DNC Chair emails confirms bias with media and against Sanders and threatens party unity

from The Gray Area:

The resignation of Debbie Wasserman Schultz as chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee came after the disclosure of a trove of hacked emails by Wikileaks showing DNC officials with a clash of egos and working in a very cozy relationship with news media and to undermine Mr. Sanders’s campaign.

In a statement, Sanders said that Wasserman Schultz had made “the right decision” but repeated his criticism of the party for what he describes as the DNC putting its thumb on the scale during the primary contest.

“Debbie Wasserman Schultz has made the right decision for the future of the Democratic Party,” he said. “While she deserves thanks for her years of service, the party now needs new leadership that will open the doors of the party and welcome in working people and young people. The party leadership must also always remain impartial in the presidential nominating process, something which did not occur in the 2016 race.”

As for media coziness, there were pleas for favors, as when a Democratic Party official emailed Chuck Todd, the “Meet the Press” host, for tickets to an exclusive NBC soiree. (“I can’t even get every producer on my cable show into the party,” Mr. Todd replied.)

Emails show that Ms. Wasserman Schultz stewed for weeks over what she perceived as unfair coverage by MSNBC, arranging meetings with executives.

She was particularly displeased by Mika Brzezinski, a co-host of “Morning Joe,” who had questioned Ms. Wasserman Schultz’s impartiality during the Democratic primary battle.

Ms. Wasserman Schultz instructed Mr. Miranda to complain directly to MSNBC’s president, Phil Griffin. Minutes later, she emailed Mr. Todd directly. “Chuck,” she wrote in the subject line, “this must stop.”

The emails show that Ms. Wasserman Schultz sought private meetings with prominent journalists from several leading news outlets, including The New York Times.

Jake Tapper, the CNN anchor, on Friday addressed a leaked email from one of his producers, who was organizing an on-air appearance by Mr. Miranda. “Any particular points he’ll want to make?” the CNN producer asked a Democratic aide, after thanking the aide for being patient “through a melee of G.O.P. nonsense.”

Wasserman Schultz’s resignation was “inevitable,” said Reince Preibus, adding “it shows what an uphill climb the Democrats are facing this week in unifying the party.“

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