I really don't understand the boomlet for Tom Perez as DNC head.

[geek tragedy]

I have nothing but mad respect for his tenure in the DoL and DOJ, and his career of advocating as an attorney for progressive causes.

But, I do wonder what qualifies him to be in charge of our election-winning efforts.

His entire experience in electoral politics is this:

From 2002 until 2006, he was a member of the Montgomery County Council. He was the first Latino ever elected to the Council, and served as Council president in 2005

https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/author/secretary-thomas-e-perez

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure he did a great job during his single term on the Montgomery County+ (Maryland) Council, but what insight does he have into building a political party and winning elections in statewide contests or for Congress, including in areas like the Great Lakes and Great Plains?

+Montgomery County is an affluent suburb of Washington, D.C.

[msongs]

1. maybe he's just an obama legacy protection device? nt

[geek tragedy]

4. we already have one of those. It's called

Barack Obama.

[dionysus]

80. Frankly, im thankful for a classicly bitter anti-obama post from msongs. It

Makes DU feel normal, almost old-timey after all this hillary nonsense...

[mcar]

2. Do the others have that experience?

I think Ellison is a good Rep. I just think we need a full time person at the DNC helm.

And I have no problem protecting Obama's legacy.

[geek tragedy]

6. Ellison served in the MN state legislature before wininng the primary and general election

for a Congressional district that does not match his demographic profile, to understate things.

He's had exposure at all levels to the big game.

[mcar]

8. He won a Congressional district

I don't see how that gives him exposure to the big game.

Again, I respect the man. I just don't see how he can serve his constituents and run the DNC at the same time. We need a 50 state strategy.

[FogerRox]

69. We're way past needing a 50 state strategy

I'm a member of my local committee, and the level of decline is appalling.

We need a 3142 county strategy. Municipal Chairs don't have access to fundraising call lists or email lists via NGP VAN votebuilder platform.

At least Ellison has spoken to these problems, no other candidate has.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

76. He has already stated that he will give up his House seat

if he gets the DNC job. That means we get a special election to replace him in MN CD5 - I hope with another good progressive.

[HoneyBadger]

3. Ellison has a lot of grassroots experience

Not sure what that means. Small donors? Small town? Anti corporation?

[rogue emissary]

5. So who do you want for the DNC head?

[geek tragedy]

7. leaning towards Ellison of the announced candidates, but wouldn't be displeased

if more outside the beltway types announced their candidacies.

[rogue emissary]

14. Most of the announced candidates don't have much experience leading a organization.

It's really going to come down to their vision and focus. Experience and or even a proven track record isn't going to count for much this year.

[Yupster]

15. I would rather have someone I've never heard of

who worked their way as a precinct chairman, county chairman and now a successful state chairman. That person would know the job and only have one job.

[rogue emissary]

18. That's quite logical. :)

I'd prefer an organizer from the grass routes. Be that a known or relatively unknown candidate.

[NCTraveler]

63. Yepster!!!!

[aidbo]

9. He isn't a politician who endorsed Bernie Sanders in the primary?

[hollowdweller]

10. The reason I like him is the same reason I liked Dean

He is a good speaker and good at messaging. I think he will be an excellent foil to the GOP on shows and get our messaging on track.

I like Ellison, but with him it's all going to be about his history with Nation of Islam and I'm afraid people will tune him out.

[Ligyron]

26. That's the problem right there.

It shouldn't be of course but it is. Plus he's brown, sorry.

Once Trump and gang's policy starts to do real damage to those who voted for him, they'll be as open to a properly crafted Dem message as they're ever going to be. At that point we need someone who looks like them to speak to their concerns and they won't trust anyone who isn't.

Fk'd up I know, but if we can get them back into the tent, we can work on their other issues later.

[Me.]

11. It's Simple

He's not Ellison and for the people who are tired of BS' influence that says a lot

[Gothmog]

12. I have met and like Keith Ellison but I do not support his bid for DNC chair

I will not support a sanders supporter for DNC chair. I strongly like Tom Perez. He is a class act

[Ken Burch]

20. So...NO Sanders supporter should have any significant role in this party?

Enforcing that would mean accepting the loss of most young people as volunteers, staffers, and future Democratic candidates.

We can't anathemize the Sanders movement and still have any significant appeal to people under 35 or so. They'll just stay away from us.

[Gothmog]

31. Your analysis is wrong yet again

Your attempts to ignore Sanders rolr in thiis election is sad. Sanders ran for the sake of his own ego and had no chance of being the nominee. I will not support a sanders supporter ad head of the DNC

[Ken Burch]

48. Why is it so hard to accept that it was about the issues?

Bernie's never been about ego...if he was, he'd wear expensive clothes and get expensive haircuts.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

49. There are many different ways each of appease our egos

Not all of us do it through haircuts and clothes.

