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Donna Brazile is a smart choice for new DNC chair during a difficult election Donna Brazile is a smart choice for new DNC chair during a difficult election
(about 1 hour later)
If you had to name the perfect job for Donna Brazile, Democratic National Committee chair might just be it.If you had to name the perfect job for Donna Brazile, Democratic National Committee chair might just be it.
A consummate insider, who’s widely respected and liked, she brings more than 30 years of experience as a political strategist and party operative to the table. In a job that requires fundraising, divvying up resources and partisan warriorship, it’s hard to imagine a better resumé. A consummate insider who is widely respected and liked, she brings more than 30 years of experience as a political strategist and party operative to the table. For a job that requires fundraising, divvying up resources and partisan warriorship, it’s hard to imagine a better résumé.
It isn’t purely a thought experiment, either.It isn’t purely a thought experiment, either.
Related: Democratic convention live: Obama and Biden to headline speakers on day threeRelated: Democratic convention live: Obama and Biden to headline speakers on day three
Brazile has been named to replace Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who on Sunday resigned as chair of the DNC after a trove of messages released by hackers on the website WikiLeaks showed top party officials colluding to undermine Bernie Sanders’ campaign.Brazile has been named to replace Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who on Sunday resigned as chair of the DNC after a trove of messages released by hackers on the website WikiLeaks showed top party officials colluding to undermine Bernie Sanders’ campaign.
The move is less dramatic when factoring in the reality that Wasserman Schultz was never well liked. But it certainly wasn’t the start to the Democratic National Convention the party was hoping for.The move is less dramatic when factoring in the reality that Wasserman Schultz was never well liked. But it certainly wasn’t the start to the Democratic National Convention the party was hoping for.
As vice-chair of the DNC, Brazile isn’t much implicated in the scandal herself – the worst that could be said is that she’s expressed passing annoyance with the Sanders campaign with regard to representation on the platform committee.As vice-chair of the DNC, Brazile isn’t much implicated in the scandal herself – the worst that could be said is that she’s expressed passing annoyance with the Sanders campaign with regard to representation on the platform committee.
That degree of plausible deniability is important. Because although she won’t technically take on her role as the interim chair until after the Convention is over, Brazile’s already assumed the position where appearances are concerned. That degree of plausible deniability is important. Because although she won’t technically take on her role as the interim chair until after the convention is over, Brazile has already assumed the position as far as appearances are concerned.
It’s a difficult time for the Democratic party, but Brazile’s been around long enough to have relevant points of comparison.It’s a difficult time for the Democratic party, but Brazile’s been around long enough to have relevant points of comparison.
Born in Louisiana and a self-described Southern girl, she became interested in politics at a young age and went to work in political advocacy in Washington after graduating college. She would go on to work for a number of presidential campaigns including Jesse Jackson’s, Walter Mondale’s and Richard Gephardt’s. More recently, she became the first African American to direct a major presidential campaign, serving as campaign manager for Al Gore in 2000. Born in Louisiana and a self-described southern girl, she became interested in politics at a young age and went to work in political advocacy in Washington after graduating college. She would go on to work for a number of presidential campaigns including Jesse Jackson’s, Walter Mondale’s and Richard Gephardt’s. More recently, she became the first African American to direct a major presidential campaign, serving as campaign manager for Al Gore in 2000.
As she put it in a scrum with reporters on the convention floor this week, this election cycle doesn’t feel particularly aberrant to her: “I’ve been at conventions when we continued to re-litigate the primary.” Specifically, she was referring to Jackson’s 1984 convention. As she put it in a scrum with reporters on the convention floor this week, this election cycle doesn’t feel particularly aberrant to her: “I’ve been at conventions when we continued to relitigate the primary.” Specifically, she was referring to Jackson’s 1984 convention.
“Of course you’re going to have differences,” she said, adding that that’s not a bad thing. “It is important to understand that people have strong views whether it’s on climate change, whether it’s on TPP, whether it’s on how do we get more jobs. We’re Democrats and we should respect each other.” “Of course you’re going to have differences,” she said, adding that that’s not a bad thing. “It is important to understand that people have strong views, whether it’s on climate change, whether it’s on TPP, whether it’s on how do we get more jobs. We’re Democrats and we should respect each other.”
