It’s not often that I feel the urge to defend Debbie Wasserman Schultz. But this criticism of her in Politico struck me as a little ridiculous:
Many of Obama’s advisers have quietly begun questioning whether they should have picked Wasserman Schultz, an outspoken Florida congresswoman, as his DNC chairwoman. She has clashed with Chicago over her choice of staff and air-time on national TV shows — and they think she comes across as too partisan over the airwaves.
Obama’s brain trust secretly commissioned pollster David Binder to conduct an internal focus study of the popularity of top Obama campaign surrogates. Number one was former press secretary Robert Gibbs, followed by Cutter. Traveling press secretary Jen Psaki, who was added to a second study, was third. Axelrod, Plouffe and current White House press secretary Jay Carney were bunched in the middle. Wasserman Schultz ranked at the bottom.
This seems hard to believe. Conservatives can find plenty to complain about when it comes to Wasserman Schultz, but on the partisan hackery scale, is she really any worse than Gibbs, Carney, Cutter, et al.?
Apparently that’s what some members of the Obama campaign want us to believe. Back in February, the Wall Street Journal reported that Obama advisors made a concerted effort to get DWS to “tone it down”:
Obama advisers have occasionally told [Wasserman Schultz] to “tone it down” and “back off a smidgen,” Ms. Wasserman Schultz says. She agreed with them to enlist two seasoned Democratic female pros, Anita Dunn and Hilary Rosen, to begin giving her occasional political advice and media training, advisers say. “I’m glad to get constructive criticism,” Ms. Wasserman Schultz says.
The media pros prepped her for an important Jan. 13 appearance on the “Bill Maher Show”—from her tone to her clothes (they know better than to suggest she blow out her curly hair, advisers say). Ms. Wasserman Schultz had lots of “don’t” instructions: Don’t make news, don’t try to be funny, don’t laugh at the comedian’s jokes, don’t use your hands (although she balled her fists at one point and did “karate chops” when making her points). Her biggest “do:” Attack Mitt Romney, which she managed to do despite the topic of discussion: Marines urinating on dead Taliban fighters.
So according to the Journal, the Obama campaign’s problems with Wasserman Schultz had nothing to do with the partisanship. The campaign liked her partisanship. Here’s what they didn’t like, according to the article: the loud clothes, the curly hair, the hand gestures, her laugh. Are you getting the hint here?
Gibbs and Axelrod are celebrated for being obnoxious loudmouths. Cutter and Psaki can spin and unfairly attack Republicans on TV all they want. But Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the pushy Jewish woman with the Long Island accent, is apparently the one who needs to “tone it down.” Here’s a question: Would she be getting the same grief from Chicago if she wasn’t a woman? How about if she had straighter hair and was born in Atlanta instead of Forest Hills?
Maybe these anonymous Obama advisors trashing her to Politico and the WSJ are right that she’s not a great fit for the position. But I can’t see how she’s any more partisan or more aggressive or more obnoxious than the others. As far as I can tell, all of them are equally adherent to the party dogma, and Wasserman Schultz should not change a thing about her hair.
nI am not sure how anyone in the Obama camp can say this with a straight face… Seriously! The Obama administration is one of the most partisan but also Obama is one of the most this skinned presidents that I have seen in my life time. The conga line of buffoons that occupy Obama inner circle and administration mirror Debbie Wasserman-Schultz. Debbie better watch out she is about to be thrown under Obama's bus…
I agree with everything you write except not being "sure how anyone in the Obama camp can say this with a straight face." n nShoveling BS is second nature with this crowd.
Debbie Wasserman Schultz is without a doubt the most nauseating acting & looking skank around! Either STRAIGHTen your dirty greasy frizz mop or shave your head, "witch!" She always looks mangy, plus she is an embarrassment to her own Jewish faith! Also she's a bold face liar!
She's worse just from the perspective of the tone of her voice. Maybe it's a male thing, but she sounds like she would nag you to death.
It's not about her hair. Ms. DWS can not deliver the fundraising. I wonder how Steve Israel is doing with the DCCC… n
Saying DWS is no worse than the rest of Obama's crew, is damning with very faint praise to say the least..
She's an 'effin joke. n nI hope they keep her. n nEvery Jewish boy's nightmare wife. n n
I would replace her. Her voice is grating, the hair doesn't help either.
I'm Jewish and she makes me cringe. She's stupid and her voice is beyond annoying. Not that I like Gibbs, Axelrod and the rest of the slime brigade, including Reid, Pelosi, Biden and the Prez. I'd like them all cast into the outer darkness so I'd never have to hear or see them again. Maybe they can share a circle of hell with Todd Akin.
The Christian concept of Hell, which Dante was referencing, requires that one either have done things which one ought not have, or failed to do that of which one was obligated — and further that the consequences be so horrific that no forgiveness was ever possible, and/or never having sought any prior to ones death. n nDWS is just a dumb idiot who say stupid things. Remember too that you have to *know* what you are doing is wrong — same thing as in Judiasm with children below a certain age. I doubt that DWS has either the intelligence or the maturity to understand what she is advocating….
"want. But Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the pushy Jewish woman with the Long Island accent, is apparently the one who needs to “tone it down.” Here’s a question: Would she be getting the same grief from Chicago if she wasn’t a woman? How about if she had straighter hair and was born in Atlanta instead of Forest Hills? " n nYes we know she is a big AIPAC supporter. Why else would a magazine that is ostensibly conservative be calling the democrats anti semites for wanting to fire her?
is she really any worse than Gibbs, Carney, Cutter, et al.?</i? n nSrsly? n nOh yes. She is the bottom of the food chain.
She's got the same problem Biden does — saying really stupid things. nNow why is Biden going to the Repub convention????