Online Game: Find An Ethnic Person Working At Vox

Ezra Klein's terrible site Vox has a noticeable lack of diversity. Let's see if you can find an ethnic person working at Vox on the masthead.

Let's check out the whiteness of the senior staff members.

Ezra Klein - Editor-in-Chief

Melissa Bell - Executive Editor

Matthew Yglesias - Executive Editor

Allison Rockey - Engagement Editor

Max Fisher - Content Director

Kyle Keller - Analytics Editor

Eleanor Barkhorn - Features Editor

Sarah Kliff - Senior Editor

Brad Plumer - Senior Editor

Timothy B. Lee - Senior Editor

Dylan Matthews - Special Projects Editor

Todd VanDerWerff - Culture Editor

As you can see Ezra Klein has hired a diverse group of white, whiter and super white people. Now let's see if you can find an person who isn't white working at Vox. Happy hunting.

America Needs to Stop Austerity

Ezra Klein reports that the federal deficit went down by 37 percent in 2013. The deficit fell to $680 billion. That translates into 4.1 percent of the GDP. In 2012, the deficit was 6.8 percent of GDP. Contrary to the supply side nonsense from Republicans, increasing taxes on the top income bracket and getting rid of the payroll tax cut (which Republicans supported) is a reason why there is more tax revenue.

Most of all, there was more revenue. Government receipts totaled $2.774 billion, up $325 billion from 2012, and rising to 16.7 percent of GDP from 15.2 percent. That reflects in part a stronger economy that increased income and payroll taxes. It also includes the expiration of a payroll tax holiday that increased tax receipts, and higher rates for upper-income Americans agreed to for this calendar year.

I support getting rid of the payroll tax cut and raising taxes on top income earners. The payroll tax cut. It endangers the Social Security trust fund and the Treasury Department had to pay the difference to make up lost revenue to the trust fund. It was neither fiscally wise or did much to stimulate the economy. A better way to help workers is to raise the minimum wage. It is shameful that President Barack Obama hasn't used his political capital to raise the minimum wage. Wages are not keeping up with cost of living. Mother Jones had these numbers for 2011.

Increase in real value of the minimum wage since 1990: 21%

Increase in cost of living since 1990: 67%

One year's earnings at the minimum wage: $15,080

Income required for a single worker to have real economic security: $30,000

Obviously, there has been no minimum wage increase since MoJo posted these numbers. Income inequality is a far more important issue than the federal deficit. Austerity could lead to long-term economic problems. You can't fund the government if the majority of Americans are overworked and underpaid.

Group of Senate Democrats Against Larry Summers at the Federal Reserve

Talking Points Memo report that Senate Democrats have sent a letter to President Barack Obama. These mostly undisclosed Democrats are against Lawrence Summers being appointed as chairman of the Federal Reserve.

"There's a lot of concern among a lot of Democrats about an appointment of Larry Summers to that long-term position as Fed chairman," Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), who signed the letter, told the Journal. "He was one of the architects of getting rid of Glass-Steagall, of getting rid of other regulations. There's real concern about his economic views not really being in line with Obama's views."

Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Angus King (I-ME) are also confirmed to have signed the letter.

These groups of Democrats want Obama to appoint Janet Yellen as chair of the Federal Reserve. Sheila Bair, former chair of the FDIC, makes the case to appoint Yellen. Bair notes Yellen's resume and knocks Summers role in deregulation.

That could change if the heir apparent to succeed Ben Bernanke as Chair of the Federal Reserve Board, Janet Yellen, is nominated for the job by President Obama. Certainly, there is no better qualified candidate to fill Bernanke's shoes when he steps down in January. A noted economist, Yellen headed the Council of Economic Advisors for two years; led the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank for six years; and has served ably as Bernanke's Vice Chairman since 2010. Unlike Larry Summers, Tim Geithner, and Bob Rubin -- minions frequently mentioned in the financial press as potential Bernanke successors -- she was not part of the deregulatory cabal that got us into the 2008 financial crisis. In fact, she had a solid record as a bank regulator at the San Francisco Fed and was one of the few in the Fed system to sound the alarm on the risks of subprime mortgages in 2007.

Bair and Ezra Klein report there currently a whisper campaign against Yellen's nomination. The question is who is behind the whisper campaign?

Time to Give Up On Ezra Klein

I like to hear Litbrit's thought on this. She knows Klein. I can't anyone seriously as a Democrat policy wonk when he ask questions like this on Twitter

Are there any Republicans who would a) serve as Obama's Treasury Sec., B) support some tax hikes, and c) Republicans still like?

The answer to that Klein's question is Bruce Bartnett. I appreciate David Stockman's honesty but he would push for cuts that would hurt growth.

