Monday, May 22, 2017

California Democratic Party Leader Leads ‘F*ck Donald Trump’ Chant at Convention



California Democratic Party Leader Leads ‘F*ck Donald Trump’ Chant at Convention
by Adelle Nazarian 21 May 2017
Outgoing California Democratic Party chairman John Burton left his post of eight years on Saturday by waving his middle fingers in the air and rallying his party’s annual convention to chant “F*ck Donald Trump!”

Cameras also captured House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi laughing as Burton flipped off the president. Former Obama administration Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis was also spotted relishing in the event.

At one point during the convention, Burton reportedly told a universal healthcare protester to “Put your f*ing sign down man, we’re all for it. Jesus Christ.” According to the San Jose Mercury News, he previously told a larger group of protesters, “There’s some people who have been fighting for that issue before you guys were born. You ought to get on with it.”

Also on Saturday, longtime Democratic leader Eric Bauman was elected as chairman of the California Democratic Party Saturday, by just over 60 votes. But his rival, Kimberly Ellis, refused to concede, and has reportedly stated that she is in touch with attorneys over the matter.

“This race is not done,” Ellis told hundreds of her supporters, who were calling for a recount at the California Democratic Convention, according to the Los Angeles Times. She reportedly added, “We will see you all in the morning.”

Bauman, on the other hand, issued a victory message to his supporters:
There is no denying that there is a problem when so many of our hardworking activists feel that they are not welcome within our Party and that they have been slighted and shut out of the process. We cannot win the vital elections in 2018 and beyond without the energy, commitment and participation of every part of our Democratic family.

Bauman has headed the Los Angeles County Democratic since 2000 and has served as the Golden State’s Democratic party vice chairman since 2009. His victory in the race placed a spotlight on the nationwide battle between the party’s establishment and more progressive wing. According to the Times, “Bauman was a favorite of the party establishment, while Ellis drew the backing of liberals who supported Sen. Bernie Sanders in last year’s presidential primary.”

He recently endorsed Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) to chair the Democratic National Committee. Former Secretary of labor Tom Perez won the chairmanship, but appointed Ellison as his deputy chair.

Saturday’s convention also saw some drama when a convention staff employee interrupted Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), as she spoke at the African American Caucus meeting, to ask her to shorten her speech.

As soon as the man approached Waters’s podium, one of the women sitting on stage to her left shouted, “Hey, hey, hey, hey.” Another woman in the audience could be heard saying, “leave her alone.” Soon after that, one of the men seated on stage stood up and starting pushing the man away from the congresswoman’s podium.

Waters continued, “That’s alright. That’s okay. They try to shut me up all the time.” Some audience members stood up, and the room broke into applause.

Waters, who has been calling for President Donald Trump’s impeachment, was talking about Trump’s decision to fire former FBI Director James Comey and his meetings with the Russian ambassador and foreign minister.

In the back of the room, the man who had asked Waters to wrap up her speech was surrounded by what appeared to be several members of Waters team. Some chanted to Waters, “Keep going! Keep going!”

At one point during her talk, the microphone was cut off, but Waters kept talking.

African American Caucus Chair Darren Parker said, “Our caucus pays for this room… And it has been tradition if we were going to run over that we pay additional fees.” He added, “I have never, ever seen anyone from staff walk up to a speaker, interrupt the speaker and then cut off the sound.” He said, “Damn it, we will not tolerate this!” and thumped his fist on the table before the audience broke into applause.

According to the Sacramento Bee, the three-day convention also had a raucous start Friday, as liberal activists booed and heckled DNC Chair Tom Perez after they marched from the state Capitol to the convention center to promote a universal health care program.

San Jose Mercury News
Susan Goldberg was an executive editor for the San Jose Mercury News, and the president of the American Society of News Editors.

Note: Stephen Engelberg was a director at the American Society of News Editors, and is a managing editor for ProPublica.
Gara LaMarche was a director at ProPublica, a VP & director of U.S. programs for the Open Society Foundations, and an associate director for the Human Rights Watch.
Rosa Brooks was a special counsel to the president for the Open Society Foundations, and columnist for the Los Angeles Times.
Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Human Rights Watch, Demos, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the Economic Policy Institute, the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank), and the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.
George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, was a benefactor at the Human Rights Watch, the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, and Nancy Pelosi was invited to his 2013 wedding reception.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for ProPublica, the Human Rights Watch, Demos, the New America Foundation, and the Economic Policy Institute.
Jay T. Harris was a senior fellow at Demos, and a publisher for the San Jose Mercury News.
Susan Goldberg was an executive editor for the San Jose Mercury News, and the president of the American Society of News Editors.
Melanie A. Sill was a director at the American Society of News Editors, and an editor & SVP for the Sacramento Bee.
John Decker was a photographer for the Sacramento Bee, and is a friend of Joe Mathews.
Joe Mathews is a friend of John Decker, and a senior fellow at the New America Foundation.
Jonathan Soros is a director at the New America Foundation, George Soros’s son, and a global board member for the Open Society Foundations.
Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Human Rights Watch, the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank), the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, Demos, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and the Economic Policy Institute.
John J. Studzinski is a director at the Human Rights Watch, a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank), and was a co-head of investment banking for the HSBC Holdings plc.
HSBC Holdings plc was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.
James B. Comey was a director at the HSBC Holdings plc, and a director for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (think tank).
Glover Park Group was a lobby firm for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. 
Howard Wolfson was a partner at the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and is married to Terri McCullough.
Terri McCullough is married to Howard Wolfson, and Nancy Pelosi’s chief of staff.
Nancy Pelosi’s chief of staff is Terri McCullough, the minority leader for the U.S. House of Representatives, was the chairman for the California Democratic Party, invited to George Soros’s 2013 wedding reception, and Cecile Richards was her deputy chief of staff.
Cecile Richards was Nancy Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff, the founder & president for America Votes, is the president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund.
Planned Parenthood Action Fund is a national partner with America Votes.
United Food and Commercial Workers International Union is a national partner with America Votes.
Joseph T. Hansen was the president of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, a director at the Economic Policy Institute, and is a founding chairman for Change to Win.
Anna Burger was a chair for Change to Win, a secretary-treasurer for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and a director at the Economic Policy Institute.
Service Employees International Union is a national partner with America Votes.
Keith Ellison is a director at the Economic Policy Institute, and a co-chair for the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
Bernard Sanders is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and a U.S. Senate senator.
Maxine Waters is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

No comments: