It's Time to Rid the DNC of DINOs, Starting with the Chair
By Thom Hartmann A...
According to one Michigan mayor, members of the DNC asked security to eject audience members who vocally supported Bernie Sanders during Sunday's debate in Flint Michigan.
Seriously.
Jim Fouts, a three-term independent mayor of Warren, Michigan, attended Sunday's Democratic debate, just like he had attended the Republican debate on Thursday.
Fouts told Buzzfeed News that the GOP audience was loud when he attended that debate on Thursday, and even though he wasn't expecting the democratic debate to be quite as rowdy as the Republicans, he expected to be able to express himself.
But after Sunday's debate he wrote on Facebook that "The Democratic debate is totally controlled by Hillarys [sic] good friend DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz. No commentary is allowed by the audience. Particularly if you are cheering Bernie Sanders. Persons who do not adhere to Hillarys [sic] rules are threatened with expulsion.".
He told BuzzFeed News that he was seated behind Wasserman Shultz and he was praising Bernie's performance and talking about how this debate proved that more debates were a good idea for the Democrats.
Then, during an early commercial break, Fouts and his assistant were taken out of their seats and the sergeant at arms told him that "The people that run this want you ejected, they don't want you here.".
Fouts was allowed to watch the rest of the debate from his seat, but he had to be careful about even clapping too loud or at the wrong time, for fear of getting ejected.
On Monday, Fouts joined the growing chorus of voices calling for Wasserman Schultz to step down as the Chair of the Democratic National Committee.
But really, she should have resigned months ago, and she probably shouldn't have ever held the position in the first place.
Not just because she's repeatedly and blatantly attempted to tip the scales in Hillary Clinton's favor during the Democratic primary.
But also because based on her words and her votes, she is exactly the type of so-called "centrist" corporate Democrat that the party needs to rid its ranks of.
To start, she's right now co-sponsoring a bill that would gut the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's payday loan and car loan regulations, basically protecting loan sharks from regulations at the expense of poor Americans.
Never mind the fact that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is one of Barack Obama's and Elizabeth Warren's major progressive achievements to reign in financial abuses.
She also just lifted the ban that President Obama himself put in place that bans lobbyists from donating to the Democratic National Committee, and her lifting that ban officially ended one of the few remaining rules that stem the tide of corporate money into the Democratic party.
In the most recent omnibus spending bill, she voted for one provision that prevents the Securities and Exchange Commission from writing rules that would require corporations to disclose political spending to shareholders.
In the same bill she voted for another provision that would make it impossible for the IRS to create rules to curb special interest donors from forming "social welfare organizations" to hide political spending.
She was one of the 28 democrats who voted for fast-tracking the TPP, and she received $300,000 from interest groups backing the trade deal, presumably for that vote, according to the American Prospect.
Just after the Democratic party lost the House and Senate catastrophically back in 2014, Wasserman Schultz voted to eliminate that part of Dodd-Frank that had prevented big banks from using deposits to speculate in financial derivatives.
Not to mention the fact that even though 58% of people from both parties in Florida support legalizing medical marijuana, Debbie Wasserman Schultz still opposes legalizing medical marijuana.
She says it's because marijuana is a gateway drug, but it might have more to do with the tens of thousands of dollars she's gotten from the alcohol industry since she's been in Congress.
That's just a glimpse at Wasserman Schultz' voting record, and it shows a pattern of voting for pro-corporate legislation and for legislation that opens our political system to even more political spending and corruption.
On defense and national security, she's supported Republican ideas like extraditing NSA Whistleblower Edward Snowden back to the United States to be arrested and prosecuted because he "jeopardized millions of Americans", and she voted to extend the Patriot Act.
But even if she did support truly progressive and Democratic causes, she's not even particularly good at rallying the party that she's supposed to be leading.
She even recently alienated part of the Democratic base when she told the New York Times that young women aren't supporting Hillary Clinton because there's "a complacency among the generation of young women whose entire lives have been lived after Roe v. Wade was decided.".
Back in 2014, before the Republicans took control of both chambers of Congress, Debbie Wasserman Schultz successfully depressed the Democratic base by telling Politico, "I'm not going to confidently predict that Democrats will take the House back.".
