Did you guys know Obama called delegates Saturday to rally votes for Perez?

[jodymarie aimee]

Just read this by Gauis Publius


Obama called DNC members himself [on behalf of Tom Perez], and had aides including confidante Valerie Jarrett, former political director David Simas and his White House director of political engagement Paulette Aniskoff working members by phone through the votes on Saturday afternoon.—Politico

[Adrahil]

1. Good for him!!! NT

[andyrowe]

128. Bad for the party. n/t

[andyrowe]

129. It's pretty astounding how divided we still are.

This divide just seems to get worse and worse. As a progressive, it's pretty demoralizing.

[Sunlei]

134. Republicans work hard to divide Ds because the "divide and conquer" strat works/worked very well

divide and conquer (or rule)
phrase of divide
1. the policy of maintaining control over one's subordinates or subjects by encouraging dissent between them.

[Adrahil]

131. Maybe your opinion. Not mine. NT

[redstatebluegirl]

2. Good for him if he did. I know some people don't believe it but there is room

for all opinions in our party, not just the far left.

[ThirdEye]

17. no just the far left?

Given that it's the centrists and corporatists who primarily control the party, I don't think it's hyperbole to say your comment sounds like "there is room for all opinions in our country, not just from minorities" or, "there is room for all opinions in our country, not just from the poor."

Sure you didn't mean it that way, but wow that's how it comes across to me.

[truebluegreen]

25. +1

[nycbos]

31. Perez has spent his life fighting for progressive causes.

To label him a centrists or corporatist is not only counterproductive it is completely detached from reality.

[Hortensis]

49. I'm not a corporatist, very far from it, so of course

I know that viewpoint is, at best, ignorant to the point of silliness. There are certainly less generous ways to describe it.

I have 0 tolerance for those who STILL refuse to admit the enormous differences between our still-great party and the completely corrupted, corporate- and bigotry-driven Republicans.

Political scientist Alan Wolfe on Republicans and Democrats in congress, quoted here by Goldwater Republican and Nixon White House attorney, conservative John Dean:

Liberals, while enjoying the perquisites of office, also want to be in a position to use government to solve problems.

But Republicans have different reasons for wanting power. ... if government cannot be made to disappear, at least government can be prevented from doing any good. The other is to build a political machine in which business and the Republican Party can exchange mutual favors. ... If yesterday's conservative was a "liberal mugged by reality" (a common right-wing joke), today's is a free-marketer fattened by pork.

[Me.]

91. !

[ThirdEye]

55. Oh don't get me wrong

I don't mind Perez was elected. In fact, the final outcome seems pretty ideal to me.

[nycbos]

122. Good to hear.

Some people have been saying that.

They had to have done a deal before hand. Ellison was going to be vice chair if Perez won. And visa versa if Ellison won.

[Hekate]

88. Really? Where did that "obligatory bashing" take place?

You think this is "DLC Underground"? My my my. Where is there a site more to your liking after all these years?

[pnwmom]

138. President Obama was neither a centrist nor a corporatist. n/t

[ThirdEye]

148. Agreed. (EOM)

[Eliot Rosewater]

78. They arent the far left, I know that because I am and they are nothing like me.

They are for lack of a better name, 21st century progressives, I guess.

Though there seems little progressive about them when they are willing to behave in such a manner that allows for fascists to take over the country.

[Hekate]

94. Saying "they are willing (to allow) fascists to take ove the country" is incredibly vile, Eliot R

Is there another party or site that would be more to your liking and fulfill your needs better? Do share.

[Eliot Rosewater]

95. No thanks, I belong here along with people who would NEVER vote 3rd party given the

reality of what that means.

Who would keep their problems with Hillary to them-self knowing the more negative shit they say about her the better chance a fascist becomes president.

[mcar]

106. Who, precisely, is willing to "let fascists take over the country?"

[Eliot Rosewater]

107. People who dont vote or vote 3rd party when it is clear that doing either

can result in the current fascist winning an election.

Now not all progressives did that, some not only voted for her but did not bash her even though they might have under their breath.

But many did not vote for her and if they did they would non stop bash her.

Some of these SAME people are threatening to do it again because of the DNC chair election.

