The Democratic National Committee elected former labour secretary Thomas Perez as its chair on Saturday, who has the uphill task of reviving the fortunes of the party ahead of the mid-term elections in 2018 and the 2020 presidential contest. Republicans dominate the American political scene, controlling the White House, both houses of the Congress and 33 of the 50 State administrations.
The fierce battle that preceded the election of Mr. Perez showed that the deep ideological and personality clashes that crippled the party and cost the November presidential election that it had taken for granted have not been resolved yet. Mr. Perez, supported by Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, defeated Keith Ellison, who was supported by Senator Bernie Sanders, in a close contest which was widely seen as an “establishment versus revolution” battle for the future of the party.
First such Latino
Mr. Perez, progressive in political views but guarded in strategy, is the first Latino to head the DNC. In an attempt to unify the party, Mr. Perez named Mr. Ellison deputy chairman even as the latter’s supporters chanted “party for the people, not big money,” in Atlanta, Georgia, where delegates met to elect their new leader. “We don’t have the luxury to walk out of this room divided,” said Mr. Ellison, asking his supporters to calm down.
Mr. Ellison, an African-American, is also the first Muslim member of the U.S Congress. A prominent Jewish donor to the Democratic Party and the Anti Defamation League (ADL) had called for the defeat of Mr. Ellison, calling his views on the Israel-Palestine conflict “anti-Semitic.”
Congratulating Mr. Perez and Mr. Ellison, Ms. Clinton said she was “excited for strong, unified party standing for best of our country into the future.” Mr. Obama said Mr. Perez would “lay the groundwork for a new generation of Democratic leadership for this big, bold, inclusive, dynamic America we love so much.”
“… it is imperative that Tom understands that the same-old, same-old is not working and that we must open the doors of the party to working people and young people in a way that has never been done before," Mr. Sanders said in a statement, offering support for the new chair.
Trump tweets congrats
Taking a potshot at his political opponents, President Donald Trump tweeted: “Congratulations to Thomas Perez, who has just been named Chairman of the DNC. I could not be happier for him, or for the Republican Party!”
“The race for DNC Chairman was, of course, totally ‘rigged.’ Bernie’s guy, like Bernie himself, never had a chance. Clinton demanded Perez!” Mr. Trump said in another tweet.
Calling Mr. Trump the “worst President in the history of the U.S,” Mr. Perez said a unified Democratic Party could ensure he is defeated in 2020.