With that kind of leadership, Democrats didn't just NOT win the House, they also lost the Senate.
Considering her positions though, she's probably more comfortable with a Republican controlled Congress than a truly progressive Democratic party.
Debbie Wasserman Schultz isn't the only Democrat In Name Only in the Democratic leadership.
But as the DNC Chair, she is the highest ranking DINO in the party.
Even if Bernie Sanders doesn't get the nomination, progressive Democrats need to stand up and challenge the corporate DINOs who currently run the party, like law professor and real progressive Tim Canova is doing with his primary challenge in Debbie Wasserman Schultz' district.
It's time to restore the democratic wing of the Democratic Party, and we should start with the Chair.
Comments
#2
Number one DINO that needs to be ditched is Hillary Clinton. #NotProgressive.
How? #Leverage. Take the Bernie or bust pledge today.
#3
Tom... you've been goosed!
Money and greed rules... don't you know that greed is good?
It's all in the movies buddy!
#4
The Democrats need to take a breath and regroup.It would appear, based on the Republican election debacle, that the Presidency is the Democrat party's election to lose.
That said, Party hardliners, disgruntled lefts or rights or centers need to see the cautionary tale of the Republicans and maybe do their infighting during the election off years.
Bernie Sanders is NOT electable. I am an Independent who often votes Democrat for the President (but not always) Sanders is an unapologetic socialist who essentially has NO IDEA of the requirements of successful socialist systems (like caps on socialist programs and socialist employees who work within socialist parameters)
Socialism with capitalist drive is a recipe for bankruptcy. Further, Bernie promises things that as a President he CANNOT deliver. He cannot promise "free education for all" when the budget cannot support that and when as Presidents, the POTUS has NO SAY in grants or other programs. That is policy and laws with most powered dispensed state by state.
The Constitution will not allow the federal government to supercede state mandates or laws without good reason. It won't be on the whim of a President.
Socialism as well as communism has some great ideas in theory but fall apart in practice because they fail to factor in 2 things:
1. Hman GREED and power mongering
2. Myopia.
Bernie demonstrated his myopia in his failure to vote for the wall street bailout in order to also support the auto industry bill--that is what it is like on the HIll, quid pro quo, agendas within agendas. By saying nay to the one, he willingly hurt the other--but he made his point.
If he had his way, it would not only have been made on the backs of the workers in Michigan, but also in 2016, democrats could have kissed Michigan good bye.
That is not smart. I have listened to Bernie and he is principled and smart and so far left he is swerving in an odd way, to the right--the extreme of Leftism. The country is not there yet.
Keep in mind, that many of us DO have jobs and DO pay taxes and are already paying much more while a large part of the country pays nothing but also think nothing of having their hands in other people's pockets. That larger portion are not Democrats, they are tha Gray area of Independents who if they chose to swing right could destroy the Democratic juggernaut and who if threatened any more financially might do just that.
The PROBLEM with both the left and the right is a type of dogmatic political myopia, that makes you really believe the rest of the country feels like you do and are on your side.
We are not on your side, we simply side with you on occassion by default.
Democrats comprise about 34% of the electorate and Republicans the same--you can't count on minority votes like you used to (though you can this cycle) but Indies are a different matter. We have no loyalty and don't or rarely vote single issue or listen to party propaganda.
For this reason, when you proffer someone with ivory tower, pie in the sky rhetoric like Sanders (who is not all that likeable when his zeal is upon him) your party becomes as unpalatable as the GOP.
Tread carefully, any coalition is fragile and it takes very little to send up either back into the GOP camp (if only to stop the socialistic madness) or makes us stay home.
FYI--my medical insurance went from 4300.00 a year for a family of 3 to 10,700.00 for the very same insurance but with a higher deductible--now, since the consumer is mandated and FORCED to be insured, we must pay an almost 7,000.00 deductible before our insurance will even pay a dime and then the split is 80/20.Of course they do bargain down bills.
