Democratic lawmakers are sharply divided over Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s effectiveness as the chairwoman to the Democratic National Committee.
News of party infighting comes days after Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders said he would ask the chairwoman to step down from her position if he was elected president.
A report published late Tuesday found some members of Congress are giving full consideration to Sanders’ recommendation. An unspecified group of lawmakers are considering ousting the Florida representative if she cannot unify the party despite its division between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.
“There have been a lot of meetings over the past 48 hours about what color plate do we deliver Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s head on,” one pro-Clinton Democratic senator told the paper.
While Schultz has not shared any plans to step down from her leadership position, lawmakers who support the Vermont senator have said Schultz has unfairly advocated for Clinton throughout the primaries.
“I don’t see how she can continue to the election. How can she open the convention? Sanders supporters would go nuts,” another anonymous lawmaker said.
Democrats defending Wasserman Schultz include Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida, Tim Kaine of Vermont, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, House Democratic Caucus Chairman Xavier Becerra of California and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire.
But Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley, the only public supporter of Sanders in the Senate, admitted the DNC chair could do more to bring liberals together since Republicans appear to have their nominee.
“It’s very important for her to adopt a role of pouring oil on troubled waters. She did the opposite last week when she poured gasoline on the events that occurred in Nevada,” Merkley said.
