DNC chair dismisses GOP effort to paint Occupy Wall Street movement as anti-Semitic
The Georgia Democratic party slipped its blue collar on Wednesday, swapping a Midtown address for a new headquarters in a post industrial neighborhood off Howell Mill Road in Atlanta – across from the water works.
On hand to help cut the ribbon was Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee and congresswoman from Florida.
The place was too crowded for decent conversation, but she called on her way to the airport. She opened the interview with a question.
“How long have you worked for the newspaper?”
Some 32 years, I said.
“So I remember you,” the DNC chairman said. “My first job out of college was working for Cathey Steinberg when she ran for the Public Service Commission. I was the 20-year-old in the background.”
Young Debbie Wasserman had been straight out of the University of Florida in 1988. The woman she went to work for was a 12-year state representative from DeKalb County, a liberal, divorced Democrat with a good record on consumer issues.
Steinberg was also Jewish. And since Attorney General Sam Olens – a Republican — only last year became the first Jewish, non-judicial candidate to win a statewide race, you know that Steinberg didn’t fare well.
The big city legislator lost in a primary runoff to Bobby Rowan, a conservative populist from the aptly named town of Enigma, down in south Georgia.
We were still shy about some topics back then. Rowan didn’t mention Steinberg’s religion directly. But he often cited her education at Carnegie Mellon University in New York – never mind that the school is actually in Pittsburgh – and eagerly reminded voters that Steinberg had sponsored legislation “legalizing whiskey on Sunday.”
Twenty-some years later, just as we are more modern and thus improved, we have also become more direct.
As Wasserman Schultz arrived in Atlanta, the Republican National Committee challenged her and other Democrats to condemn signs of anti-Semiticism among the Occupy Wall Street protestors in New York and elsewhere.
The GOP helpfully provided a link to a YouTube video of a young man abusing an elderly one wearing a yarmulke.
“Democrats were quick to single out any instances of perceived extremism among Tea Party supporters, but with Occupy Wall Street, they turn a blind eye,” wrote RNC communications director Sean Spicer.
Wasserman Schultz was unimpressed. “It’s the height of hypocrisy for Republicans. I’m a Jewish woman. The leadership of the Republican party – [chairman] Reince Priebus, Sean Spicer — neither of them have any experience with anti-Semitism,” the DNC chairman said.
“No one condones anti-Semitic language, least of all me,” Wasserman Schultz said. “And that kind of hateful rhetoric doesn’t belong on either side of the aisle. But the charge that they’ve made absolutely smacks of politics.”
She pointed out that leaders of the Anti-Defamation League – “the watchdog of true anti-Semitic activity” – said this week that such incidents have been “incidental.”
Several hundred Democrats squeezed into their new quarters, to meet Wasserman Schultz. And to rub elbows with the likes of Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis, former U.S. senator Max Cleland and at least two members of Congress – David Scott of Atlanta and Hank Johnson of Decatur.
Not surprisingly, Herman Cain – who is not a Democrat, but is black and is running for president – was a significant topic of conversation.
“I encourage people to get in the process, and as a Georgian, I wish him well through the Republican primary,” said the mayor – who is firmly in President Barack Obama’s camp. And as for Cain’s claim that, as the GOP nominee, he would win the votes of a third of all African-Americans?
“Herman Cain will not win 30 percent of the black vote,” Reed told AJC reporter Eric Stirgus. “He will not win 20 percent of the black vote.”
A Democratic gathering, of course, was no place to find fans of Cain’s “999 plan” – a shift to a 9 percent corporate income tax, a 9 percent personal income tax, and a 9 percent national sales tax.
“The ‘999 plan’ is a regressive plan that would hurt working families, hurt the middle class. The last thing we need to do is to create tax policy that is going to be overly burdensome to people who are already struggling,” said Wasserman Schultz, after the event.
But she didn’t sound any more hostile to Cain’s idea than Mitt Romney or Rick Perry had during Tuesday’s GOP presidential debate in Las Vegas.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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76 comments Add your comment
GaBlue
October 19th, 2011
1:30 pm
Home, Sweet Home!
td
October 19th, 2011
1:40 pm
Why do they need a HQ’s? They are not going to win any statewide elections in the next ten years so they are just wasting their money.
honested
October 19th, 2011
1:48 pm
More space will be needed as the ‘new republicans’ and teapottys realize how their own people have abused them!
GaBlue
October 19th, 2011
1:52 pm
td,
Why are Georgia right wingers such busybodies, poking their noses in and offering their opinions on things that are none of their gosh darn business? What, you don’t have your own interests, and you have to comment on what other people do with their time and money? How sad.