[mcar]

109. Thanks for clarifying

[Eliot Rosewater]

112. Cool, I may have gotten a bit bitchy but I honestly believe if we have

any chance of surviving this it can only be if NO 3rd party voting occurs from here on in from anyone anywhere near the left.

I am the one who has said we need a primetime tv show called "what a 2 party system is" so we can educate voters why voting 3rd party always, ALWAYS helps the other side

And now that the other side are vicious, ugly, racist fascists, it is more important than ever before!

[mcar]

113. I love that idea

Time to resurrect Schoolhouse Rock, perhaps?

[Hortensis]

3. Another thread was hoping Obama would realize

he still had a job to do. Lol. He's very busy organizing fronts to fight Republican laissez-faire fascism (not that he calls it that).

For a long time now, Democratic presidents, not even those fast becoming pathetically old and worthless like Obama, don't just retire to the golf course. They all have important jobs begging their attention, and are excited to take their choices on. (Not so Republican presidents.)


Jimmy Carter, 92, still working at completely eradicating guinea worm disease from the world.

"In 2016, only three countries — Chad, Ethiopia, and South Sudan, reported a total of 25 human cases of Guinea worm disease. ... When The Carter Center joined the fight against Guinea worm disease, there were about 3.5 million cases in 21 countries,...”

[Angry Dragon]

13. repub presidents don't even work in office

[Hortensis]

18. Certainly not on great achievements, although

they do seem to consider dismantling the systems that provide a stable, free nation for 300 million Americans to live their lives in some sort of achievement.

[Angry Dragon]

19. can't have the 300 million interfere with the 1 million who do all the work

and deserve all the money

[Hortensis]

34. We don't deserve money. Read the Ayn Rand

poison Paul Ryan was recommending right up to running for VP, when he was told to denounce it, and it becomes clear we don't deserve to live.

[Angry Dragon]

37. But Rand took SS money in her old age ............ funny how that works

[Hortensis]

41. At least she paid in, apparently. The Kochs are dippers,

and nobody can pretend they need corporate welfare.

[Angry Dragon]

43. The Kocks are still considered a small business

[Hortensis]

51. Only some of the tax-dodge and benefit-dipping

entities they set up are. But, yes, they pride themselves on cheating and breaking the law, even when people die as a result.

[bettyellen]

4. Awesome! I'm glad he is staying involved!!

[democratisphere]

5. Obama is brilliant for doing so!

[Athought]

50. Yeah President O Bama!

not sure what all of the in fighting regarding sanders, others , etc. is because I am a newly committed democrat in response to our present presidents policies on immigrants, alienating our friendly countries, and in general running our country like a CEO rather than someone who has pledged to uphold the constitution for all people.

Please know that there will be many newbies like me that simply love O Bama and his wife and from my perspective I will support whomever he does.

This is because he never had a problem with truth and weighing both sides of a situation.

Mainly because he was a constitutional lawyer I voted for him twice.

Just thought you might like to hear from a fairly illiterate newbies' perspective.

I looked up Perez and really thought he rocked and is a man of courage and conviction who will speak up. His family looked nice and real also.

[democratisphere]

61. Obama kept US on course with unmatched integrity and sense of fairness.

Perez I hope will do the same. Dems need to be careful not to steer alt-left as the appeal to the masses will be diminished. Welcome aboard!!!!

[Kahuna7]

6. I'm not surprised. Good for him. nt

[SidDithers]

7. Excellent...nt

Sid

[Demsrule86]

8. And your point...we all know Obama supported Perez.

He was in the cabinet. Good for him by the way. Perez will make an excellent Chair.

[AgadorSparticus]

135. +1000!!!!

[DefenseLawyer]

9. And the winning just never stops.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Right?

[brooklynite]

12. How many Bernicrats won in November?

[DefenseLawyer]

16. I'll defer to you and all your winning.

You must get tired of winning all the time though.

[truebluegreen]

27. ...

[brooklynite]

36. I'd be happy to consider an alternative strategy...

...if you can show evidence that it'll work.

[JudyM]

47. The majority of them, actually.

https://ourrevolution.com/election-2016/

[Cha]

67. Good for them.. I was sorry to hear Russ Feingold and Zephyr Teachout

didn't win.

