Galindez writes: "The Democratic National Committee has announced the members of its 'unity commission.' The committee will be charged with reforming the party nominating process."
Senator Bernie Sanders. (photo: Getty)
20 April 17
Please join Scott Galindez and RSN for a livestream video of "Bernie Sanders & Keith Ellison - Come Together & Fight Back Tour 2017" in Omaha, Nebraska, tonight, April 20 at 6PM. -AW/RSN
he Democratic National Committee has announced the members of its “unity commission.” The committee will be charged with reforming the party nominating process. They will make recommendations for limiting the role of superdelegates in the primary process, debating rules for caucuses and primaries, and bigger-picture recommendations about party structure and competitiveness.
Senator Bernie Sanders issued the following statement Wednesday:
“I look forward to working with the new Unity Reform Commission of the Democratic National Committee.
“It is my full intent, and the intent of the eight men and women I named to the commission, to fight vigorously for fundamental reforms in the Democratic Party. We must build a 50-state, grassroots party that opens its doors to the working class and to young people all across the nation – and that is prepared to take on the big money interests that have so much influence over the political and economic life of our country. We must build a strong grassroots, progressive movement at the local, state and national level that encourages bold, new leadership.
“Our political revolution is well underway, and it is my hope that this Commission will actively move the Democratic Party, its rules, and its practices, forward to ensure that we create a government that works for all Americans and not just the billionaire class.
“I chose the eight men and women listed below to sit on the commission because I know that they support meaningful reform. They have my full confidence, and I look forward to seeing the results of their hard work.”
The members of the Unity Commission appointed by Sanders are:
Larry Cohen, Vice Chair of the Unity Reform Commission, District of Columbia
Hon. Gus Newport, California
Jane Kleeb, Nebraska
Jim Zogby, District of Columbia
Hon. Nina Turner, Ohio
Hon. Lucy Flores, California
Jeff Weaver, Virginia
Nomiki Konst, New York
The members of the committee with ties to Clinton are former chief administrative officer Charlie Baker, former senior adviser Maya Harris, former delegate director David Huynh, former Nevada state director Jorge Neri, former Colorado state director Emmy Ruiz, and Elaine Kamarck, a fellow at the Brookings Institution who worked in former president Bill Clinton’s White House.
Iowa Democratic activist Jan Bauer, Democratic strategist Jeff Berman, Ohio Rep. Marcia Fudge, former Maryland Democratic Party Chairwoman Yvette Lewis, and former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb round out the group.
The commission holds its first meeting in early May in Washington, D.C., with a report due to the committee before the new year.
This commission will either open the doors to progressives or leave the “third way” Democrats in control of a shrinking party.
Scott Galindez attended Syracuse University, where he first became politically active. The writings of El Salvador's slain archbishop Oscar Romero and the on-campus South Africa divestment movement converted him from a Reagan supporter to an activist for Peace and Justice. Over the years he has been influenced by the likes of Philip Berrigan, William Thomas, Mitch Snyder, Don White, Lisa Fithian, and Paul Wellstone. Scott met Marc Ash while organizing counterinaugural events after George W. Bush's first stolen election. Scott moved to Des Moines in 2015 to cover the Iowa Caucus.
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