Jim S.
October 19th, 2011
1:54 pm
The people of Georgia are better off with a competitive Democratic Party. Old Timers may point to the time when we were a one party state in favor of the Dems and say that the State did better once the Republicans were competitive. The same holds true now. It may take a while to rebuild that party in Georgia, but the party will adapt and eventually take advantage of the inevitable arrogance and over reaching of the party in charge.
Dumb and Dumber
October 19th, 2011
2:08 pm
Cue the Max Cleland is a terrorist sympathizer drivel from the right-wingers (thanks Saxby!).
td
October 19th, 2011
2:16 pm
GaBlue
October 19th, 2011
1:52 pm
I know you just did not say that when we have had more than 20 blogs in a row about inside the GOP and the vast majority of the posters were libs?
findog
October 19th, 2011
2:17 pm
td, I think you missed the point that they have gone from a corporate suite type of location to now being in an industrial park
td
October 19th, 2011
2:21 pm
findog
October 19th, 2011
2:17 pm
I did miss that one and thank you for pointing it out. They might as well have went to the basement of the Chairman and saved some real money.
Politi Cal
October 19th, 2011
2:46 pm
Wilson, Roosevelt, Kennedy, Carter, Mondale, Humphrey…that’s really blue collar, by gum. Right.
honested
October 19th, 2011
2:50 pm
findog
The new location will probably have better access and parking, allowing for the huge number of volunteers that will be ready and willing to overcome the burden forced on us by the ruling party in GA.
honested
October 19th, 2011
2:52 pm
kevin,
But Senator Cleland was at least 4 times the Senator that sniveling twit saxby has shown to be!
Ed O'Dwyer
October 19th, 2011
2:54 pm
Kevin: Your insensitive and in poor taste comment will not will any votes for the GOP. Shows us what kind of person you are. GOP trolls won’t convince me to change my opinions. Only reasonable discussions will.
JM
October 19th, 2011
3:00 pm
People wonder why we have problems with our country and they blame the politicians. Based on the comments of many people posting here, you’re better off looking in the mirror if you have a problem with our elected officials. You put them there.
Even if you disagree with a politician’s stance on an issue, calling someone like Max Cleland a “stump” is exactly what gives so many a bad name. Show a little bit of respect and perhaps you’ll receive some in return.
ld
October 19th, 2011
3:04 pm
Perhaps it’s just my own misunderstanding as to what type of column you are writing–I thought it was an editorial column but sometimes, like today, you just parrot stuff that would be matter-of-fact local news. [And why was it not a news story rather than a column--why would AJC not put such items in this pre-election period on the news page (and/or w/some comparison as to GOP offices) rather than, say, "dead" news about a trial & execution? ] Did you just write this after reading a press release you were sent? Did you think to talk w/anyone about the “mission” of the Dems–or why they felt they needed location change? How would locating in an industrial park be “going post industrial”–actually, it sounds like they’re locating where “employees” their base can find them on the way to and from work. What prompted you to use the term, “post industrial”? You’re capable of better reporting w/more insight–you’ve done better.
AndyDandy
October 19th, 2011
3:05 pm
@Honested, 2.52pm; You were still in diapers and drinking from the right one and was not able to have known what 50+ years of Dummycrat rule did to the State of Georgia. No one writes about that. One clue:
North Carolina is now the banking center of the south instead of Atlanta because of the Dummies. Gosh, it was so much more fun with the County Unit System dreamed up by and put into law by the Dummies. Good ‘ol Eugene Talmadge! Now there was a “progressive” if ever there was one. Go play in your sandbox little one.
JV
October 19th, 2011
3:06 pm
They need to put up some trailers like the schools in the parking lot. That way they will have room for all of the former Democrats that changed party just so they could get re-elected. The GA Dems can call it the RINO Trailer Park… now taking reservations.
Off de Plantation
October 19th, 2011
3:12 pm
My, my! How diversified is the Dimocratic Party! White out (no pun intended) the State Dimo Chariman and that of the south Florida idiot and what have youo then?
By the way, I have to agree with the Docialist liberals in that the remarks about Cleland are most unpatriotic and harmful. I don’t like Cleland as a person but I thank him for serving his country.
HR Pufnstuf
October 19th, 2011
3:18 pm
Kevin, you are going to pay for that comment about Max Cleland. Karma is a bitch, so watch out.
