As convention begins, Democrats try to clean up a mess

Before it was even gaveled in on Monday, the Democratic National Convention started on the wrong note, with a damaging leak of e-mails that cast the party in the worst possible light and threw further doubts on the veracity of the nominee it is supposed to showcase this week.

Democrats were right to remove Debbie Wasserman Schultz from her role in the convention, and her resignation as DNC chairwoman is a needed first step. But that can’t be the only repair work. The DNC’s mishandling of the primary has been flawed from the beginning, starting with its blatant attempt to downplay debates that the party thought — incorrectly, as it turned out — might give the advantage to Democratic opponents of Hillary Clinton.

It is not so unthinkable that a party apparatus might have a favorite in a primary race, particularly when the lead rival is a lifelong independent who only recently turned Democrat. But its own stated role is that of neutral broker during the primary. Instead, the leaked e-mails have revealed a disturbing level of mendacity and a win-at-all-costs mentality that apparently extended even to sowing doubt among voters about Sen. Bernie Sanders’ faith. It turns out, as Sanders’ followers believed all along, that the system was rigged.

http://www.startribune.com/as-convention-begins-democrats-try-to-clean-up-a-mess/388197092/