DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz
The goal of Democratic unity at the party’s convention in hit a speed bump with the leak of emails which led to Debbie Wasserman Schultz announcing her resignation as Democratic National Committee Chair.
Wasserman Schultz is expected to step down at the end of the convention. Internal emails released by WikiLeaks appear to show party officials worked on efforts to damage Senator Bernie Sanders’ campaign during the primaries.
“Sometimes life is stranger than fiction,” said Wisconsin Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, in Philadelphia for the Democratic National Convention. “The timing of it, of course, is unbelieavable. It’s hard to even imagine how this could have broke two days before the convention. Plus there’s all these strange rumors that the Russians are involved, so I don’t know what to make of it all.”
Barca said “the good news is that quick and decisive action was taken,” with the selection of Donna Brazile as interim DNC chair. “She certainly knows her way around the block and she knows how to lead political efforts.”
Wasserman Schultz is scheduled to gavel the convention to its opening Monday, and at least one Wisconsin delegate thinks Brazile should be at the podium in her place.
“We don’t need a situation where we blatantly put it in the face of Sanders supporters after what’s happened, that we will continue to act like this didn’t happen,” said state Representative David Bowen of Milwaukee, a Sanders delegate. “If we really want to move forward, I don’t think we need to spark up that kind of negativity at our convention.”
Sanders is scheduled to take the stage tonight in Philadelpha, along with Senator Elizabeth Warren and First Lady Michelle Obama. Wasserman Schultz was booed Friday morning by delegates from her home state of Florida.