That's then .. this is now. We have the best DNC Chair, Tom Ellison, and his Deputy, Keith Ellison, to move forward,

They are about Unity.. Inclusive leaders, who were elected because they are trusted to know what they're doing.

This is the kind of leader who we'll be going forward with.. so much respect..

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[suffragette]

81. Cha, I just want to say that I really like your post and agree completely.

[Cha]

89. Mahalo, suffragette!

[suffragette]

99. Inclusion and unity - the positive way forward!

[Cha]

103. That's the only way we're going to WIN!

No wallowing in the past!

Link to tweet

Bainsbane http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=8724287

[JudyM]

132. That's a very welcome sentiment, Cha.

[Demsrule86]

14. We had all three branches of government in and many state houses 09

Then disaster...Some did not come out in 10...castigating Obama for not doing the impossible: getting single payer. This was singularly foolish as it was just before the census...which gave the GOP the states and allowed the gerrymander to be enacted...next we limped along...and I saw Obama trashed right on this website...nothing was accomplished. In fact Bernie wanted to run in 10 ...thank God he was stopped...we stopped the 50 state strategy and starved the states and candidates in general...then came 16 where we had a bitter divisive primary... some so called progressives did not vote for Hillary...even then we won the popular vote...and I believe the election was stolen out of the rural areas in PA, WI and MI. It is terrible to be out of power but the stuff some of the purity crowd want would surely cause us to lose more elections.

[DefenseLawyer]

28. Looks like you have an excuse for just about every ass kicking the party has ever had.

It definitely has nothing to do with party leadership, a muddled "third way" message and contempt for the base. Nope. None of that, it was those misguided progressives and those dastardly republicans, but it definitely wasn't us. We're awesome. Lip service to the poor, fealty to the rich. That should always be our motto, off camera, of course.

[KittyWampus]

38. Funny how I don't ever see some DU'ers posting about voter suppression, gerrymandering...

Yet always quick to start the same canned spiel about "third way".

[DefenseLawyer]

46. Denial is interesting to watch

I'm sure you can come up with even more reason why we keep losing and never, ever include even the possibility that we have any blame whatsoever for our current position. It's always the rubes and the hippies that are keeping us down.

[BannonsLiver]

119. This must be an awful time for you

What with DWS, Brazile and mean old Hillary out of the picture.

What stuggle will you covet next? Perez, or will you keep your powder dry for WHOEVER is nominated in 2020?

I'm waiting with baited breath.

(Not really.)

[DefenseLawyer]

120. It's amazing that one can still be smug after losing to Trump

But I keep forgetting, it wasn't your fault. I'm the problem for not showing proper respect to Debbie and Donna and Bob Shrum And Joe Lieberman. It's easy to assume that everyone who wants change isn't a "Real Democrat" and therefore can just be brushed aside. I'm a life long member and contributor to the party. I am just more interested in winning than loyalty. I see the party as a means to an end, not a social club.

[BannonsLiver]

121. Cool story

[DefenseLawyer]

123. Thank you

For taking time away from all that winning to grace me with your pithy internet meme inspired response. I am left with no retort.

[BannonsLiver]

124. And thank you for taking the time to spread a little sanctimony

[jodymarie aimee]

15. DL, I am with you on this one

Corporate corporate corporate....keep that money flowing in. Rachel had the brilliant editor of the New Yorker Magazine on last nite and he said Obama didn't interfere in the election RE: Russia, except for a slap of the hand, as HE and all of us, including Russia, knew HRC would win.

[KittyWampus]

39. LOL! Rachel had a hell of a lot more on the show than that. Although it's telling that's what you

latched on to.

[jodymarie aimee]

66. I watched the entire show

and latched on to all of it !! That segment is what applied to my post. You seem nice, and the LOL is ever so cute !! I am 65 and don't truck in teenybopper expressions like that. You can just say you are laughing at me, I can take it.

[redstateblues]

114. Yikes- I'm 68 and I use LOL all the time. I guess I need to start acting my age!

[Blue_Tires]

20. So Obama isn't allowed to rally support for his preference, but Sanders is?

[Hekate]

23. Nailed it

[DefenseLawyer]

29. Of course he is.

My issue is with the direction of the Party and the mindset of our current "leadership" including President Obama's team, not the particular inside baseball machinations of this vote. I happen to think that the last election was the latest in a series of train wrecks. Eventually we should stop just buying new trains and maybe think about hiring a new conductor. But that's just me.

