Debbie Wasserman Schultz-- What A Downer!

Long before I ever met Howard Dean, my grandfather was my political mentor. An old style socialist, he told me I might have to vote for Democrats to thwart fascists-- he was from Europe and unlike the politically correct nitwits who don't understand the nature of the political right, he always referred to Republicans as fascists-- but that I should never trust Democrats. "They're a party," he told me when I was probably too young to understand, "that's filled with politicians with no spines." His defining moment politically had been when the fascist Speaker of the New York State Assembly, Thaddeus Sweet, immediately on becoming Speaker on January 7, 1920, expelled the 5 Assemblymen elected on the Socialist Party ticket. The vote was 140-6, only one Democrat standing with the 5 Socialists-- and with democracy. When another election was held, the 5 Socialists ran again-- and each was opposed by a "fusion candidate," someone who represented both the Democratic and Republican Party. The 5 Socialists were reelected, although never seated. (We'll soon be seeing fusionists in action again-- Democrats who back the Grand Bargain Obama and Boehner are cooking up.)

Thursday night I was watching the Charlotte convention when out trotted the Fanjul sugar barons very own congresswoman, Debbie Wasserman Schultz. I felt the bile rising immediately. Let me see if I can find what I tweeted. Yes, here it is:


But then I stopped. She started telling her personal story and I was moved. She talked about being a breast cancer survivor and I was ashamed. So I shut up. But I soon had a call from a Wisconsin delegate pal of mine who told me something that got me going again. Wasserman Schultz, who had been passed over by Pelosi for the DCCC chair (in favor of the more "reptilian"-- Pelosi's phrase-- Steve Israel!) was appointed DNC Chair by Obama. That fits nicely with her goal of being the first Jewish Speaker of the House. Anyway, as DNC Chair she went to the Wisconsin Democratic Party breakfast. She got up and said a few words about what wonderful candidates Pat Kreitlow and New Dem Jamie Wall are and then she had a few nasty words about Paul Ryan. But despite Rob Zerban sitting right there, she never acknowledged him. She's been a loud and persistent voice against his candidacy but she was so obviously insulting that many of the delegates were mortified by her boorish behavior. (The speaker just before her had been talking about Rob, so it's not like she can claim to have "forgotten.") But this is just like her anyway. Remember when she sabotaged the three Democratic challengers in Miami-Dade because they ran against her Republican buddies (and Fanjul clients)? And remember when she insulted the whole American progressive movement in the form of Doug Tudor? She's a real piece of work, that one-- and very dangerous.

I had another acquaintance who survived breast cancer. She used to pull out the story whenever she was about to pick your pocket. She's very much like Wassserman Schultz. And if you'd like to help prove her wrong-- by beating Paul Ryan and removing that dire threat to our families and our country-- you can contribute to Rob Zerban's campaign here. We're halfway to our goal. The DCCC has never-- not once-- challenged Paul Ryan's reelection bids. Debbie Wasserman Schultz has been part of a conspiracy to keep him in office. And that's a fact. If we're going to get rid of him it's not going to be because we pay any attention to her power-mad, careerist ravings. Replacing Paul Ryan with Rob Zerban should be a goal for every self-respecting Democrat in America, regardless of what Debbie Wasserman Schultz thinks.