In her spirited address before the Convention Tuesday, Brazil elicited enthusiastic applause in her praise of Hillary Clinton’s early work at the Children’s Defense Fund - “Kids who need help, you’ve got a champion!” - and made strong promises to her party. In her spirited address before the convention Tuesday, Brazile elicited enthusiastic applause in her praise of Hillary Clinton’s early work at the Children’s Defense Fund – “Kids who need help, you’ve got a champion!” – and made strong promises to her party.
“And let me say this, as your incoming chair of the Democratic National Committee, I promise you, my friends, I commit to all Americans that we will have a party that you can be proud of,” she said. “We will elect Democrats up and down the ballot.” “And let me say this, as your incoming chair of the Democratic national committee, I promise you, my friends, I commit to all Americans that we will have a party that you can be proud of,” she said. “We will elect Democrats up and down the ballot.”
Admirers say Brazil can hack it behind the curtain or in front – and Tuesday’s fiery speech isn’t the only evidence of the latter.Admirers say Brazil can hack it behind the curtain or in front – and Tuesday’s fiery speech isn’t the only evidence of the latter.
She’s also the rare political talent to have two lucrative television contracts, with CNN and ABC News, but her newly-acquired title required they be suspended. She’s also the rare political talent to have two lucrative television contracts, with CNN and ABC News, but her newly acquired title required they be suspended.
Typically party chairs last just through the election, Wasserman Shultz being the exception in this regard, and it’s unclear how long she’ll stay in the position for.Typically party chairs last just through the election, Wasserman Shultz being the exception in this regard, and it’s unclear how long she’ll stay in the position for.
All the more so because the job is known to be among the most thankless in politics – even worse, perhaps, than Republican speaker of the House. Party chairs have to make tough internal calls about which races get prioritized and have to arbitrate internal squabbling.All the more so because the job is known to be among the most thankless in politics – even worse, perhaps, than Republican speaker of the House. Party chairs have to make tough internal calls about which races get prioritized and have to arbitrate internal squabbling.
For now, Brazile is only steering the Democrats through the coming election months, when so much depends on party unity in order to beat Donald Trump.For now, Brazile is only steering the Democrats through the coming election months, when so much depends on party unity in order to beat Donald Trump.
The wonder, perhaps, is if she even wants it at all.The wonder, perhaps, is if she even wants it at all.
And so Washington’s favorite senselessly speculative name-floating has begun, with New York Democratic Rep Steve Israel and former Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm topping the gossip shortlist. DNC officials will dismiss such talk as the idle bar chatter it is. And so Washington’s favorite activity, senselessly speculative name-floating, has begun, with the New York Democratic representative Steve Israel and the former Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm topping the gossip shortlist. DNC officials will dismiss such talk as the idle bar chatter it is.
But it’s also true that more often than not, the conventional wisdom turns out to be at least half-right. But it’s also true that more often than not, the conventional wisdom turns out to be at least half right.
Related: Bernie Sanders supporters stage sit-in to protest Clinton nomination at DNCRelated: Bernie Sanders supporters stage sit-in to protest Clinton nomination at DNC
Meanwhile, many Sanders fans are still suspicious of the close cadre of allies thought to have helped in keeping the widely-disliked Wasserman Shultz in the chairmanship for so long. And a wider shakeup within the committee’s top brass is expected in the weeks and months ahead. Meanwhile, many Sanders fans are still suspicious of the close cadre of allies thought to have helped in keeping the widely disliked Wasserman Schultz in the chairmanship for so long. And a wider shakeup within the committee’s top brass is expected in the weeks and months ahead.
Brazile for her part knows the deep and well-founded resentments that she’s against. After mentioning on television that the DNC owes the Sanders camp an apology, she followed with a lengthy statement Monday night. Brazile, for her part, knows the deep and well-founded resentments that she is up against. After mentioning on television that the DNC owed the Sanders camp an apology, she followed with a lengthy statement Monday night.