[Ken Burch]

54. I'll concede the point as a general human concept.

Again, though...why is it so hard to accept that it was simply the issues that prompted Bernie's decision to run?

His candidacy was never driven by opposition to the idea of a woman being president-if he had an issue with THAT, why would he have started out, before he decided to run, trying to get Elizabeth Warren to get into the race?

It's not as though Hillary's campaign started out on a set of proposals no one had any reason to feel were insufficient

And, even without embracing "socialism&quot Bernie's own proposals were the mildest possible version of social demcracy, the guy was far from a "Red" in the Cold War sense), Hillary could probably have seen him off early in the race if she had incorporated the need to stand up to corporate power into her program.

Bernie's candidacy didn't cause the Trump EC victory.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

55. Honestly I don't care why he ran. I just wish he had quit

When it was clear he was losing, instead of getting his bros to harass superdelegates. I also wish he didn't attack Hillary as corrupt, something Obama didn't do even though their fight was much more narrow.

Doesn't matter now. Neither his priorities or mine are going to get ahead in the next four years.

[Gothmog]

67. You are so very wrong

The math here is clear and you are ignoring the delegate lead that Clinton had after the Super Tuesday/March 1 primaries. In the real world, it was clear that Sanders had no chance of overcoming that lead. The fact that you are ignoring this delegate lead is amusing to me. Sanders did not appeal to African American and latino voters and so had no chance of being the nominee. The race was really over after Super Tuesday but Sanders kept on attacking Clinton even though in the real world he had no chance of making up that differential . This differential was in pledged delegates and not super delegates.

At the end Sanders was reduced to begging for the support of super delegates because that was the only way that Sanders could overcome the delegate lead that Clinton built up early on. The fact that Sanders and his supporters did not realize that Sanders has no chance of being the nominee is sad to me. I saw this at the National Convention where a group of some of the younger Sanders supporters came into the delegation breakfast/meeting to demand that we condemn Hillary Clinton and vote for Sanders.

In the real world math matters. Your posts are ignoring the math and the facts here. Sanders' campaign was based on his personal vanity and not on facts or any realistic chance of being the nominee. As noted in your post, the nomination was locked up in many cases far earlier because the candidates in these races were not running a campaign based on personal vanity but looked at the math. If Sanders cared about the math, he would have dropped out in March or April because the math was clear that Sanders had no chance.

Your posts does not help your argument.

[dionysus]

81. They've become a cartoon by now. For hillary losing, anything that bernie touched must be shunned.

It's beyond childish.

[Tarheel_Dem]

52. Thank you.

[blm]

13. You think running a large Dept like Labor isn't big enough? Dean ran a small state and was a GREAT

chair for the DNC. Perez has excellent communication skills, organizational skills, intellect, and wit - and that is no small matter.

[hellofromreddit]

16. Plenty clearly want to limit Bernie's influence; Perez is not Ellison, so they love him.

I personally prefer Ellison to Perez because of the experience differential.

[Ace Rothstein]

17. The anti-Bernie crowd doesn't like Ellison because he has Bernie's support.

[KittyWampus]

46. Sanders supporters only want Ellison cause -BERNIE-

Howard Dean was willing and he doesn't need on the job training.

So let's pick a guy who won't even address the trash that came out of his mouth a while back and who already has a job.

[firerises]

70. Howard Dean is Tainted By Lobbying

He withdrew himself because he actually rather be earning money in a lobbying position than helping us so I don't know why you're going on about him.

He'd be the best candidate but he opens himself up to easy attack.

[KittyWampus]

71. tainted by lobbying. LOL! Sanders is tainted by not releasing his taxes. Ellison is tainted

by talking smack when he was younger and he doesn't have the guts to address it now.

[firerises]

72. One of these things is not like the others...

Talking smack as a kid? You think people really care about that?

Releasing Tax Records? He wasn't ever the nominee.

Tainted by Lobbying. Yeah. Lobbyists are one of the most hated entities in America. More so than people who talk smack or don't release their taxes when running for office. Are you that out of touch with what average Americans think?

[bettyellen]

74. Making excuses for the tax records is not helping anyone but Trump....

[George II]

78. There isn't a single person in this country that isn't "tainted" by one thing or another.

[StevieM]

50. First of all, before you respond to my post please remember that your next post will be #1000.

Congratulations on your thousandth post. You might want to do something special for it, like put up your own post talking about something important to you. It can be anything, from your love for Bernie Sanders to your ideas for combatting climate change.

