Subject: RE: Nina Turner story
From: "Miranda, Luis" <[email-masked]>
To: Jonathan Easley <[email-masked]>, "Paustenbach, Mark" <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 21 May 2016 15:39:01 -0700

By the way, Jonathan, off the record, are you talking to anyone who could balance out Nina's perspective? How about Steny Hoyer? I'm sure someone like Steny could give you a very different perspective.

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From: Miranda, Luis
Sent: Saturday, May 21, 2016 4:24 PM
To: Jonathan Easley; Paustenbach, Mark
Subject: RE: Nina Turner story

Hi Jonathan. On background, the DNC is neutral in the primary.

Also ON BACKGROUND, here are facts to consider:

The DNC Chair has repeatedly said on the air and otherwise that it’s not her job to tell either candidate to get out and has never called for anyone to get out of the race. She has talked in very positive terms<https://www.democrats.org/Post/dnc-chair-statement-on-april-26-primary-results> about both of our candidates<https://www.democrats.org/Post/dnc-chair-statement-on-south-carolina-primary-results-feb-27> and the substantive campaigns they’ve run<https://www.democrats.org/Post/dnc-chair-statement-on-new-hampshire-primary-results>. As for the debates, the fact is our debates earned far better ratings<https://medium.com/@MiraLuisDC/democratic-debate-ratings-rank-far-ahead-of-most-primary-debates-889d8ab42ca#.qepssg11f> overall this year than they did in past cycles. And when we were able to get both campaigns to agree, we added four.

The rules in place for this election have been pretty much the same for several cycles. In fact, the major change from 2008 – when Obama beat Clinton --- is that there are actually LESS unpledged “super” delegates, now down to 15% from 20% prior to the change. No one wrote or rewrote any rules to help or hurt any specific candidate, these are the Party rules.

The single biggest factor determining the nominee (85%) is the participation of voters in primaries and caucuses. You can see a post we did here that lays out the facts on Super Delegates<https://medium.com/@patricetaylor/here-are-the-actual-facts-about-super-delegates-7660c5c7dd1#.288n079v7>. It also debunks the false myths about Iowa.

The DNC’s delegate selection rules for this primary were set before any of these candidates declared, and are consistent with the rules in place for several cycles – including 2008 when Barack Obama defeated Hillary Clinton.

OFF THE RECORD, There’s just no evidence that the process has been rigged. It certainly wasn’t rigged in Nevada last weekend -- which was not a DNC event but a state party one. But don’t take it from us, here’s what Jon Ralston wrote:

http://www.rgj.com/story/news/politics/2016/05/17/ralston-reports-dems-need-unity-but-theyre-getting-mutiny-nevada-democratic-convention-hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders/84521894/?mc_cid=6001cbd708&mc_eid=b3f6d44b0b

And here’s what Politifact said: http://www.politifact.com/nevada/statements/2016/may/18/jeff-weaver/allegations-fraud-and-misconduct-nevada-democratic/

<http://www.politifact.com/nevada/statements/2016/may/18/jeff-weaver/allegations-fraud-and-misconduct-nevada-democratic/>

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From: Jonathan Easley [[email-masked]]
Sent: Saturday, May 21, 2016 2:58 PM
To: Paustenbach, Mark; Miranda, Luis
Subject: Nina Turner story

Hey guys -

I interviewed Nina Turner on Friday for a story that didn't end up coming together, but my editors have asked me to go ahead and blog some of her remarks.

Turner was highly critical of the DNC and wants an apology from Debbie Wasserman Schultz for how she's handled the nominating process.

It will run tomorrow so wanted to give you an opportunity to respond.

Among the the things she said:

1) It will be difficult for the party to unify around the nominee because the DNC has mistreated Sanders from the start, first with the debate schedule, then with the data abase controversy, and now accusing them of violence when there was no evidence of violence at the Nevada convention.

She says Wasserman Schultz jumped the gun in blaming Nevada on Sanders without reaching out to the campaign or investigating what happened.

2) Debbie Wasserman Schultz should apologize to the Sanders campaign for making this "an unfair fight" if she wants the party to unify in the fall.
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Thanks,

--
Jonathan Easley
Campaigns Reporter
The Hill
office: (202) 407-8016
cell: (949) 306-8671
@joneasley<https://twitter.com/JonEasley>