GaBlue
October 19th, 2011
3:29 pm
While some people wish Georgia Democrats would just evaporate into a mist, leaving our state’s 21st Century to one-party, unopposed Republican Oligarch rule, even spreading rumors that we are already extinct, I am happy to report that WE ARE STILL HERE! Furthermore, WE ARE NOT LEAVING!
I’m so sorry that the idea of competition is so threatening to some of you. Bless your hearts!
Wallace T. Coper
October 19th, 2011
3:37 pm
you georgan demicrats shood just leave are state, an take the black librals an obama with you, an take cane to he is just a black acting wite to trick us, an if he wins shame us, we alreddy no he woll just give my money to the blacks an allegals, just like obama done, so you mark my words, get rid of the demicrats from georga they done run are state in to the ground an it woll take years to undo all are progriss
Independent voter
October 19th, 2011
3:37 pm
Democrat going to turn Georgia blue. What I seen on the debate last nite the republicans dont have a chance winning no seats.
Independent voter
October 19th, 2011
3:42 pm
Wallace you are racist and it shows in the republican party.
That why republican is not going to have any good luck in the 2012 election.
Republicans will be kick out of the congress in 2012
President Obama going to win 2012
Republicans have clowns running for president
Retired Solider
October 19th, 2011
3:44 pm
GABlue-
Never worried about competition, when is it going to start?
Kevin-
Bad form guy, no fan of Max Cleland the senator, but no one wishes those type of injuries on anyone. Max served his country and that’s “whoa”.
honested
October 19th, 2011
3:48 pm
andy,
So why is NC facing fresh unemployment as they are forced to lay off many of their banksters?
Plus, most of the old school dixiecrats of which you speak are long since repugnicans (good riddance).
Why stop with talmadge, morons like maddox come to mind!
Last, never touched the right one, stick strictly to the LEFT.
Wallace T. Coper
October 19th, 2011
3:49 pm
i,m not raciss i have plenty of black friens, who no there place, we we get along just fine, an obama an his puppit cane woll not be reallected, so you can mark my words, an i am not no rebuplican, i vote independince just like you, an we are angry at obama an palosie, the way he done run this contry in the ground, so that,s why we woll vote him an cane an palosie all the librals out
honested
October 19th, 2011
3:52 pm
GA Blue,
Eventually the repug luck will run out and the average Georgian will ask themselves and their neighbors “What has improved since repug one-party-rule came about in 2003?”
The answers should be enough to wipe them back into ausland obscurity.
jt
October 19th, 2011
3:59 pm
The party of Lawyers should have their campaign headquarters over a sewage treatment plant.
They would fit right in.
Keep doing this GOP
October 19th, 2011
4:03 pm
Having the unemployment rate higher than the national rate the last 4 YEARS and 4 MONTHS should be enough to kick the GOP to the curb.
Wallace T. Coper
October 19th, 2011
4:18 pm
we need a presidint like jim demint, who knos how too handle blacks, so all this raping wite women, robbing old peeple, an crime woll stop, an we need a voting id, to keep the blacks from reallecting obama, an from putting cane in
Flea Party
October 19th, 2011
4:22 pm
OWS = Sex and drugs and rock n’ roll. Wow cool man!
Atlantan
October 19th, 2011
4:31 pm
Thanks for alerting the citizens of the knowledge there is a crazy and delusional lady on the loose in Atlanta. Ms. Debbie is definitely has some loose screws….
Shine
October 19th, 2011
4:33 pm
I dont know about that td. I been voting pretty much straight republican since the roy barnes flag fiasco but am tired of the pass the cost onto the middle class and poor the republicans in this state are running full speed ahead with. I can vote dem again very easily.
Obozonomics
October 19th, 2011
4:33 pm
Keep doing this GOP; yeah the GOP messed it all up in 4 years and 4 months, but what about the 150 years of dimacrat rule?
RGB
October 19th, 2011
4:35 pm
@Keep doing this GOP: “Having the unemployment rate higher than the national rate the last 4 YEARS and 4 MONTHS should be enough to kick the GOP to the curb.”
The national unemployment rate has been extremely high for most of Obama’s term. Is it your position that Georgia Republicans are responsible for the high national unemployment rate?
Some people are dimwitted while others will defend their party ’til the death–regardless of the facts.
@Wallace T.: Your stuff was neither humorous nor compelling when you had the old screen name. The new name hasn’t helped. Just wanted you to know.
