The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is still attempting to spin out of the scandal over the recently leaked emails showing that, as long claimed by critics, it was undermining Bernie Sanders and rigging the process for Hillary Clinton during the primaries. It would seem obvious to most of us that not only should Debbie Wasserman Schultz resign, but a number of DNC officials fired for the emails, particularly DNC CFO Brad Marshall. Yet, the DNC is been largely quiet and clearly hoping that Democrats simply do not care if they have been directly misled by the DNC, which sought to engineer the win for Clinton. It may be right. Many Democratic voters (like many Republican voters) seem to have simply accepted that politicians lie to them and that people who are demanding honesty from leaders are naive (or do not see “the bigger picture”). The DNC is clearly hunkering down to see if “this too shall pass” with voters. While Wasserman Schultz has given up her speaking role at the convention, she is clinging on to the chairmanship of the party. Update: Wasserman Schultz has resigned but there is still little media attention to Marshall, Davey, and others at the DNC who actively plotted against Sanders).
The sheer mendacity of the Democratic leadership in these emails is breathtaking. At the very time that these officials were denying allegations that they were undermining Sanders at every turn, Marshall and his colleagues were secretly doing exactly what they were publicly denying. However, Marshall was particularly disgraceful in his effort to use Sanders’ faith against him. He pushed for an attack on Sanders as an agnostic or atheist. That should not sit well with the millions of agnostics and atheists in this country — one of the fastest going segments of the population.
Marshall wrote that “for KY and WVA can we get someone to ask his belief. Does he believe in a God. He had skated on saying he has a Jewish heritage. I think I read he is an atheist. This could make several points difference with my peeps. My Southern Baptist peeps would draw a big difference between a Jew and an atheist.” This went to various DNS communications directors who were also busy denying that any secret effort against Sanders.DNC CEO Amy Dacey responded “Amen” Both Dacey and Marshall have been part of a concerted denial of such efforts and both should have been fired with other officials involved in these exchanges.
Marshall’s apology only magnifies the problem. He wrote
“I deeply regret that my insensitive, emotional emails would cause embarrassment to the DNC, the Chairwoman, and all of the staffers who worked hard to make the primary a fair and open process. The comments expressed do not reflect my beliefs nor do they reflect the beliefs of the DNC and its employees. I apologize to those I offended.”
Really? You send an email to other DNC officials suggesting an attack on a Democratic candidate’s religion and, after being caught, you say that it does not “reflect my beliefs”? This was not some aside at a party but an email sent to other party functionaries. Moreover, Marshall makes no mention of the fact that he, Dacey, and Wasserman Schultz were denying such a secret campaign against Sanders at the very time that these emails were sent. The very fact that the DNC did not immediately dump Marshall, Dacey and others is telling. Indeed, they should have been let go when these emails were sent, let alone after they were forced to acknowledge their dishonest and disgraceful conduct.
What do you think?
Filed under: Politics 