Klein doesn't ask who is the best candidate for Treasury Secretary. Joseph Stiglitz is smart enough. It would be hard for a Treasury Secretary that calls the banks corrupt to work with the banks. That is part of the Treasury Secretary's job discription. Gene Sperling as an economic adviser to Geithner. Geithner later was appointed to the Director of the National Economic Council. Sperling held the same position in the Clinton administration. Obama is comfortable with Sperling. This is about as close to a progressive that Obama would appoint to Treasury.

Open thread: who would you like to see as the next Treasury Secretary? Word is Tim Geithner is quitting soon. The Treasury Department needs a person extraordinary talent. Geithner was not that person. I'm sure you can think of someone better than Klein's Republican suggestion.

Unemployment & the Stimulus

Ezra Klein posted this graph of the job losses. The pre-stimulus job losses cover the time of 2007 to July 2009. The stimulus period covers after President Obama's stimulus policy took effect. Economist Robert Shapiro crunched unemployment numbers of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The stimulus worked to avoid an economic depression and the Republicans have been able to put Democrats on the defensive of a successful policy. Obama has not properly articulated why the stimulus was needed. Obama and Lawrence Summers did not have the political courage to back the stimulus proposal advocated by Christine Romer. Paul Krugman made the point on how the Obama administration was more concerned with politics than good policy. It turns out to be bad politics to not defend the stimulus.

There Can Only Be McConnell

Ezra Klein appeared on Rachel Maddow's show. Klein noted how Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell will never let more than one Republican negotiate with the Democratic caucus. Maddow made a Highlander reference that went over Klein's head.

KLEIN: I don't think that they understand that Mitch McConnell's never going to give them a friend. And the Democrats don't understand the Republican will never come alone. And within that space, there's no room for anything to happen.

MADDOW: Yes. Somewhere right now online, someone is Photoshopping a movie poster of Mitch McConnell that says, "There Can Be Only One." It's perfect.

KLEIN: Certainly, after you say that, they are.

MADDOW: I hope so.

KLEIN: Check Twitter.

There are some great photoshops of McConnell as Connor MacLeod.

Ezra Klein on Colbert Report

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Drag Me to Health - Ezra Klein & Linda Douglass
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Economy

Washington Post columnist Ezra Klein and White House Communications Director Linda Douglass talk to Stephen Colbert about the health care bill. Douglass states Erick Erickson made up the quote about her calling health care reform opponents "brown shirts."

Obama Talks to Senate Democrats

President Barack Obama urged Senate Democrats to finish work on the health care bill. The President met with Democrats near the Senate floor. Obama did not address controversial issues, such as the House Stupak-Pitts anti-abortion amendment or using cloture. Obama's talk was a pep rally speech that didn't affect Democrats on the liberal or conservative ends. Sen. Roland Burris reiterated he will only support a bill with the public option.

"My position has not changed at all," said Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL). "I've compromised from a single payer, to a strong public option with Medicare plus five, to now a negotiated bill with an opt out. So I've made my moves."

Sen. Ben Nelson will continue, in his attempts, to kill the health care bill.

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) told reporters Obama's presentation was only persuasive to those who have already decided to vote for the bill. "I think he was...for those who have made a decision to be supportive, I think he was persuasive," Nelson said.

Nelson's stance his to support his base: lobbyists. OpenSecrets.org reveals Nelson has benefitted from the generosity of insurance companies and the health care industries.

Insurance - $1,258,299

Health Professionals - $452,045

Pharmaceuticals/Health Products - $288,583

Nelson is using the House's Stupak-Pitts amendment as a devisive wedge to kill the health care bill. The Hyde amendment already makes federal funds for abortion illegal. What Nelson is pushing for is force health insurers to drop abortion coverage. Insurance companies paticipating in the health care exchanges do not want to worry about being in violation of federal laws. It is easier for health insurance companies to drop abortion coverage. Nelson has always been anti-abortion. Nelson didn't voice his concerns about abortion coverage until after the Stupak-Pitts amendment was placed in the House bill.

Ezra Klein argues the public option is not necessary for the health care bill.

Do we allow a health care bill that will not allow Medicare to negotiate with the pharmaceutical industry for lower drug prices? The government is forbidden from making the same kind of deals Wal-Mart makes with the pharmaceutical companies.

Do we want a bill that would discourage health insurance companies from providing private coverage for abortions? Let alone the restrictions put on publicly financed abortions.

Do we want a bill that would mandate every American buying health insurance but no public option or exchanges to control costs?

My answer to these questions is a resounding no.

Why the Public Option Failed in the Senate

Sen. Bill Nelson voted against the Jay Rockefeller amendment. Nelson did vote for the watered down public option amendment authored by Chuck Schumer.

"It seems to me that this is very important that we have this competition. It has all safeguards in it ..." Nelson said.

