A quick check of social media makes it clear that Democrats did not want the showdown between Tom Perez and Keith Ellison for party chair to be spun as some sort of proxy battle between Hillary supporters and Bernie Bros, but a lot of Ellison’s backers were felling the burn Saturday after Perez’s victory.
Tom Perez wins the DNC chairmanship https://t.co/8xQ3jFbuUC pic.twitter.com/sq7q3kmFfv
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) February 25, 2017
Maybe Dems didn’t want it to look like a proxy race, but it sure did.
Proxy race:
Biden, Jarrett, other Obama aides made calls for @TomPerez in last days.
Bernie, de Blasio called for @keithellison. #DNCChair
— Eric Bradner (@ericbradner) February 25, 2017
Perez wins. Obama beats Sanders in proxy fight.
— Bob Cusack (@BobCusack) February 25, 2017
HRC proxy narrowly "defeats" Bernie proxy for DNC chair as establishment ignores progressives. Where have I seen this story before?
— Chris Hill (@ChrisHill44) February 25, 2017
Plenty of audience members had “United” placards to wave, and party unity was featured strongly in Perez’s victory speech. Ellison, who will serve as deputy chair of the party, also called for the party to come together.
Keith Ellison calls for Dem unity: "We don't have the luxury to exi this room divided." Agrees to become Deputy DNC chair under Tom Perez.
— James Hohmann (@jameshohmann) February 25, 2017
There certainly were echoes of the Democrat National Convention in Philadelphia, though, as factions in the crowd tried to drown out their new chair with a protest chant.
But once the selection process is over, everyone pulls together and unifies because oh ha ha ha who am I kidding these are Democrats
— John Schwartz (@jswatz) February 25, 2017
Ain’t no party like a Democrat party.
https://twitter.com/gdebenedetti/status/835585753203765253
It took a second vote to reach the threshold of victory, but unfortunately for Ellison, he didn’t pick up a single vote in the second pass. He will, however, serve as deputy chair.
Jehmu Greene, who got .5 votes, endorses Perez
— Edward-Isaac Dovere (@IsaacDovere) February 25, 2017
#FeeltheBern https://t.co/gAbBdQCK86
— Jon Ralston (@RalstonReports) February 25, 2017
— Fisch (@nwfisch) February 25, 2017
https://twitter.com/gdebenedetti/status/835586161460592641
"Not big money, party for the people!" Ellison supporters chant over speakers after Perez wins
— Liz Goodwin (@lizcgoodwin) February 25, 2017
Tom Perez wins with 235 votes. Ellison supporters break out in chant: "Party for the people. Not big money."
— Jennifer Epstein (@jeneps) February 25, 2017
Chants of "party of the people not big money!" continued as Brazile and others tried to quiet down Ellison supporters
— Jennifer Epstein (@jeneps) February 25, 2017
Nice use of UNITE signs pic.twitter.com/fjRabjraob
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) February 25, 2017
Keith Ellison supporters lead chant "party for the people! Not big money!" over DNC officials pic.twitter.com/hljzyyWnqB
— Jeff Stein (@JStein_WaPo) February 25, 2017
Come on, unify!
Democracy for America *really* buying into the party unity message pic.twitter.com/mbghZ5Mzzn
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) February 25, 2017
Bernie group also isn’t exactly all-in on unity pic.twitter.com/11RdrtOBGt
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) February 25, 2017
Fierce Democrat Jennifer Granholm did her part to begin the healing.
Congratulations to @TomPerez on becoming the new @DNC chair! Now let the healing begin, please!
— Jennifer Granholm (@JenGranholm) February 25, 2017
This is BIG:@TomPerez and @keithellison leading our party together, w/same progressive vision. Need all hands to continue resistance-Us too!
— Jennifer Granholm (@JenGranholm) February 25, 2017
Sorry Jennifer. No healing possible when the same ole crap is going to happen. We need a real progressive to lead. https://t.co/600Qd3tPnk
— Bill Disch (@WHDISCH) February 25, 2017
you've helped assure 8 years of republican rule and maybe even a constitutional convention. Disaster
— Jeff Sanders (@jeffiswin) February 25, 2017
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