By now it is obvious that throughout the course of the Democratic presidential primary campaign, the DNC shrugged off the qualms of independents and progressives who sought a more robust debate centered on issues. When I raised an objection to limiting the number of debates in my capacity as DNC Vice Chair, the Chairwoman disinvited me from the first Democratic Presidential debate that I was already confirmed to attend. Sadly, it appears that the same disposition that underestimated the appeal of Donald Trump still pervades the DNC. Just this month, Chairman Tom Perez removed members from the Party’s Executive Committee--all of whom share in common their support for Bernie Sanders and Keith Ellison in his race for DNC Chair. Those expelled include Jim Zogby, the only Arab American on the Executive Committee, while lobbyists and consultants kept their positions. If the DNC is going to represent the people, they need to break their ties with the corporate establishment that has usurped our party, and instead return to the grassroots issues that connect us with people in the first place. We need to end the undemocratic system of superdelegates and ensure that all primaries and caucuses are open or have same-day registration available. If we don’t reform the DNC, then all we will get is more of the same. Openness, inclusion, and transparency should not be issues that are up for debate.
I don't know whether the current DNC chair is corrupt or not, but I'm pretty sure she's engaging in exactly what she claims to be against - counterproductive infighting and name-calling. barfo