Forgive me if you already knew about that option, I just wanted to point out the opportunity to you, in case you weren't familiar with it.

Plenty of people, like myself, who didn't want Bernie to be our nominee, or become president, don't consider ourselves to be "anti-Bernie." I like Bernie and think he has made a valuable contribution. I also like his record as Mayor of Burlington.

As for Keith Ellison, I don't think that people who oppose him are primarily concerned with the fact that he endorsed Sanders in the Democratic primary. If Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon was running I don't think he would face too much opposition. The issue with Ellison--fairly or not--is over his position on Israel.

[NWCorona]

19. Perez sees an opening and he's going for it. There's a big power vacuum right now.

There's just too much against Ellison. I like him and I obviously liked his stance on Bernie but that will be a drag for a vocal few. Then there's the ADL.

Personally I think Perez is laying the ground work for something else.

[oasis]

21. DNC heads must raise plenty of money for the Party. Re: Citizens United

[SaschaHM]

22. The government department that he runs has over 17,000 employees...

He brings the experience of having run and managed a large bureaucracy full of many tiny parts which mirrors what the DNC needs to do in every state/congressional district. That more than qualifies him to lead the DNC as it rebuilds and expands it operations to compete with the RNC in my opinion.

[Cha]

58. Thank you, Sascha, for some facts on Sec of Labor, Tom Perez.. and he's Bi-Lingual!

[Starry Messenger]

23. Are we allowed to like both of them? LOL

I'm honestly not sure what Ellison's record is on getting others elected is either. Both bring many gifts to the table.

[geek tragedy]

33. I really like them both too.

Ellison to me gets the edge (at this point) because he has won multiple primary and general elections--state legislature as well as Congress.

[Vinca]

25. We need someone who can spur the party's enthusiasm again. I don't see it in this person.

At this point I don't know who would be good for the job. I was supporting Dean because of his 50 state strategy and his history of winning, but I realize we need to start tapping a new generation.

[Nonhlanhla]

27. I like him

Perez seems like a good administrator, and I think that might be just what we need in a DNC chair.

[geek tragedy]

32. I like him too, but just not sure if he knows anything about elections

I hope he runs for governor in Maryland.

[Cha]

61. Aloha, Nonhlanhla.. And, he's bi-lingual.. I think importante..

Mr. Weeks Retweeted Al Giordano
#TeamPerez he has the qualifications, experience, intelligence, leadership & bilingual. He represents the people with a proven track record.

https://twitter.com/algiordano

Tom Watson Verified account 
?@tomwatson
"the most important U.S. labor secretary since Frances Perkins" - great Tom Perez profile http://prospect.org/article/subtle-force-tom-perez …

https://twitter.com/tomwatson/status/809239536924524544

[Proud Liberal Dem]

28. Slightly OT

but is Dean in the running again?

[NCTraveler]

30. It's my understanding he removed himself from consideration. nt.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

37. I didn't hear about that

but I hadn't heard anything more about him running for DNC chair, so I began wondering if he was in/out of the running. I'm kind of disappointed because the Party did good under his leadership. Not sure yet who I'm going to support but whoever we do has a LOT of work to do to try to rehabilitate the party at the state level.

[NCTraveler]

38. Not sure who I am going to support either.

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/howard-dean-dnc-chair-drops-out-232140

[Proud Liberal Dem]

39. Thanks. I missed that.

n/t

[NCTraveler]

29. K&R

This is an area where we should be vetting heavily. Thanks for the info.

[Renew Deal]

34. Looks like they're trying to dump Ellison

[geek tragedy]

35. so his main deal is that he's a very progressive Obama establishment guy?

I have no problem with any elements of the above. Just not sure it means he knows how to win elections.

[Renew Deal]

36. I agree

I have no idea what qualifies him, but after the ADL stuff they'll take anyone.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

40. He was labor secretary and has strong ties to organized labor

the very faction we are seeking to attract.

also, he is highly likeable

[geek tragedy]

41. I love him as a cabinet secretary. But virtually zero electoral experience.

Same reason I was skeptical of him as a VP choice.

I hope he runs for governor of Maryland. He'd be an outstanding governor.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

42. i am not sure the role needs electoral experience

i think it needs strategic thinking and good relationships with key dem groups like minorities and labor and women's rights groups.

[geek tragedy]

47. Those traits are necessary but not sufficient.

DNC head has one job--to help Democrats win more elections. To the extent they need to think strategically, they need to think strategically about how to win a lot more elections outside the urban archipelago.

