Did you know that tomorrow is another Democratic presidential debate? If you didn't, don't worry... you weren't meant to. Or, do worry because you weren't meant to. Former Hillary Clinton Campaign co-chair, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, now head of the DNC, has scheduled a series of debates with one thing in mind-- exposing the candidates to as few viewers as possible. Who schedules a debate on a Sunday night in the middle of the NFL playoffs divisional weekend? DEBBIE! Her candidate-- the establishment and Wall Street pick-- has universal name recognition and her centrist agenda was fashioned for a general election, not for a primary that will be more dominated by progressives. By offering as little mass media exposure as possible to Clinton's opponent, the lesser known Bernie Sanders-- and by preventing voters to find out about his platform-- Wasserman Schultz is acting as an arm of the Clinton campaign (again). Over 100,000 Democrats have signed petitions by CREDO and RootsAction demanding she resign or be fired.Blue America has endorsed Tim Canova, a law professor and progressive activist/writer, in his primary bid against her. (You can contribute to his campaign here.) After the GOP 6th prime time debate, Canova started another petition, this one asking Wasserman Schultz to schedule at least one debate in prime time so that TV viewers can actually watch the Democratic candidates and judge their positions in the issues that will motivate their votes. "Last night," Canova wrote on Friday, "the Republican presidential debate was more of the same. Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, the leading candidates, are not speaking to the crucial economic issues of most importance to us. Instead, they continue to promote policies that attack women, minorities, and working families. These debates are perhaps the greatest running example in this country of why we need a political revolution." And then he got into Wasserman Schultz's role:
Meanwhile, Debbie Wasserman Schultz has guaranteed virtually no one will watch the Democratic debate between Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton on Sunday. She has used her influence as Chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee to tip the scales toward Clinton’s campaign over the last several months, and it is clearly evident in the infrequent and irrational presidential debate schedule.Sign my petition now to tell Debbie Wasserman Schultz and the Democratic National Committee to schedule a debate between Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton in primetime before it’s too late.This isn’t the first time Debbie Wasserman Schultz has abused her influence and position to advance her own agenda. And it always comes at the expense of her constituents, the progressive movement, and the Democratic Party. For example, after taking huge sums of money from Wall Street, she voted against financial regulation reform-- and blocked the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau from writing new rules that would stop racial discrimination in car loans. She has supported Republican candidates for Congress while, purportedly, running a program to help Democrats retake the U.S. House. And she’s even opposed legalizing medical marijuana simply because her corporate donors who own private prisons believed it was against their best interests.This is simply unacceptable. If we’re going to reform Wall Street and retake our democracy from the billionaire class we can’t have a DNC chair undermining us at every turn. We have to change the status quo and elect more progressives from the Elizabeth Warren-wing of the Democratic Party. I believe we can do that in this election, with your help and support.In the meantime, let’s keep up the pressure on Debbie Wasserman Schultz and force her to correct the injustice that is the Democratic debate schedule. I believe we can do it, but only if enough people sign our petition and we show the DNC the power of our political revolution.Add your name and demand the Democratic National Committee schedule a primetime presidential debate before voting begins in Iowa and New Hampshire next month.
Before I knew much about Wasserman Schultz, an old friend showed me how she would use money from the the Fanjul's American Crystal Sugar Political Action Committee to enhance her own power. That was a long, long time ago, but last night I noticed that the most corrupt state legislator in California, Isadore Hall, now a congressional candidate embraced by the Wasserman Schultz-wing of the Democratic Party has also taken a fat $5,000 check from that same American Crystal Sugar Political Action Committee. All the worst elements of the Rahm-Wasserman Schultz-Van Hollen-Israel Democratic Party are determined to get Hall into Congress instead of tested progressive and environmental activist Nanette Barragán.When Members of Congress whose endorsements he was seeking wanted to know why so much money from shady PACs, financed his legislative career, he promised he wouldn't take any more of their money in running for Congress. That certainly turned out to be as false as it sounded. Among his contributions in the last couple of months:
• Altria Group, PAC (tobacco)- $2,500• Cigar PAC (tobacco)- $1,000• CIPAC PAC (big oil)- $5,000• American Crystal Sugar Political Action Committee- $5,000
Hall has a charming demeanor and bubbly personality. But that isn't why these PACs finance his political career. They see another Debbie Wasserman Schultz in the making... or hope they do. Progressive candidates like Nanette Barragán, Tim Canova, Alex Law, Bao Nguyen, Mike Noland are standing up against the forces of reaction and corruption that have their claws in the Democratic Party nearly as badly as they have their claws in the Republican Party. If you can please consider helping in the congressional front of the political revolution. Bernie is going to need people like Tim Canova and Nanette Barragán and the others on this list if he's going to be able to implement his program.