Recently my baby girl had a very bad sore throat on thanksgiving and my husband opted for the emergency room because all immediate cares were booked. The cost for 3 drs to see her (they looked at her chart and moved on) and for the examination was over 1100.00 and our insurance paid 0 of that but they DID let us know we only have around 5700.00 dollars more to meet our deductible (but that year ended).
THAT is what Obama care has done for us--so you have to forgive us if we are hestitant for any more of the Socialistic harebrained scheme. My kids are all grown and only one left in college. The last thing we need on the cusp of retirement are more Democrats who look at our bank account and imagine for whatever is in their we "owe" it to the people who failed to go to college or get /maintain jobs or that we have to fulfill the harebrained "free college for everyone" promises of a delusional socialist.
I'm sorry, Principled or not, if Bernie is the candidate a lot of us will desert your party, Trump or not--because if we have to be squeezed until it hurts at least we can have the solace of knowing Trump is sticking it to everyone and not just to the people the left thinks can afford to be milked.
#5
Try to vote for those who are NOT fascist
Not much choice really then!
#6
Queenbee: You sound like a Republican, and anything but a Progressive. Who paid you to write this, Shillary? Bernie is only unelectable if people listen to Clinton mercenaries like you. This campaign has been rigged from the start. Why should we support someone who is taking money from establishment forces that we, the people, are trying to fight?
You use the socialist word just like your alleged Republicans opponents and accuse Bernie supporters of doing exactly what you are doing now, trying to throw dirt on Bernie. Well, there's plenty more dirt to dig up about Hillary. What about her secret dealings as Secretary of State that prevented oversight of her activities, which probably involved raising funds for the Clinton Foundation from foreign investors.
What about the murder of Vince Foster and Whitewater, the drug dealing and money laundering in Arkansas, the deaths of boys who saw too much of the CIA drug running in Mena? The Clintons are two of the most corrupt politicians in recent American history and I for one, a lifelong liberal Democrat, will not vote for her.
It's time to change the direction of our country and that won't happen if we elect another Clinton. No Mas, no mas, no mas! It's time eviscerate the rotten stink that is polluting the DNC and prevent the election of a dishonest, vain woman who only cares about becoming the first woman President of the United States. It would be one step forward and three steps back.
#7
To Queenbeethat'sme. Human greed, power mongering and myopia are already rampant in our society. I think the rise of Trump and Bernie comes from the citizens who are angry and disenfranchised. I, personally, do not want to settle for what I want..ivory tower and pie in the sky. Whatever gains can be made with Bernie will be an improvement and universal healthcare would not only be awesome, but in your case, it sounds like it would be more than welcomed. Can we do it? Yes....if we vote for him and vote progressive Democrats into Congress. For me, Bernie's got nothing to lose by trying to improve things. Hillary, by the way, does not want to change Obamacare, only expand it. I'm dreaming big, and I have nothing to lose. Sucks about your healthcare, BTW, but, despite being disappointed in much of what has happened under Obama...what he did get done for healthcare was the best he could do with the Congress he had. I lived in a Democratic Socialist country for 6 years and it was good. The whole quality of life was better there.
#8
#8 - You call it as it is to a large extent, particularly the steps!
Sad thing is the people who tried to change things got assasinated
That is the big issue for USA to address
Who REALLY runs the outfit?
#9
Schultz not only needs to step down, she needs to switch parties. If the info in tonights blog ever reached the voters in Florida it appears Schultz would have a much better chance getting elected running as a member of the Teapublic Party. In other words if Canova ever reaches the voters with the facts presented in tonights blog, Schultz will be totally crushed running as a Democratic candidate in the primary.
It's very frustrating to know that our democracy is based on massive amounts of deliberate and calculated misinformation. I'm quite sure the enlightenment thinkers never intended that purposeful deception to the extent that a huge segment of the population votes against it's own best interest could ever possibly lead to good government.
#10
What's the big deal with Ameican people surrounding the word socailism?