[uponit7771]

56. If you can ignore gerrymandering, voter suppression and outright cheating by KGOP then yeah, the

... direction of the party sucks.

I don't ignore those things

[DefenseLawyer]

65. This is why we are going to see Clinton 2020

Because we are never wrong. I guess I just need a few nights in the box to get my mind right.

[StevieM]

68. This is crazy. I love Hillary but she is retired. I am thinking that Elizabeth Warren may be

the nominee in 2020.

I am liking Jay Inslee a lot lately too.

[Cha]

90. No, thankfully you're wrong.

[Kahuna7]

53. +1 Bernie independent ok. Obama, Democratic ex president, baaad.

[bettyellen]

116. What's wrong with this picture? And suddenly people are complaining the DNC is fundraising and...

I have to ask- do you even know what the DNC is or how shit works? People supporting other people is part of politics- WTF?

[Cha]

73. Your post has nothing to do with the reality of the situation..

No matter what happened in the last election.. Tom Perez is every bit as Progressive as Keith Ellison and together they are making a dynamic duo.

President Obama is quite aware how capable Tom Perez is too.. and he put his phones call where his knowledge is..

Just because you heard some damn insulting buzzwords about "establishment" has nothing to do with the reality on the ground.

Tom Perez and Keith Ellison are about Unity.. inclusive leaders, who were elected because they are trusted to know what they're doing. They will "fix" it.

This is the kind of leader who we'll be going forward with.. so much respect..

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[DefenseLawyer]

77. If Ellison and Perez are interchangeable

Why did the old guard push Perez after Ellison announced for the position? I agree that Perez is a good guy, but he still represents the corporate/money wing of the party in a way that Ellison does not and that's why the people in charge wanted him. So sure, I'm united behind Perez and I want him to succeed, but we can't ignore reality. The "establishment" wanted him for a reason. I just happen to think that reason and the mindset behind it is taking us further into the wilderness

[Cha]

82. Hey Schumer endorsed Ellison.. Why did that happen? Let it go..

Tom and Keith have this.

#establishmentdamnbuzzwordmeansNotihing just something to ignorantly insult leaders with.

John Lewis was deemed the damn Establishment.. He endorsed Ellison.

[mcar]

108. +1000!

So tired of some still smearing Perez.

[Cha]

110. I know.. they have no idea why .. except..

"establishment" which is a complete LIE.. and Divisive like cenk here

Link to tweet

[still_one]

10. Did you know that is what each side does

[Angry Dragon]

11. No big deal

[Brother Buzz]

21. No, it's a big fucking deal!

Obama is out of vacation mode and back to work.

[Angry Dragon]

35. I really don't care who he calls as long it is not Trump or the Russians

[Cha]

64. I get it.. Mahalo, Brother Buzz..

[Hekate]

22. Well done sir! Glad President Obama is staying involved!

.... There, is that the response you were looking for?

[KittyWampus]

70. One wonders if this thread went the way it was anticipated...

[Hekate]

74. Indeed, one wonders

[Blue_Tires]

24. Seriously?? Who gives a good goddamn -- IT'S OVER

If this many Dems gave as much of shit about the general election as they do the DNC chair, Trump wouldn't have won five states...

[Dawson Leery]

26. Good to know that Obama is staying involved.

[itcfish]

30. So What?

n/t

[Lotusflower70]

32. Not surprising

He is very passionate about the people. I look forward to seeing more great things from him.

[Phoenix61]

33. He is a private citizen now, he can call anyone he wants

and he can ask his friends to make phone calls too. I think we have an excellent situation now. We got both Perez and Ellison to get the democratic party back on track.

[BainsBane]

40. Yes, as did Bernie

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/sanders-revolution-resists-dnc-loss-235404

[Docreed2003]

42. Exactly...I'm sure plenty of calls were made for both Ellison and Perez

[BainsBane]

44. Read the article

It's very interesting.

