Top RI Progressives Blast Raimondo for Choice of DNC Chair and Corporate Subsidies
Sunday, December 25, 2016
The battle over the future of the national Democratic party is playing out over who will be the next Chair of the Democratic National Committee. The power struggle has spilled into a blistering dialogue in Rhode Island over the direction of the Democratic Party in the state -- and Governor Gina Raimondo's leadership.
The Christmas week political tsunami was sparked when Raimondo announced that she was supporting the mainstream political candidate, Brown grad and Secretary of Labor Tom Perez, to head the DNC. He was on the shortlist to be Hillary Clinton’s Vice Presidential candidate and has the support of the more mainstream element of the party.
Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and many other progressives are supporting Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTRaimondo's Move Sparks Reaction
This week, Raimondo joined with three other Governors -- Virginia's Terry McAuliffe, Colorado's John Hickenlooper, and Louisiana's John Bel Edwards -- in announcing their support for Perez.
Raimondo's support has infuriated Rhode Island Progressive leaders.
Former State Representative David Segal told GoLocal, "We're in a fight for the soul of the Democratic Party. One side is focused on elevating economic populism and social and racial justice. The other represents the corporate wing that has led the party for a generation, is aligned with Wall Street and bad trade policy, and has left us decimated at the state and federal levels. It's not a surprise that she is siding with the latter."
But, Segal’s comments were more tame to Rhode Island Progressive Chair Sam Bell. He took Raimondo to task not only for her support of the Clinton candidate Perez, but also for a week in which the Raimondo administration handed out more than $45 million in subsidies to out-of-state and global companies.
“Gina Raimondo’s defining political identity is based around her anti-labor policies. From her assault on pensions to her Medicaid cuts, Gina Raimondo has consistently stood against our party’s support for working families,” said Bell. “That’s why it’s so disappointing that someone who claims to be pro-labor would openly court Raimondo’s endorsement. The AFL-CIO definitely made the right choice when they endorsed Keith’s grassroots campaign to turn our party around.”
Related Slideshow: 16 Biggest Blunders of 2016
Related Articles
- RI Divests From 7 of Raimondo’s Hedge Funds, Including Och-Ziff Which Was Hit By SEC with $400M Fine
- Moore: Does Raimondo Want Mattiello to Prevail?
- NEW: Rep. Lombardi Calls on Raimondo to Stop Fast Track of 6-10 Connector Rebuild
- EDITORIAL: Clinton and Raimondo’s Secrecy Troubles
- Democratic Legislators Keeping Clear of Unpopular Raimondo in Campaign
- RI’s Investment Losses in Raimondo’s Pt. Judith Have Grown 127%
- Top Nat’l & Regional Progressives and Conservatives Debate at URI
- Hinckley: Why Progressives Hate Entrepreneurs + Business Owners
- Top Progressives and Conservatives Debate the RI Economy
- Progressive Democrats Of Rhode Island Endorse Clay Pell for Governor
- Carol Anne Costa: A Progressive by Any Other Name…
- Travis Rowley: Progressives: Liars By Religion and Trade
- MUSIC: Pals Progressively Rock Dusk
- Progressive Groups Say Koch Brothers are Attacking Rhode Island
- Progressive Barrington Woman is U.S. Senate Candidate in Maine
- Media Wars: WPRO Launches Promo Using Progressive Blog’s Name
- Travis Rowley: Progressives Offer No Progress
- Riley: Progressive Magaziner and the Discount Rate
- It’s All About Education: Why So Many Choose Progressive Education
- Ethics Complaint Filed Against Rep. DeSimone by Progressive Dems
- RI Progressive Dems Call on Clinton to Remove “Deeply Unpopular” Raimondo as Co-Chair
- Moore: Progressives Are Being Disingenuous
- Moore: Will Mattiello Appease Progressives?
- Progressive Dems’ Bell Questions Raimondo’s Failure to Report In-Kind Contribution
- 2 RI Progressives Take on National Democratic Superdelegate Structure
- Moore: RI Progressives “Major in the Minors”
- Fecteau: The Myth of Rhode Island’s Progressive Democrat Problem
- Progressive Dems Release Elorza’s Campaign Promises on TSAs
- Progressive Democrats Target 15 General Assembly Seats in RI
- RI Progressive Democrats Endorse 12 Candidates
- Fecteau: The Progressive Democrats’ Bubble
- Biggest Questions Facing Raimondo Administration’s Botched $500M UHIP Rollout
- Raimondo Calls for Further Delay of Release of 38 Studios Documents, Blocks GoLocal’s Request
- Segal Calls on Cicilline to Pull Down ‘Misleading’ Ad
- Segal Wins Three Major Endorsements
- Segal Unveils Plan for Economic Recovery
- Segal Calls for Overhaul of Campaign Financing
- David Segal Announces Run for Congress
- Segal Brings Populist Energy, Progressive Ideas to Congressional Race
- Lynch, Segal Issue Joint Appeal for a Debate in Northern RI
- Lynch’s Campaign Ad Actor Endorses Segal
- Guest MINDSETTER™ David Segal - Who Really Destroyed Rhode Island’s Economy?
- ABC6’s “In the Arena” - Paolino, Rickman, Segal Fenton and Talan
- URI Grad Libby Segal Makes Hobbies A Weekly Obsession
- NEW: Gemma, Segal Met to Discuss 1st District Race
- LIVE PRIMARY UPDATE: Upbeat David Segal Working the East Side (VIDEO)
- Up Close with StyleWeek Designer Joseph Aaron Segal
- ABC6’s “In the Arena” - Paolino Hosts Violet, Segal, Rickman, and Fenton
- GoLocalProv Sues Raimondo and State Police for Release of 38 Studios State Police Interviews
- RI Leaders’ Top Questions for Raimondo Administration on Botched UHIP Launch
- Rep. Serpa Demands Raimondo Intervene in Botched UHIP Rollout
- Raimondo Orders Expanded DHS Hours, Staff to Address Ongoing UHIP Problems
- RI Federation of Teachers Urges Raimondo to Oppose Charter School Expansion in New Campaign
- Fecteau: Raimondo Deserves a Credible Primary Opponent
- Raimondo Administration Refuses to Answer Questions About Wexford Deal and Brown’s Rent
- Horowitz: Raimondo’s Economic Development Strategy Paying Big Dividends
- Raimondo Administration: Public Profit Over Public Service
- Gov. Raimondo’s Chief-of-Staff Smiley Owns Company Fundraising for Elorza
- Riley: Raimondo’s Biggest Problem is Providence
- UPDATED: Raimondo Administration Continues Fight To Block Release of 38 Studios Documents
- Raimondo’s 38 Studios Strategy: Bad Judgment, Bad Advice, or Just Good Ole RI Cronyism
- Could Pell Beat Raimondo in a Democratic Primary in RI - Like Sanders Beat Clinton?
- Raimondo, Elorza Refuse Comment on Donations from Construction Co. Hit by Feds