I always thought that Americans helped each other
Western movies were all about that concept
#11
Of Course Wasserman-Schultz has orchestrated the whole debate issue to favor her candidate. She has done an injustice to the Democratic party with her prejudice against all but Hillary. She wanted to make sure no ones message got out but her candidate. But tell me how you dump her. I cannot find any method for feedback or comments on the DNC website, but there is a place where they allow me to send my money. Very dissappointed in what I thought was a party for all the people, not just those that fall in line. Nobody gives a hoot about what i have to say, they just want my dinero. Go Bernie, dump Debbie.
#12
Lok at her eyes if you'd like to understand Schultz.
She is barking mad!
#13
I wrote to the DNC last week and told them that the reason I've dropped my membership was that too many Democrats vote for things like the TPP and the Dark Act. I'm afraid Hillary would stand by and let these things happen. She also wouldl get us involved in the war in Syria, and she probably wouldn't do anything to stop climate change. It's pitiful what the Democratic Party has come to.
I'd have to really hold my nose (very hard) in order to vote for Hillary. If she gets the nomination and she's leading comfortably in November, I'll vote my conscience, which is to vote for Jill Stein. Hillary would have to pledge long and loud that she'd back efforts against free-trade agreements, threats to food safety, regime change in Syria, and ever-iworsening climate change before I'd feel good voting for her. As far as I'm concerned, she's the DINO we need to get rid of first
#14
The Democratic party has become the Republican moderates. The people who push for progressive policies have been marginalized while media supports the screeching from the hard Right that we are mad loonies. Our country has been taken over by the asylum and it's going to take a monumental effort to get the crazy out of our government. But we have it to do, so whatever it takes. I've been a Democrat for 40 years. If Bernie is not our chosen representative I'll write him in for the general and it will be the first time I will have ever not voted Democrat. I will not vote for a DINO. Green party here I come.
#15
I think some reality needs to be addressed .... Economics is based on everyone being greedy. Everyone wants more of something, and want to give something of lessor value to themselves, so they can get something they value more. The appeal of Socialism to some people is they think they will get more without having to work as hard. This in time results in a failed economy. ...... In the USA in the 1800's there were many socialistic communities, in time they all failed. In Eastern Europe there were socialistic nations, and in time they all failed. Socialism appeals to people's greed.
#16
Please note, that the Democrats are the party of BIG Business, BIG Labor, BIG Banks, and BIG Government, they all to well when the Democrats are in office, like during the Obama years, and Johnson, and FDR ..... At the expense of the middle class and the poor. The poor do best during Republican years. They did OK with Truman and Kennedy too.
#17
Please note, that the Democrats are the party of BIG Business, BIG Labor, BIG Banks, and BIG Government, they all to well when the Democrats are in office, like during the Obama years, and Johnson, and FDR ..... At the expense of the middle class and the poor. The poor do best during Republican years. They did OK with Truman and Kennedy too.
#18
Nonesense!
Read some
#19
You guys are almost as bad as your counterparts on the right. The only difference is I agree with most of what you want to see done. As a practical matter though, Bernie's got about as much chance of getting elected as I do. Presidents aren't elected by ideologues on either side. Rush Limbaugh thinks that Romney lost because he didn't run far enough to the right. You dopes seem to think Clinton can't win unless she moves to the left. So you have two choices. Stop trying to pull the ONLY party that's ever going to have ANY of your interests at heart to the unelectable left, and get behind the candidate who CAN win, or stick by your ideals and drive the party into the ditch on the left side of the road.
Cruz and Rubio are trying to drive the GOP into the right-hand ditch and we should let them go ahead. Anyone who thinks Trump can't win should just keep pushing for Bernie. There's a whole big slice of America that won't vote for anyone calling himself a socialist. It works in Vermont but not in Ohio, not in Texas, probably not in the Carolinas, and certainly not in Florida.
Republicans may have stolen the 2000 election, but Dubya carried Florida, Texas, both Carolinas, and Ohio in 2004. And won the popular vote by 3 million. Is anyone ready to make the argument that Kerry would have won if he'd run more to the left. Add to that the probability of many new voters coming out because Trump attracts a lot of bigots who don't vote because they feel nobody speaks for them. Look at the voter turnout in Republican primaries. They're doubling the Democratic turnout in some BLUE states.