[uponit7771]

57. +1, some people are anti Obama and don't know it yet

[StevieM]

71. It's funny that they thought Gregory Meeks could be scared by a threat of a primary challenge.

His district voted decisively for Clinton over Sanders.

[Cha]

97. Wow.. I read that.. thank you, B!

[Docreed2003]

45. Why are some acting like this is scandalous?

It's politics. President Obama and Bernie Sanders were both making calls in support of their particular chair candidate. Personally, I'm glad to know PBO is back in the fight!

[INdemo]

52. What we have now within the Democratic Party is the old

Party faithfuls still running things..We have the old Regulars as our leaders in the legislative Branch with Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer,which tells the Democrats.." no we don't want a change,we are fine just the way we are"

So as far as getting new blood and attracting the new generation of voters with the Millennials the Democrats just closed the door on them

And what about Chuck Schumer..and the Senate Democrats..he didnt have one word of criticism for the 20 Democrats that voted to confirm the Russian sympathizer in Ross for Commerce Secretary...That 20 Corporatists that like thier corporte pay days...

Nothing changes within the Democratic party and nothing will change in the Congressional majorities as long as we stay with the Democratic party game plan......

[Kahuna7]

54. Nothing is stopping new blood from running to replace them. nt

[INdemo]

60. Sure but how did that work out with the DNC Chairman?

The DNC had a perfect candidate that would have brought that new blood in with Pete Buttigieg of whom was endorsed by such names as Howard Dean,but the DNC chose to stick with the old plans and old Democratic structure.

[StevieM]

69. Tom Perez is liberal enough to have been unacceptable to Susan Collins as Labor Secretary.

She voted against his confirmation.

[BainsBane]

84. Why are you so opposed to fighting no for

Workers rights and com batting voter disenfranchisement? That is what Perez brings to the position, as well as support from key groups like the United Farm Workers Union. To dismiss that as same old is false. Bernie lost a power play. None of what you say about Perez has any basis in reality. Bernie didn't back Buttigeig or Jemmy Green, the one candidate who ran on banning corporate contributions. He backed a guy who endorsed him in the primary.

The election for chair wasn't about the structure. Electing Ellison or Buttigeig wouldn't have changed the structure. It would have been a different chair. Perez is not same old. You have a lot of talking no points with no substance. You have made demonstrably false claims about the party not being able to recruit new candidates, when the fact is they've NEVER had so many eager to run for office.

Ellison tweeted support for Perez and party unity today. He is better than the crap that surrounded his candidacy for chair and those who continue to promote division.

[uponit7771]

58. As they should... they've done well outside of voter suppression and KGOP gerrymandering

[BainsBane]

72. All because Bernie didn't get his pick for chair

What complete nonsense. There has been a dramatic increase of people running for office, many of them women. Your talking points don't relate to reality.

[Me.]

75. So They Are Going To Take Their Ball & Go Home?

Many of them already did. Frankly, I'm tired of hearing about the poor Millenials not getting their way and kicking sand in the face of everyone else. Many different people make up the Dem party and if we all got what we wanted HRC would be prez now. This business about the 'old' is getting tired real fast. What? You reach a certain age and you don't count anymore, not the years of experience you accumulated. We already have someone in the WH who has no experience, how's that working out?

As to Obama calling about his preferred candidate...as has been said, Sander also did so as well as Dean and others and you don't hear the supporters of Mayor Pete fussing that their choice didn't get it.

[LisaM]

80. I, too, am tired of experience being devalued.

I see it all the time where I work. And guess what? Sometimes the people who have the institutional knowledge actually do know a little more.

IMO, this party was all set to be unified and we had a kickass convention, too. The continued pouting by a certain contingent after the fact was one of many factors in a razor-thin loss. And they still won't quit.

[Me.]

87. I Quite Agree

And you know…it’s so very Republican to be disrespectful of knowledge and experience. The Bush admin was and now 45 is laying flowers on the altar of ignorance and inexperience. Dems have never been so shortsighted and they shouldn't start now.

Also, been seeing a lot of posts about ‘old’ around here lately. Well, Senator Sanders is a part of the ‘old’ guard, the oldest of them all. But I guess it doesn’t matter ‘cause it’s him and them.