“On behalf of everyone at the DNC, we want to offer a deep and sincere apology to Senator Sanders, his supporters, and the entire Democratic party for the inexcusable remarks made over email. These comments do not reflect the values of the DNC or our steadfast commitment to neutrality during the nominating process. The DNC does not – and will not – tolerate disrespectful language exhibited toward our candidates. Individual staffers have also rightfully apologized for their comments, and the DNC is taking appropriate action to ensure it never happens again.”“On behalf of everyone at the DNC, we want to offer a deep and sincere apology to Senator Sanders, his supporters, and the entire Democratic party for the inexcusable remarks made over email. These comments do not reflect the values of the DNC or our steadfast commitment to neutrality during the nominating process. The DNC does not – and will not – tolerate disrespectful language exhibited toward our candidates. Individual staffers have also rightfully apologized for their comments, and the DNC is taking appropriate action to ensure it never happens again.”
Presiding over Democrats during such contentiousness is no party, even for the well-equipped Brazile. But to hear her speak last night, you wouldn’t think she was the least bit scared – when the last word was said and done, she literally sauntered off the stage.Presiding over Democrats during such contentiousness is no party, even for the well-equipped Brazile. But to hear her speak last night, you wouldn’t think she was the least bit scared – when the last word was said and done, she literally sauntered off the stage.
Perhaps her overwhelmingly positive reception – even progressive favorite Elizabeth Warren was booed at this week’s convention – was due in part to the fact that Sanders supporters were nowhere to be seen. They had staged a massive walkout after Clinton was nominated early Tuesday evening. Perhaps her overwhelmingly positive reception – even the progressive favorite Elizabeth Warren was booed at this week’s convention – was due in part to the fact that Sanders supporters were nowhere to be seen. They had staged a massive walkout after Clinton was nominated early Tuesday evening.
Sanders has said he wasn’t surprised by contents of the emails and went on to call for party unity in his Monday address, but his supporters have yet to move on.Sanders has said he wasn’t surprised by contents of the emails and went on to call for party unity in his Monday address, but his supporters have yet to move on.
Some are even petitioning for him to be the new head of the DNC, arguing the group needs to focus on “inspiring and organizing voters on the local level” and “regain a dose of credibility after the embarrassing bias revealed by stolen emails”.Some are even petitioning for him to be the new head of the DNC, arguing the group needs to focus on “inspiring and organizing voters on the local level” and “regain a dose of credibility after the embarrassing bias revealed by stolen emails”.
It’s a bit strange, given that Sanders never identified with the Democratic party before deciding to run for president – much of his base doesn’t identify with it, either. The job’s requirement that he schmooze with high-rolling donors would also be a nonstarter with him.It’s a bit strange, given that Sanders never identified with the Democratic party before deciding to run for president – much of his base doesn’t identify with it, either. The job’s requirement that he schmooze with high-rolling donors would also be a nonstarter with him.
But that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be meaningful to see someone from his movement installed up top.But that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be meaningful to see someone from his movement installed up top.
“It would have been wonderful as a gesture to see someone from the Bernie campaign,” Jason Allen, a Sanders delegate from Oregon, said after the walkout. “Somebody who is universally viewed as being impartial.”“It would have been wonderful as a gesture to see someone from the Bernie campaign,” Jason Allen, a Sanders delegate from Oregon, said after the walkout. “Somebody who is universally viewed as being impartial.”
John Knight, another Sanders delegate, quoted former Ohio state senator Nina Turner to explain: “You know how Nina Turner says nobody wins the black vote, you have to earn it? I feel the same way about my vote personally.” John Knight, another Sanders delegate, quoted the former Ohio state senator Nina Turner to explain: “You know how Nina Turner says nobody wins the black vote, you have to earn it? I feel the same way about my vote personally.”
For Knight, and many other Sanders supporters, the jury is still out. You might even construe him as hopeful in a tough-love sort of way.For Knight, and many other Sanders supporters, the jury is still out. You might even construe him as hopeful in a tough-love sort of way.
“Donna Brazile is in a position to make some changes – if she wants to stand up for that.”“Donna Brazile is in a position to make some changes – if she wants to stand up for that.”