The Schumer amendment failed 10 to 13. All the cynical outreach efforts by President Barack Obama to get Republican votes failed. I previously wrote the Obama and Baucus were crafting legislation that would mandate citizens buying private insurance and protect pharmaceutical industry profits. Lindsey Graham explained to Ezra Klein that Obama never pressed Congress on the public option.

You make people afraid of opposing you or you get them rewarded for helping you. There's no fear for opposing Obama's public option, and the reward is for opposing it. Right now, Republicans feel no political exposure from opposing the president's health-care initiative.

Obama reneged on his campaign promise to hold open meetings with insurers and the pharmaceutical industry. Health insurers will get more customers and drug prices will continue to escalate. It is up to Nancy Pelosi and Democrats in the House of Representitives to keep the public option alive.

Update: the Democrats whom voted against the Rockefeller amendment were Max Baucus, Kent Conrad, Blanche Lincoln, Tom Carper and Nelson.

Obama Facebook Poll Numbers

I just took the Re-elect Obama Poll on Facebook. I was actually reluctant to vote yes. I realized Obama would run uncontested in the Democratic primaries and the Republicans would likely nominate Sarah Palin or Mitt Romney. I would actually welcome the Democratic Party having a big field of candidates for 2012.

Facebook users took an even harsher view of Obama.

Will you vote for Obama in 2012

Yes - 23,360 (22.4%)

No - 76,755 (73.5%)

Undecided - 4,310 (4.1%)


What is disturbing is Facebook is used by many young people. That is a demographic Obama does well. Since Facebook opened up to everyone, the demographics changed somewhat. These doesn't explain why the numbers are this bad.

Bill Maher has been critical of Obama for not standing up to corporations and more concerned with image. People wonder when Obama is going to get his hands dirty and fight the tea baggers and the right-wing talk radio chamber. The answer is never. That wasn't Obama's style during the campaign. Why should things change now. Sen. Lindsey Graham explained to Ezra Klein why Republicans and Blue Dog Democrats are compelled to support Obama's health care reform.

You make people afraid of opposing you or you get them rewarded for helping you. There's no fear for opposing Obama's public option, and the reward is for opposing it. Right now, Republicans feel no political exposure from opposing the president's health-care initiative.

Maher's point was proven by the White House cut a deal with the pharmaceutical industry.

WASHINGTON — Pressed by industry lobbyists, White House officials on Wednesday assured drug makers that the administration stood by a behind-the-scenes deal to block any Congressional effort to extract cost savings from them beyond an agreed-upon $80 billion.

Drug industry lobbyists reacted with alarm this week to a House health care overhaul measure that would allow the government to negotiate drug prices and demand additional rebates from drug manufacturers.

Patients and taxpayers will continue to pay for for prescription drugs. That is change I don't believe in.

The End of Hillary Mania

Hillary Clinton releases her delegates. Her Barack Obama endorsement, to her delegates, is less than inspiring.

"I have spoken to many of you and you have questions about what to do. You want to vote according to what is in your heart. I am not going to tell you what to do. You have come from different places and made a long journey.

"I cast my vote for Senator Obama this morning."

Andrew Sullivan says Hillary "did the minimum." That isn't enough. Ezra Klein laid out the case for what is wrong with the convention.

Say what you will about the 2004 Convention, it had a theme. Conversely, the first night of the 2008 Democratic Convention had Michelle Obama bring the warm and fuzzies, Ted Kennedy calling forth tears and hankies, and Jim Leach speaking quietly and pedantically without any serious promotion from the Obama campaign. The second night of the 2004 Convention saw Barack Obama tearing apart the arena. In 2008, we had Mark Warner with a well-crafted speech that fell flat because it was an attack structure that refused to name the politician it was attacking. You had Hillary Cinton giving a powerful address, but it was an address that was broadly aimed at problems in the Democratic Party, not the problems with the Republican Party.

Barack Obama has an allergic reaction to negative campaigning. That is the worst thing to do against a McCain campaign run by Karl Rove accolades. The Democratic National Convention was a chance for Obama to come out with a bounce. Now the Obama campaign will play defense from attacks from the Republican National Convention. Obama learned nothing from the Clinton impeachment and Swift Boat attacks. David Kurtz explains that the Obama change campaign is resistant to change.

But I think its ambivalence about doing so is less a result of the Democrats' historical tendency to fritter away opportunities because of fear and trepidation, and more because the Obama campaign spent tens of millions over a year and a half to build Obama's sterling reputation and they are afraid of breaking it. It's different from what hobbled Dukakis and Kerry, but the outcome could be the same.

Lofty rhetoric and feel good messages don't win elections. Especially, when one's opponent is beating him to death with a sledgehammer.

Barack Obama Opts Out of Public Financing

Barack Obama just released a video announced that will will forego $80 million of public campaign financing.