[LisaM]

92. The irony of that doesn't escape me!

But then, I've been listening to him on the radio for a long time, so he wasn't new to me.

[bravenak]

59. Good!

[Cha]

63. That's what I say! Thank you, President Obama!

Asked "Did you know BS was tweeting and supporting Keith Ellison?"

[Cha]

62. YES.. I had read that.. Thank you, President Obama!!!!!!

Did you know BS was tweeting and supporting Keith Ellison?

[Me.]

76. And Dean Did So For Mayor Pete

So what. They're entitled to have their say.

[Cha]

79. Yes, they are.. that's who they believed would do the very best job!

Me.

[BainsBane]

86. Read for yourself

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/sanders-revolution-resists-dnc-loss-235404

[Me.]

100. Good PIece

And I have to say Weaver is a real problem. I saw him on MSNBC last handing out threats if Ellison didn't win. I think those threats and the false tweet by Ellison supporters did their candidate in. I think that after a year of ultimatums and complaints, many people, myself included, have had enough, and find I could now care less

[BainsBane]

101. It's inept

and I agree those tactics hurt Ellison. He tried to stop some of it, but they didn't stop because it was never about Ellison for them.

[Me.]

104. You Are Ever So Right

I was hoping for Mayor Pete myself because of Dean's recommend and the few times I saw him talking, but I have nothing against Perez and wish him, and therefore us, the best.

[JI7]

93. i have been saying it was obama people behind Perez but idiots hung up on Clinton

Obama is the most influential person in the democratic party.

[Starry Messenger]

96. Great!

[BainsBane]

98. The link to the article you reference

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/sanders-revolution-resists-dnc-loss-235404

Why didn't you provide it yourself?

[bluedigger]

102. And this Sanderista is just fine with that.

It's called politicking, I believe. Perez is as good a choice as any to dig us out of this hole.

[mcar]

111. Exactly!

[riversedge]

105. Yes, I read a tweet about that. And Joe B out stumping a lot.

[liberal N proud]

115. He still holds the clout

[MineralMan]

117. Does that bother you?

President Obama apparently has an opinion. I respect his opinion.

[Lil Missy]

118. Good! Excellent choice!

[Rex]

125. Why is that a surprise? Obama asked Perez to run last year.

I would think people would be happy the seat is not being held by a career politician. Isn't that what we wanted?

[Talk Is Cheap]

126. Well, the DNC is an exclusive club...

Obama just proved that. The DLC lives on, unfortunately...

[SaschaHM]

137. So Sanders can make calls on behalf of Ellison, but President Obama can't?

[Talk Is Cheap]

140. Didn't say Obama couldn't do anything...

[pnwmom]

139. The Democratic party is open to any Democrat. That's not exclusive. n/t

[Talk Is Cheap]

141. But, Obama did lobby voters to vote for Perez...

Just an observation...

[pnwmom]

144. So? Bernie and Schumer lobbied for Ellison. Anybody could. n/t

[Talk Is Cheap]

145. So, what's the problem?

[pnwmom]

146. When I said that the Democratic party was open to any Democrat and wasn't exclusive,

you replied, "Obama did lobby for Perez."

What was your problem?

[Talk Is Cheap]

147. No problem...

Obama represents the corporate wing of the Dem party and
that is a losing strategy if you want the 99%, America, and Earth to succeed.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

127. Of couse he did.

I would have expected nothing else.

[ebbie15644]

130. So?

[Sunlei]

133. from the beginning Obama said he backed Perez. I'm fine with the two people leading DNC & so is BHO

Now better to focus on any Congress & Senate Ds running soon because Republicans will tear them to pieces over the next several months.

Republicans are excellent at making Ds divide & fight one another, worked great to get their nazi president elected.

[SaschaHM]

136. Why wouldn't he?

Do people not think Schumer, Warren, or Sanders were doing the same on behalf of Ellison?

[JHan]

142. yeah but that don't matter.. look at the stupid coded language in the comments:

"establishment" "DLC" - this is another Obama whipping post.

[SaschaHM]

143. They act as if 200 of the "establishment" "DLC" members didn't vote for Ellison...

Hell, Perez wasn't the guy endorsed by Chuck Schumer.