Donald Trump would like to use the Wikileaks story to splinter the Democratic coalition. Bernie ain’t buying it and will be giving a barn burner of a speech tonight. Hopefully that will help blunt Trump’s efforts on this front.
But some long-time Hillary supporters have been denouncing Sanders supporters (and others) who have voiced concern over the leaked emails. Remember: while Donald Trump is trying to use this wedge against Hillary and the Democratic party, he didn’t create the wedge. The emails were authored by individuals working for the DNC.
That’s why I’m grateful that Hillary — again — has shown wisdom and class in her handling of issues during this election, and supported removal of DWS as head of the DNC (including denying her a speaking role at the convention), just as Donna Brazile issued an apology to Bernie for the DNC emails. By pushing Schultz out the door have they made DWS the fall guy for the email dust-up? Perhaps. But it is the smart move both short and long term.
Short term, Hillary is helping to disarm this issue as the convention begins. Rational Bernie supporters will see that she has joined Sanders in pushing for new leadership at the DNC given its failures during this (and past) cycles. I found the emailed suggestion of using Bernie’s religious views against him in some more conservative states particularly inappropriate, and frankly it should be a firable offense for Brad Marshall and not just DWS. But pushing DWS out the door is an important start, and sends a message that Hillary recognizes the need for change at the DNC. That allows the controversy to move to the back burner at the convention, so that attention can be focused where it is needed now: getting Hillary Clinton elected President and ensuring that Donald Trump never sees the White House as anything more than a tourist.
Of course, pushing DWS out the door (or even Marshall if he is ultimately fired as well) won’t change the minds of hard-core Bernie or Busters — but they were never going to support Hillary in any case. If the email “scandal” can be reduced to a talking point for dead-enders who never intend to support the Democratic nominee, we can live with that.
Long term, by nipping this issue in the bud and holding somebody accountable, Hillary is helping to make sure the issue does not fester and create future problems for Democrats. If the leaked emails continued to feed the narrative of the DNC using its staff, resources, and institutional power to thwart a progressive candidate, and went without any appropriate response, the message to future progressive challengers would be clear. Bernie pursued progressive change by campaigning for it within the Democratic party. Do we really want to tell his supporters — and whomever they may coalesce behind in future elections up and down ballot — that such efforts are doomed to failure and that they should instead look for a home outside the Democratic party? That would give Trump and the GOP an unbelievable gift.
We’ve seen some folks trying to overstate this controversy and use it to attack Hillary’s candidacy — and others trying to sweep it under the rug and dismiss those who are troubled by the emails and what they reflect. Fortunately, Hillary has chosen the wisest course to address the controversy: respond quickly and appropriately so that the story can be put to rest not by trying to bury it, but by recognizing the need for change at the DNC and starting that process.
So Hillary — with an assist from Bernie tonight — is effectively countering Trump’s efforts to use the emails as a wedge issue. And won’t it be ironic if this strategem blows back on Trump, by getting journalists and voters to take a closer look at his ties to Russia and Putin? Now that would be some karma for you.