Pollwatcher
October 19th, 2011
4:41 pm
I don’t get this article…no useful information here. I would have expected more from a 32 year AJC veteran reporter. Why was Wasserman Schultz (more than ribbon cutting) here, and what is she trying to get the Democrats to do in GA? Stop playing the religious card and ask how Dems and Repub. are going to hire people instead of begging for free volunteer labor..
Harvin
October 19th, 2011
4:46 pm
GEORGIA VOTE FOR REPUBS LAST ELECTION NOT OBAMA YOU DUMB AS55ES. Matter of fact most southern states did even with all us black in the south.
LMAO
October 19th, 2011
4:46 pm
It’s funny as hell that the GOP in Georgia doesn’t want to take responsibility for what’s its been doing; better still not doing. Unemployment in Georgia is the responsibility of the Georgians NOT the FEDERAL government. You whining ores are full of it and you know it. Tea Beggars. The feds are not in China trying to bring jobs to Georgia its the lying arse govnor. Thus you rastards haven’t done NOTHING. Poor Georgia.
Off de Plantation
October 19th, 2011
4:51 pm
Wallace T. Coper:
Dude, I assume that you did at least make it to the third grade but, take a closer look at your keyboard and move your hands over to match the correct keys. Geez. I’m embarrassed that you are nearly as idiotic in your writing as the majority of the Dimocrats whose heads have exploded and they, too, don’t make sense!
jgalloway
October 19th, 2011
4:51 pm
Group:
“Kevin” has been banned for his crass comment.
Poe
October 19th, 2011
4:52 pm
I’f ya’ll believe Obama Hussan you are all fools, he has done nothing for you stupid blacks don’t you see, open your eyes, it is what it is and you will never rise from slavery as long as you want to wait on a freakin hand out, get a job, get a life , dammit man !
Kennon
October 19th, 2011
4:57 pm
we let the mexicans take all of our negro/er, black, er, african afro, er , whatever we are this week, try to look Jamacan dreadlocks? anything but black, , jobs, roofing, block and cement work.
DannyX
October 19th, 2011
4:57 pm
Thanks Jim.
Hopefully Wallace is next.
LMAO
October 19th, 2011
5:04 pm
@Poe You want to talk about fools. You and your kind are what has destroyed this country. Always looking to blame others. You should thank God everyday that black people are a forgiving people. Your dumb racist behind will never rise above. Continue to marry your cousins and knock up your sisters. Inbreeding is the only thing that’ll keep your numbers up. Trailer parks will always be fair housing for you and your kind. Oh don’t forget your Luck Strikes. LMAO!!!!
Sanquinetta
October 19th, 2011
5:05 pm
Well Debbie Wasserman Schultz, I’m going to go out on a limb here and suggest that chanting “The Jews control Wall Street!” is a bit more than “incidental”. Listen to the anti-Semitic remarks coming from the NY Occupy group – just disgusting.
Randy
October 19th, 2011
5:09 pm
THE TRUTH is, our economy will not turn around until Obama is out of office. The people with money create jobs and Obama creates uncertainty in this country and the job creaters are holding on to their money until he and his policies are gone. It’s not Obama per say, it’s the uncertainty and his radical veiws on Global warming , EPA regs etc. Why would I invest in America when I can make money elsewhere? The truth sometimes hurts but that is the truth.
joe
October 19th, 2011
5:13 pm
“He will not win 20% of the black vote”, guess Reed believes the brainwashing on the DNC plantation is still going strong. Let’s hope he’s wrong come Nov 2012. Personal responsibility ya’ll…
td
October 19th, 2011
5:17 pm
I am hung in the filter. I guess Jim does not like any constructive criticism.
Randy
October 19th, 2011
5:18 pm
OH YEAH and you want to know why BANKS are starting to charge for checking/debit, because Obama passed a bill to limit BANKS from recouping their money for over drafts from the people that bounce checks and the banks said then that they would have to charge for checking if bill was passed, so here it is , don’t be mad at the banks, look to Obama, he did it, and your POWER BILL, Obama and his regulation on power plants, but he failed to tell us that our power bills would go up as much as 100% (it’s coming sooner than you think) due to his policies, just sayin’ people, be careful what you ask for.
GaBlue
October 19th, 2011
5:25 pm
Randy: “The people with money create jobs and Obama creates uncertainty in this country and the job creaters are holding on to their money until he and his policies are gone.”
What a colossal COP OUT!! I don’t believe this to be the case, but if it is as you say, then they are all a bunch of whining little America-hating WUSSIES, then, aren’t they? “Oooooooo! We’re afraid to hire people! We’re afraid to invest in our own communities! We’re SOOOO SCARED!” Cry me a polluted river, posers.