And there's the unthinkable. Somehow Cruz or Rubio manage to stay alive all the way to the convention. And say the one with the most delegates, probably Cruz, offers the veep spot to the other in exchange for his delegates. Do you think for one second Rubio passes on that? He's barely past forty. Plenty of time to run in 2024. Think of the damage to the Supreme Court. Think how they will turn back the clock on all the progress that's been made over the past 50 years.
So you can say goodbye to gay marriage in any state that outlaws it. Get ready to return to 1970 on abortion rights. Get ready for a repeal of the Voting Rights Act and a whole host of Republican initiatives with no means of redress. Get ready for a court with two or three Scalias.
Scared yet? Republicans already control the majority of the statehouses and, I'm not sure but I think, most state legislatures. Think of all those Republicans run amok, passing blue laws, issuing warrants for surveillance on mosques, and on and on. This will become truly a Christian nation. They keep talking about Judeo-Christian, but watch how fast the "Judeo" part of that goes away. Maybe I'm exaggerating, but imagine even some of that happening.
I worked for George McGovern's campaign in '72 because I was as afraid of Richard Nixon as I am of the Republicans running now, so I appreciate fully how you all feel about these issues, Our Hillary was a guy named Scoop Jackson, an establisment guy who was as much as what we didn't want the party to be as McGovern was exactly what we wanted. We succeeded in changing the convention rules to make sure he got the nomination. He was painted a socialist by CREEP (what an apt acronym) and he didn't even identify himself in that way. And, needless to say, he, and we, suffered the 2nd worst electoral defeat in history.
So before you get your panties in a bunch about campaign financing and Debbie's positions on it, remember who allowed the super pacs in the first place. The Supreme Court with a Republican-appointed majority did that and imagine the damage they can do that will last for the REST OF YOUR LIFE. Also remember that Clinton isn't running so much against Sanders as she is against Trump Cruz and Rubio.
For all you high-minded souls who will "go green" & vote for Stein, save some gas & stay the f___ home. That way I won't have to explain to my grandchildren how you idealistic morons turned the country over to the Republicans.
#20
Dubya only won Florida because of the stupid voting system. A clear majority voted either Nader or Gore. STV voting would have given it to Gore. Why aren't people pushing for electoral Reform in the US. 2 Party systems will always be rigged for the benefit of corporates.
#21
To Queenbeethat's me: You say that you are having all of these medical problems because of Obamacare and because you don't need any more Democrats.
The problem here is, Obama isn't a Democrat. Not any more than Hillary Clinton. They are both Neo Cons. Both are DLC-ers. Both are New World Order fascists. These people are NOT true Democrats. These are some of the people, like Debbie Wasserman Schultz who is currently holding the DNC hostage, who have gotten into the Democratic Party for the purpose of undermining it and pulling this country farther and farther to the Right.
The adage is: Follow the money, and when it comes to deciding whether a person stands for working people or for the elite rich, it is all about the money. People like Sanders (and other Progressives) believe that corporations should support working people's lives by providing jobs, goods, taxes and services, whereas elitists like Clinton, Obama and Wasserman Schultz believe that We the People are here to serve the best interests of the rich in making them richer no matter what prices we have to pay in order to make the rich richer.
Obamacare requires, by law, that We the People must sluice all kinds of money to the medical INSURANCE industry. Obamacare is about health INSURANCE; NOT health CARE.
What too many people are completely failing to see is that politicians like Obama, Clinton, Chuck Schumer, Debbie Wasserman Schultz and the like are NOT Democrats; they are shills for the corporate elite, and we need to get them out of the DNC and out of key positions in the Democratic Party.
So, don't write off all Democrats just because you don't understand this. There are all kinds of different people in the Democratic Party at this time and in order to understand who is what, you need to dig deep into the backgrounds of each person to see their voting records; who they are supporting, what they are supporting, who and what they have accepted campaign monies from, who they are endorsing and who or what has benefitted from their political career.
Obama recently supported a Democratic challenger in an upcoming state election; something he never does. This makes him look very Democratic. But also, he recently signed the TPP (Trans Pacific Partnership) which will GUT this country for the best interests of workers in favor of foreign countries, corporate interests and the billionaires of the world . Obama is no better than Bill Clinton who signed this country away under NAFTA, CAFTA and GATT.
