Sanders’ campaign manager on DNC leaks: ‘Time to go forward’

But just when she should have been celebrating at her party’s convention, Wasserman Schultz found herself at the center of an uproar over leaked party emails that suggested Democratic officials had favored Hillary Clinton over Bernie Sanders during the presidential primaries, when the party apparatus should have been neutral. The controversy threatened turmoil on the eve of the party convention in Philadelphia, created to show unity.

Earlier, Wasserman Schultz was removed as permanent chair of the convention, to be replaced by U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio.

DNC Vice Chair Donna Brazile, a veteran Democratic strategist who will lead the party on an interim basis after the convention, warned more leaked emails, and more apologies, could be coming. Tim Kaine of Virginia to be her running mate.

WikiLeaks released about 20,000 emails on Friday, just days before Democratic National Convention is set to kick off in Philadelphia, that appear to show Democratic National Committee officials attempting to aid Hillary Clinton’s campaign in the party’s primary.

Wasserman Schultz tried to shout over the raucous crowd, saying, “We have to make sure that we move together in a unified way!”

By late Saturday, opposition inside the party “spread like wildfire”, according to a Democratic source close to the matter. As he demanded Wasserman Schultz’s resignation, Sanders made clear he wants to see Clinton in the White House.

Steck is supporting Hillary Clinton in the general election, but not all Sanders delegates will be doing so.

“I don’t think she is qualified to be the chair of the DNC not only for these bad emails, which revealed the prejudice of the DNC, but also because we need a party that reaches out to working people and young people, and I don’t think her leadership style is doing that”, he said.

“We know Debbie. No one has been more of a fighter and a champion for our values than Debbie Wasserman Schultz”.

“That’s the kind of leader he is and that’s what gets people so fired up that he’s so connected to the people and what their needs are”, says Williams-Preston.

“The party leadership must also always remain impartial in the presidential nominating process, something which did not occur in the 2016 race”, he said.

President Bill Clinton, watching from the audience, leapt to his feet and applauded, as did most of the delegates filling the convention arena.

“Feel the Bern! I’m hoping he pulls a big surprise and changes the balance of power in our political system”, said Cory Podesta, who traveled from the Flint, Michigan area to protest. “This has needed to happen for a long time”.

And while he was speaking, Wasserman Schultz announced she would not gavel in the convention, an embarrassing acknowledgment that her presence onstage would only showcase deep party divisions. That’s right, Hillary Clinton.

As for the emails themselves, well, we’d echo Sanders’ suggestion that it is shocking but not surprising that party officials were acting as an extension of the Clinton campaign. With almost 13 million voters, it is clear that Hillary Clinton will need Sanders’ full backing to win the Presidential race in November.

Drawing loud cheers throughout, Sanders offered a detailed comparison of Clinton and Republican Donald Trump on an array of policy issues, portraying the election as a simple choice. Sanders is a relative newcomer to the Democratic party and the DNC, having long served as an independent in the Senate. She added: “I know that the chair will hold those employees accountable if they’re found to have acted outside of that neutrality and even-handedness”.