Though things could always change, and often do, it appears that the Democratic Party is on track to lose majority control of the U.S. Senate in the fall elections, and to make little if any kind of dent in the Republican Party's majority in the House of Representatives.
Since the left never blames any of its own policies and positions for its woes, it must, Alinsky-style, find someone to demonize, even if it's one of their own. That "Koch Brothers are the root of all evil" campaign has fallen flat, and the bogus "war on women" meme is wearing thin. Organizing For Action emails are now so desperate that they've taken to claiming that Republicas love polluted water; not even they can really believe that nonsense. So it all must be Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz's fault, which explains the appearance of Edward-Isaac Dovere's lengthy, leak-driven, nasty hit piece at the Politico on Wednesday.
Searches at the respective web sites indicate that the Associated Press and the New York Times have ignored the exposed fissure between the White House and Ms. Schultz, reinforcing the notion that the Politico is the repository for stories reflecting negatively on Democrats designed to go no further than the reaches of the Washington Beltway. Just 17 months ago, a Times reporter followed the Florida Congresswoman around for a self-congratulatory item Schultz co-authored called "How Debbie Wasserman Schultz Does It."
Dovere came out Wednesday with guns blazing, and didn't let up (bolds are mine; links are in original):
Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz is in a behind-the-scenes struggle with the White House, congressional Democrats and Washington insiders who have lost confidence in her as both a unifying leader and reliable party spokesperson at a time when they need her most.
Long-simmering doubts about her have reached a peak after two recent public flubs: criticizing the White House’s handling of the border crisis and comparing the tea party to wifebeaters.
The perception of critics is that Wasserman Schultz spends more energy tending to her own political ambitions than helping Democrats win. This includes using meetings with DNC donors to solicit contributions for her own PAC and campaign committee, traveling to uncompetitive districts to court House colleagues for her potential leadership bid and having DNC-paid staff focus on her personal political agenda.
She’s become a liability to the DNC, and even to her own prospects, critics say.
Dovere reports that the congresswoman tried to get the DNC to cover her wardrobe costs three separate times and was rebuffed in each attempt. Yet:
... Wasserman Schultz denies that she ever tried to get the DNC to pick up her clothing tab. “I think that would be a totally inappropriate use of DNC funds,” she said in a statement. “I never asked someone to do that for me, I would hope that no one would seek that on my behalf, and I’m not aware that anyone did.”
... But sources with knowledge of the discussions say Wasserman Schultz’s efforts couldn’t have been clearer.
Meanwhile, she and President Obama barely speak:
Obama and Wasserman Schultz have rarely even talked since 2011. They don’t meet about strategy or messaging. They don’t talk much on the phone.
Instead, the DNC chairwoman stakes out the president of the United States at the end of photo lines at events and fundraisers.
“You need another picture, Debbie?” Obama tends to say, according to people who’ve been there for the encounters.
The hits just keep on coming:
- The President's people "don’t want her" involved in strategy talks.
- She was almost replaced after the 2012 general election.
- That she is still around at all is a sign of Obama's “benign neglect” of the DNC.
- Her trips on behalf of the party indicate that she is more concerned with ultimately getting a party leadership position in Congress than in helping Democrats in close races win this fall.
- She hysterically claims that the "DWS" in "DWS PAC" stands for "Democrats win seats."
- Her relationship with Hillary Clinton, who is set to take over the party's direction should she win the 2016 nomination, is icy.
It's hard to imagine the rest of the establishment press ignoring a Republican National Committee chairperson saddled with this degree of negativity. But that's largely what's happening. Of about 50 relevant results returned in a Google News search on her full name, only a handful come from national establishment press outlets.
Cross-posted at BizzyBlog.com.