Party's most pressing problem is with WWC voters, especially in Great Lakes area states.

Not just talking President, also talking about our ability to win Congress, state legislatures, etc.

Does he have any idea what to do about that?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

56. to me those are the sufficient qualifications, actually running for office isn't

this is a management strategy job, he himself is never going to go out in the field.

[Cha]

60. Plus, Tom Perez, was deciding between the DNC chair or running

for Gov of Maryland.. he still wants to be of service post Cabinet position.

[geek tragedy]

64. he's never worked on campaigns either.

so how's he going to come up for a strategy in a field in which has no depth of experience?

[mcar]

68. The party's most pressing problem is not WWC voters

The problems are: voter suppression, turnout among the base and younger voters, pushing money and resources into state races, and dealing with a corrupt media.

[LeftInTX]

44. I agree

[Cha]

59. AND.. he's bi-lingual..

[DeminPennswoods]

43. The media will never let go of ADL/anti-semite meme

I like them both, but look at how the media went wild with the Clinton email stuff. What do you think will happen with Ellison and his defense of Farrakahn even though it was 20+ years ago? It's not a big deal to me because people learn and grow, but the charge has a good chance to derail whatever message Dems try to get across. Perez doesn't have that baggage and he's just as progressive. Further, there's no reason Ellison can't also be involved in whatever the DNC does. He can certainly help shape the DNC with his organizing/grassroots/political expertise.

[tritsofme]

45. Anyone would be better than the disgusting anti-Semitism associated with Ellison.

I stand with the ADL, he is disqualified.

[KamaAina]

51. Has Ellison himself said or done anything anti-Semitic?

Yes, he supported Farrakhan years ago, but, like Malcolm X before him, moved away from the Nation of Islam over time.

[guillaumeb]

53. Because one time Keith Ellison deviated from the bipartisan orthodoxy

of unquestioned support for Israel. No matter how many UN Resolutions it violates, no matter how many illegal settlements are placed on Palestinian land, support for the Israeli State is a given for both parties.

[aidbo]

57. Because if we had Ellison leading the DNC..

..what would the Republicans say?

( )

[NCTraveler]

62. I just read Ellisons bio.

On paper Perez seems to be well established in comparison. I really need to know more about both and hope some others join the mix.

[Gothmog]

66. Here is why I like Tom Perez

This article from Perez has one of the main reasons why I am supporting Perez. I am an election law junkie and I have volunteered a great deal in voter protection efforts. During the Bush administration, the Civil Rights Section and the Voting Rights division of the Civil Rights section of the DOJ was destroyed by the bushies. Partisan hacks were placed in non partisan slots illegally including an idiot named Christian Adams who spearheaded the New Black Panther silliness.

AG Holder and Tom Perez rebuilt the Civil Rights section of the DOJ and the voting rights division. They did a great job and Perez was the lead of the Civil Rights division when he was promoted to Sec. of Labor. This is from Perez's article on why he is running https://mic.com/articles/162459/tom-perez-dnc-chair#.K1AO41GLd

After putting myself through college with Pell Grants and working on the back of a garbage truck, I passed up offers to join white-shoe law firms, instead choosing a career as a civil rights attorney for the U.S. Justice Department prosecuting racially motivated hate crimes and protecting workers from exploitation.

Years later, I led the department's civil rights division as we pushed for progress across the country. We went toe to toe with Republican leaders in states like Texas who want to turn back the clock on voting rights; we stood up to rogue sheriffs like Joe Arpaio who want to immigrant-bait and immigrant-bash; we cracked down on police misconduct and held police departments accountable to their responsibility to uphold the Constitution while protecting communities; we worked aggressively to enforce laws protecting women's access to reproductive health services; and we fought for marriage equality in every state.

GOP voter suppression will be a major issue for the DNC and Perez is the best person to deal with this issue. I have volunteered in voter protection efforts for a long time and Perez is clearly the best person to fight GOP voter suppression

[bettyellen]

75. That's an excellent reason for supporting Perez.... and not having another job is crucia

Too

[Demsrule86]

73. He is liked by all Democratic constiuencies...I like Keith but he will become the story...if

put in charge of the DNC.

[George II]

77. Now let me see, many Democrats have espoused the idea that we need someone.....

....who isn't part of the "establishment" or part of the "problem".

So, what's the problem with Perez, since you point out that he hasn't been in Washington for a long time?

You're presenting (vaguely conflicting) points against him, but haven't stated who might be better.

[geek tragedy]

79. Right now between him and Ellison I prefer the latter

Perez would be a fine gubernatorial candidate but he's not shown any political chops.