DNC Extends An Olive Branch To Bernie Sanders With Key Convention Concession

The DNC is set to offer Bernie Sanders seats on an important convention platform committee in a first step towards bringing Democrats together.

The Washington Post reported:

In an attempt to head off an ugly conflict at its convention this summer, the Democratic National Committee plans to offer a concession to Sen. Bernie Sanders — seats on a key convention platform committee — but it may not be enough to stop Sanders from picking a fight over the party’s policy positions.

Allies of both Clinton and Sanders have urged Democratic leaders to meet some of Sanders’s more mundane demands for greater inclusion at the Philadelphia convention. Their decision to do so is expected to be finalized by the end of the week, according to two people familiar with the discussions. But growing mistrust between Sanders supporters and party leaders have threatened to undermine that effort.

No one should overdramatize this, but it is an initial olive branch to the Sanders folks in an attempt to bring them into the fold. Sen. Sanders has always wanted to exert influence over the platform, and the bone of contention will center around how much influence he gets.

The move by the DNC is more proof that the media is wrong. The Democratic Party is not hopelessly divided. The process is playing out as it always does. Sen. Sanders will get a seat at the table, and his voice will be heard.

At the end of the day, Democrats will be stronger heading into November, as the primary has served to make Hillary Clinton a better candidate by challenging her to refine her platform and message. The convention will be a celebration, not the gloom and doom-fest that the media is hoping for.

It begins with an olive branch, and will end with a united party that is focused on defeating Donald Trump.

Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

Awards and  Professional Memberships

Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association