Leaked emails threaten image of Democratic party unity
July 23, 2016A cache of leaked emails from Democratic party leaders’ accounts includes at least two messages suggesting an insider effort to hobble Bernie Sanders’ upstart campaign, a revelation that threatens an uneasy truce within the party.
The release Friday of more than 19,000 emails sent and received by seven top Democratic National Committee officials, by anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks, comes at a time when the party is anxious to project an image of unity.
It also threatened to overshadow Hillary Clinton’s first joint rally Saturday with her newly-named running mate, Tim Kaine, two days before the Democratic Party Convention kicks off in Philadelphia to officially crown the White House nominees.
Clinton’s Republican opponent Donald Trump pounced on the leaks as he tries to scoop up disaffected voters who feel Sanders – a self-described democratic socialist from Vermont initially dismissed as a fringe candidate – was denied a fair shot at the nomination by the political establishment.
“Leaked e-mails of DNC show plans to destroy Bernie Sanders. Mock his heritage and much more. On-line from Wikileakes, really vicious. RIGGED,” the bombastic real estate developer tweeted Saturday.
In a May 5 exchange, DNC Chief Financial Officer Brad Marshall asked if someone could ask a person he did not name, presumably Sanders, about his religious belief in the conservative states of Kentucky and West Virginia.
“Does he believe in a God. He had skated on saying he has a Jewish heritage,” the message said.
“I think I read he is an atheist. This could make several points difference with my peeps. My Southern Baptist peeps would draw a big difference between a Jew and an atheist.”
Amy Dacey, the committee’s CEO, responded in all caps: “AMEN.”
The Intercept news website quoted Marshall as saying, “I do not recall this. I can say it would not have been Sanders. It would probably be about a surrogate.”
A May 21 email chain discussed Sanders’ assertion in an interview that he would oust party chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz once he’s elected to the White House.
Writing from a Gmail account that media reports said belonged to Wasserman Schultz, the chairwoman noted, “This is a silly story. He isn’t going to be president.”
Neither the DNC nor Sanders’ camp have responded publicly to the leaks.
Sanders waged a feisty yearlong battle against Clinton in the Democratic primaries. She clinched enough delegates to secure the nomination in early June, but Sanders did not concede defeat and endorse her until July 12.
AFP contributed this report.
Similar posts
-
Israel Is Held To A Higher Standard Than Any Country
April 25, 2024In the intricate tapestry of global affairs, one nation stands out for enduring scrutiny and condem...
-
Israel Has The Most Moral Military In The World
April 10, 2024In the heart of a region often riddled with conflict, Israel stands out not only for its technologi...
-
The Resilience of the Israeli People
April 2, 2024Visitors from around the world have seen Hamas's October 7th Massacre's destruction in southern Isr...
-
Israel: Small Size, Big Impact
March 21, 2024Nestled along the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea, Israel is a land of immense historical sig...
-
Israelis Are Fighting For Their Lives
February 21, 2024By Jonathan S. Tobin The world looks a lot different from Kibbutz Kfar Aza than it does in the U...
-
Over 2 Million Arabs Live In Israel
January 23, 2024In the complex landscape of the Middle East, where diverse cultures and identities intersect, Israe...
-
'Fauda' Star Idan Amedi Injured Fighting in Gaza
January 8, 2024Despite the severity of his injuries, Amedi's father assured Israeli news channels that his life is...
-
Israel Is A Great Country To Live In
December 28, 2023Nestled at the crossroads of the Middle East, Israel stands as a vibrant and dynamic nation, offeri...