Island, Obama actually endorsed Chafee, "out of respect for their relationship." Not only did the head of the Democratic Party not endorse the Democratic candidate, the head of the Democratic Party did not even remain silent, as he did for most of Coakley's run.

[dtexdem]

6. I signed the protest letter to the DNC.

Noted that the ignoring of the WI recall was just an example of the reasons I will not donate to the DNC.

[seafan]

7. Good! Ms. WS needs tremendous pressure on this one.

Some things just seem so clear to rational thinkers....


Wisconsin Dems need focused support here, but the DNC Chair thinks a 'fund-raiser' will do the trick--- unscheduled as of yet, and less than 3 weeks ahead of the recall. :eyes:

[seafan]

8. Link to petition to be delivered to DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Link to petition


As of 10:31 pm EDT, there are 110,116 signatures.

To be delivered to: Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Chairperson, Democratic National Committee


Democratic National Committee and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, invest now in the crucial fight to remove Scott Walker from office in Wisconsin—the people have worked hard and it's time to help.

From John Nichols at The Nation:


RNC Goes All In to Defend Wisconsin's Walker, but Where's the DNC?

May 16, 2012

.....

If the Wisconsin recall is defeated, not because Walker or his austerity agenda was appealing but because he and the RNC and the Koch brothers were more committed, then the Democratic party will take a hard hit. Not just in Wisconsin but nationally.

It won’t just be that the Democratic National Committee will be identified as a dysfunctional political operation when compared to the Republican National Committee. A failure to leap into an essential fight about the future of working families and their unions, as well as public education and public services, will raise questions about whether DC Democrats “get” what America is debating about.

And there is a bottom line: if the DC Democrats don’t “get” it, Wisconsin will only be the first of their frustrations in 2012.

If Scott Walker prevails in the face of the DNC's failure to assist Wisconsin Democrats, it could cost Ms. Wasserman Schultz her plans for her future career in politics.


So, Ms. Wasserman Schultz. In 2012, is helping Wisconsin Democrats "just too sensitive" for you?

[sabrina 1]

9. If she has any ambitions, you are correct, not helping in this

most critical race, will cost her in the future. I never get the feeling she is committed to beating Republicans as much as she should be. She puts more effort into attacking Liberal Democrats from what I have seen. Not impressed by her at all. She has no passion and caters way too much to the other side.

[No Elephants]

12. Will it cost DWS? Coakley did not cost Tim Kaine anything.

The November 2010 record-breaking debacle may have cost him something, but Coakley's defeat in January 2010 did not. Of course, he was not running for re-election at the time.

She puts more effort into attacking Liberal Democrats from what I have seen. Not impressed by her at all. She has no passion and caters way too much to the other side.

those remarks could accurately describe a lot of national Democrats these days.

(Always nice to see you here, btw.)

[seafan]

13. Oh, she has plenty of ambition for herself.

She's not as successful as she thinks she is at camouflaging it.



Here is another recent example of what local people are angry with her about:


U. S. Rep. David Rivera (R-Miami) is probably the most corrupt current member of Congress. He is under an ongoing federal investigation. He is, notably, a best buddy of Marco Rubio.[br />

Until very recently, there was a strong Democratic challenger for David Rivera's congressional seat.

Not any more.



Garcia quits congressional race over dispute with Democrats


State Rep. Luis Garcia quit his race for Congress and may leave the Democratic Party over what he said was a betrayal by top party officials.

By Patricia Mazzei
Miami Herald

April 3, 2012

In a sign of Democratic struggles in Florida’s biggest county, Republican U.S. Rep. David Rivera’s main opponent dropped out, leaving no clear replacement to challenge the ethics-hobbled incumbent.

State Rep. Luis Garcia, who had struggled to raise money and accused top Democratic leaders of double-crossing him, left the congressional race for a Miami-Dade County commission bid at the urging of a top financier.

Garcia said he’s planning to leave the Democratic Party following a dispute with Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair Steve Israel, who both recruited former Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas to jump into the race. Wasserman Schultz, a Weston congresswoman, disputed Garcia’s suggestion that she was rude or mean to him. She added that she didn’t betray him.

Meanwhile, Penelas hasn’t jumped at the chance to get back into politics. There are no other big names weighing a bid, putting Democratic leaders in a bind.

“They’re going to revive a couple of political cadavers that have lost other elections,” Garcia said. “They missed a big opportunity to take that seat back.”

.....

Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Steve Israel are actively pushing Alex Penelas, an egregiously flawed candidate, into this race. And it stinks.


We remember Alex Penelas.


August 31, 2003:

A lot of Democrats looked at the Wunderkind mayor of Miami-Dade, Alex Penelas, as a rising superstar. Ambitious, smart and Hispanic, People magazine's "sexiest politician" of 1999 looked like a young man destined for the national spotlight.
That changed after a little boy named Elian was plucked from the water off Fort Lauderdale and the national spotlight landed on Penelas and his hometown.

.....

What he did express in March 2000 was a public and angry vow that Miami-Dade authorities would do nothing to help federal authorities return six-year-old Elian Gonzalez to his father in Cuba. He lambasted federal authorities for provoking Cuban-Americans. He promised to hold Attorney General Janet Reno and President Clinton responsible for "civil unrest and violence" that might result.

Time magazine said Penelas "all but tossed a match into the city's powderkeg." Others likened him to a Southern leader of another era, defying federal desegregation orders.