You need to do you homework, Queenie. You just haven't got it right yet and you're throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
#22
To: IM Jussayin:
Stop trying to pull the Democratic Party to the Left?
I don't agree with you at all in this sentiment, or your belief that Sanders is unelectable. I think you're in for the shock of your life when Sanders becomes the next president. He is popular with the Black voter block, the Hispanic voter block, the Jewish voter block, and the young adult voter block. And I think you're going to see him slam Clinton when he wins the CA delegates.
The Democratic Party is SUPPOSED TO BE the Left. We aren't suppose to have two parties that are only Right and Far Right. Under your scsnario, there are no Leftist parties.
I don't think you understand the American public. I believe the core of this country is primarily Progressive, and I think we shall see who is right in about nine months.
#23
Are there new rules about sharing your article on FB? The post to FB feature doesn't seem to exist with this article.
#24
You ARE NOT an independent, you ARE a republican mole. Go back to your own party your thin disguise doesn't work hear. You'd be better off on o'reilley's or limbaughs page where the rest of you idiots reside!!!!
#25
I thought there was a petition for one thing to get rid of DWS. Is not there anything to stop her? Her and HRC two of a kind to get out of the party that has gone corrupt.
#26
IM Jussayin, the only thing preventing Bernie's election is Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
https://posts.google.com/share/gbP5-ep5/Z7m5Ej
#27
Queenbethatsme,
https://posts.google.com/share/gbP5-ep5/Z7m5Ej
Please desert the party.
You completely mischaracterize socialism and everything else.
The taxes you pay, presuming ANYTHING you say about yourself is true, is part of the compensation you owe working people for working so hard to make you rich. If they don't pay any taxes It's because after working their lives out for nickels they don't have money to pay any taxes without having to go without basic necessities. Now, why the rich don't pay taxes is another story.
I find it hard to believe much of what you say about your experience with Obamacare, I'll just leave it alone.
Free higher education for all is not only possible but not that difficult to achieve - if we want it and insist on it. Nonsense your saying, "We can't afford it". We even had it in the United States before the Reagan kool aid became widely imbibed. Bernie doesn't "promise" it. He declares it a goal and, as always, says we all have to want it and demand it to get it.
Your definition of socialism is founded on ignorance. Capitalism creates greed. There wasn't even any private property until the domestication of plants and animals. No no keshagesh.
https://youtu.be/XKmAb1gNN74
You define human nature in a very facile way, mainly by presuming everyone is like you. That's myopic.
Now go get your 20 bucks from Debbie.
#28
Queenbe, you think Bernie was myopic for not voting for the Wall street bail out?
Socialism works and is proven, Queen, nothing Bernie is saying is unrealistic. That you don't know shows how much you have to learn.
#29
Ahhh Queenie! You believed Hillary!
Aha! Joke's on you! So long, aha!
Thom's Blog Is On the Move
By webmaster
Hello All
Thom's blog in this space and moving to a new home.
Please follow us across to hartmannreport.com - this will be the only place going forward to read Thom's blog posts and articles.
Images of Thom
With His Holiness The Dalai Lama, at His home in Dharamsala, India (Synthesis Dialogues - made into a movie narrated by Harrison Ford)
From The Thom Hartmann Reader:
"Thom is a national treasure. Read him, embrace him, learn from him, and follow him as we all work for social change."
From Cracking the Code:
"Thom Hartmann ought to be bronzed. His new book sets off from the same high plane as the last and offers explicit tools and how-to advice that will allow you to see, hear, and feel propaganda when it's directed at you and use the same techniques to refute it. His book would make a deaf-mute a better communicator. I want him on my reading table every day, and if you try one of his books, so will you."
From The Thom Hartmann Reader:
"Right through the worst of the Bush years and into the present, Thom Hartmann has been one of the very few voices constantly willing to tell the truth. Rank him up there with Jon Stewart, Bill Moyers, and Paul Krugman for having the sheer persistent courage of his convictions."
Why can't I share this important information on FaceBook?