MORNING MESSAGE
In
late July, delegates to the Democratic National Convention will gather in
Philadelphia, not only to nominate a president and vice president but to debate
a reform agenda for the party itself. Bernie Sanders’ call for a political
revolution is centered on democratizing U.S. politics, including the Democratic
Party, and his delegation will number at least 1,700. “Big money out and voters
in” should be their rallying cry ... Get superdelegates out of the nominating
process ... Candidates should pledge to oppose the formation of super PACs
during the nominating process ... It’s time for a new look at the entire
process, much like the 1981 Hunt Commission but with the focus on transparency,
democracy and inclusion.
WAYS BERNIE SANDERS WILL BE A FORCE AT THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
In
Reuters, OurFuture.org’s Robert Borosage explains why the Democratic convention
matters: “…Sanders can assert that pressing her to embrace more of his ideas
will strengthen rather than weaken the former secretary of state in the general
election … On party rules, Sanders is ready to question the role and number of
super delegates, those on campaign debates and their consistency in open and
closed primaries … she can demonstrate confidence in her leadership by
celebrating the energy of Sanders’ youthful supporters and supporting some of
his signature reforms…”
DEMS SEEK TO BRIDGE DIVIDE
Sen.
Warren in position to bridge divide. The Hill: “Democratic senators expect
Sen. Elizabeth Warren will soon make moves to mollify restive liberals and unify
the Democratic Party behind Hillary Clinton … But there’s some doubt about
whether Clinton’s inner circle will welcome Warren, who was once seen as a rival
for the nomination, into the role of party unifier.”
DNC
offers Sanders more slots on platform committee. W. Post: “One of Sanders’s
demands was the composition of the 15-person drafting committee, whose members
are appointed at Wasserman Schultz’s discretion and write the party’s platform …
According to two people familiar with the conversations, the DNC and the
campaigns will reach a final agreement — probably less than Sanders wanted but
more than the DNC originally offered — by the end of the week.”
“Fury
against Bernie Sanders is growing in ClintonWorld” reports The Hill: “In
public, Clinton aides and allies have kept their anger checked … Behind the
scenes, however, they are seething that statements by the Vermont senator are
just making matters works by further alienating his supporters from
Clinton.”
But
Rep. Nancy Pelosi defends Sanders. The Hill quotes: “Bernie Sanders is a
positive force in the Democratic Party. He has awakened in some people an
interest in the political process that wasn’t there.”
Clinton
asserts victory, calls for unity, in CNN interview: “I will be the nominee
for my party … That is already done, in effect … There is no way that I won’t be
… the lesson of 2008 — which was a hard-fought primary, if you remember — is so
pertinent here. Because I did my part, but so did (then-)Sen. Obama … We went to
Unity, New Hampshire, together, appeared together, spoke together…”
“
Sanders campaign manager doesn’t concede. The Hill quotes: “…there are a bunch of superdelegates at the convention who have to vote, so the election is not over when the primary-caucus voting is over.”
“
Sanders campaign manager doesn’t concede. The Hill quotes: “…there are a bunch of superdelegates at the convention who have to vote, so the election is not over when the primary-caucus voting is over.”
Party
unity may be stronger now than in 2008. W. Post’s Greg Sargent: “A new New
York Times/CBS poll finds: ‘Twenty-eight percent of Mr. Sanders’s primary voters
say they will not support her if she is the nominee….’ [But] the percentage of
Clinton’s supporters in 2008 who seemed prepared to bolt was marginally larger
than the percentage of Sanders supporters who now say the same.”
TRUMP POINTED ON TRADE
Trump
dismisses concerns of a “trade war.” Time: “We’re losing $500 billion to
China … Who the hell cares about a trade war? … We’re like a big, big sloppy
bully who gets punched in the face and gets knocked down … My trade deal is very
simple, I am going to make great deals for our country … It might be free, it
might not be free.”
All
presidential candidates agree on infrastructure. The Hill: “All three of the
remaining candidates for president … have called for major investments in the
transportation system, spurring optimism among advocates who warn that the
nation’s infrastructure is deteriorating at a rapid rate … Trump has generally
called for large federal investments in infrastructure and even acknowledged it
would likely cost taxpayer dollars, but he has offered few clues about exactly
how much … Clinton, meanwhile, gave a detailed picture … in a five-year, $275
billion proposal unveiled last year … Clinton’s proposal appears modest next to
the plan backed by her Democratic opponent Bernie Sanders, who calls for $1
trillion in spending over the next five years…”
Progressive
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