.....

Then there's his Al Gore problem. When the presidential election started heating up in Florida, Penelas, an early and vocal Al Gore supporter, disappeared from Gore's side during South Florida campaign trips (though the vice president had sought to distance himself from President Clinton's Elian position).

Stunning many Democrats, Penelas remained mute when Miami-Dade's canvassing board halted its manual ballot recount during the bitterly contested presidential recount.

.....

December 14, 2000:

Gore might have picked up a few votes with the help of Alex Penelas, the popular mayor of Miami-Dade and the most prominent Hispanic Democrat in Florida. But the timing was bad. Penelas was busy with his re-election campaign. Sensing strong undercurrents in the Cuban community from the Elian Gonzalez episode, he literally ran from the Democratic ticket. In October, he missed an important Gore event in Miami, choosing instead to go on a 12-day trade mission to Spain. ----Link

When Democratic Party leadership torpedoes the campaigns of good challengers and, instead, pushes hand-picked (nevermind unsuitable) candidates into critical races such as this one to unseat David Rivera, it accomplishes nothing but defeat for Democrats and perpetuation of Republican corruption.


But, as we've seen, Ms. Wasserman Schultz has lots of Republican friends in South Florida that she can't bear to offend.


What is particularly offensive is how the congresswoman paints herself as liberal, and a champion of the people. Which set of people?


How, exactly, is she helping the cause of rooting out political corruption with actions like this?



Good luck, Wisconsin. Don't expect any substantive help from the current DNC Chair.

[No Elephants]

14. I thought I was beyond being shocked, but...Wow.

And just think: she's now a super delegate for life.

[sabrina 1]

15. Excellent post, thank you. It confirms my memory of her

way too close relationship with some pretty rotten Republicans. I sometimes wonder which side she is on. Is they trying to lose seats for Democrats or what? Or is she just incompetent.

And while she never has a problem being 'rude' to other Democrats, apparently she thinks being 'rude' to Republicans is just not right.

She also once mocked Dean who she is in no position to criticize seeing as how under his direction, despite Rahm's false claims to the contrary, Democrats finally got a majority. She might want to call Dean and ask him for some advice, but then she would have to want Democrats to win.

I agree regarding referring to her as a Liberal. I would not call her a Liberal by any standard.

Thank you for the links, they confirm everything I remember about her. If she does nothing to help Wisconsin Democrats all I can say is, she does not belong in that position.

[No Elephants]

10. Deja vu all over again. The RNC and the Kochs went all out for Brown and

Coakley was, for most practical purposes, left twisting in the wind.

Yes, she was not a good candidate, but wouldn't that have been all the more reason to have supported her in the general(as opposed to the primary)?

That was not only a very important election, but it was the ONLY election going on at that time.

Brown got tons of money and campaign visits from every Republican who had run for the Presidential nomination in 2008, as well as other nationally prominent Republicans.

I don't know if Wisconsin is the only election going on in June, but it is as important to the 99% (or should be, unless they are brain dead) as any that will occur in November.

God, I hate it when stuff like this happens, especially on what is supposed to be the left.

[No Elephants]

11. self delete

[Divine Discontent]

16. Thank you, Cher! WOOT WOOT!

Love seeing her be active in rights causes, because she holds no prisoners, and pulls no punches!

[seafan]

18. Looks like Debbie didn't get the message. On purpose.

DNC Chair: ‘There Aren’t Going To Be Any Repercussions’ If Walker Wins In Wisconsin

May 25, 2012
TalkingPointsMemo

Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz has said Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s “attacks on workers’ and women’s rights are the definition of a fireable offense” and that recalling him would “ a powerful message to the far-right extremists.” But on Friday she downplayed expectations for her party if Walker stays in office. In an interview Friday, Wasserman Schultz said “there aren’t going to be any repercussions,” nationally if Wisconsin voters decide to stick with Walker.

.....

Wasserman Schultz made an effort to keep the national presidential race separate from the Wisconsin race, which is set to be decided in under two weeks. And there’s a reason for that — Walker has an enormous cash advantage, and has led Democratic challenger Tom Barrett in polls for more than a month, even in surveys commissioned by Democrats.

“It’s an election that’s based in Wisconsin. It’s an election that I think is important nationally because Scott Walker is an example of how extreme the tea party has been when it comes to the policies that they have pushed the Republicans to adopt,” Wasserman Schultz said. “But I think it’ll be, at the end of the day, a Wisconsin-based election, and like I said, across the rest of the country and including in Wisconsin, President Obama is ahead.”

.....

Wisconsin recall: DNC’s Debbie Wasserman Schultz sees no national impact if Democrats lose , May 25, 2012



CSPAN video of the interview, aired May 27, 2012



Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Fla.). (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
(via WP)


Better start looking for your next gig, Ms. Wasserman Schultz.

We neither want nor need a leader of the DNC who refuses to fight a battle that has nationwide ramifications.

[No Elephants]

20. Walker is outspending Barrett by multiples and Walker is several points ahead.

One of the TV pundits characterized the Democratic Party's "support" of Barrett and other Wisconsin Democrats running in the recall election as "too little, too late," and many have echoed that.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2484575

[seafan]

21. So, Debbie "No Repercussions" Wasserman Schultz.....

What was that, .... a 'dry run', you said?


Say goodbye to your political ambitions.