"It's not an easy decision. Especially, because I support a robust system of public financing of elections," said Obama. "But the public financing systems of elections, as it exists today is broken."

Public financing is used by presidential candidates with fundraising woes. The pretenders accept public financing. The players raise mountains of cash and go to the White House. I pointed out that Obama is beating John McCain over 2 to 1 in campaign contributions. Republicans will attack Obama for not accepting public financing. That is a bad move. McCain broke the rules by spending over the public financing cap.

Sen. John McCain has officially broken the limits imposed by the presidential public financing system, reports filed last night show.

McCain has now spent $58.4 million on his primary effort. Those who have committed to public financing can spend no more than $54 million on their primary bid.

So has McCain broken the law? The answer is far from simple.

Jane Hamsher accused McCain of breaking the law. McCain was rather disingenuous about the scandal. The truth is his lawyers screwed up by thinking that the Federal Election Commission would honor McCain's intent to withdrawal from public financing. McCain's lawyers sent a Feb. 6 letter announcing the Maverick's intent to withdraw from public financing. The FEC informed the campaign they lacked four member to make a final decision. McCain's status was in limbo and he made questionable moves, under the impression he was free of public financing. Obama is right. The public financing system is broken.

I have never been a fan of public financing the McCain-Feingold bill. Getting big money out of politics is a fantasy. The Obama campaign showed that small contributions can outset major special interests. What we have now is a campaign finance system that is so complicated that no one understands it.

Update: Ezra Klein thinks the Obama video was good PR. I still think Republicans will attack him for opting out of public financing. My impression is most voters won't care one way or another. That is the reason the McCain public financing story never caught on with the media.

For Your Reading Pleasure

Litbrit writes about Danica Patrick and her own racing experiences. The Litster will be running laps in a '61 Porsche 356.

Sue Carlton gives a timeline to Buddy Johnson's screwups. Tommy Duncan comes out and states that Buddy is "not fit to be the Supervisor of Elections." Sue and Tommy will miss Buddy when they realize they have less comedy material.

An exciting Ezra Klein post on why dental insurance is separate from health insurance. And yes, I actually read the post.

The market believes oil prices will go down. I doubt that because only a few major corporations control oil and OPEC will not increase production.

Jill Filipovic has started a thread asking people about worthy causes to donate to. Bitter Scribe suggests Veterans Village of San Diego. The organization helps homeless military veterans.

Greg Dulli and Mark Lanegan of the Gutter Twins challenge each other to a one-on-one basketball game. They forgot the interview was about promoting their record.

Lindsay Beyerstein gives us the lowdown on the Maverick's temper tantrums.

Paul Westerberg is interviewed by Billboard about a possible Replacements reunion.

About That 3:00 A.M. Phone Call

Ezra Klein finds an interview of comedian Sinbad contradicting Hillary Clinton's story about the dangerous of her 1996 Bosnia trip.

Sinbad, along with singer Sheryl Crow, was on that 1996 trip to Bosnia that Clinton has described as a harrowing international experience that makes her tested and ready to answer a 3 a.m. phone call at the White House on day one, a claim for which she's taking much grief on the campaign trail. [...]

"I never felt that I was in a dangerous position," [said Sinbad.] "I never felt being in a sense of peril, or 'Oh, God, I hope I'm going to be OK when I get out of this helicopter or when I get out of his tank.'"

In her Iowa stump speech, Clinton also said, "We used to say in the White House that if a place is too dangerous, too small or too poor, send the First Lady."

Say what? As Sinbad put it: "What kind of president would say, 'Hey, man, I can't go 'cause I might get shot so I'm going to send my wife...oh, and take a guitar player and a comedian with you.'"

Remember when Hillary claimed, "I helped to bring peace to Northern Ireland." Lord Trimble of Lisnagarvey won a Nobel Peace Prize for his work on getting the IRA an British government to make a peace agreement. He dubunks Hillary's bunk.

"I don’t know there was much she did apart from accompanying Bill [Clinton] going around," he said. Her recent statements about being deeply involved were merely "the sort of thing people put in their canvassing leaflets" during elections. "She visited when things were happening, saw what was going on, she can certainly say it was part of her experience. I don’t want to rain on the thing for her but being a cheerleader for something is slightly different from being a principal player."

Hillary's really desperate and will say anything to become President. The feminist bloggers deserved a better woman presidential candidate than Hillary. A more presidential woman, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, took a thinny-veiled shot at Hillary saying that John McCain is more presidential than Barack Obama.

Air America Interviews At Yearly Kos

Air America did interviews with progressive bloggers at Yearly Kos. Sam Seder conducted the interviews.

Interview with Chris Bowers of Open Left.

Interview with Ezra Klein of The American Prospect.

Interview with Jill Filipovic of Feministe.

Iraq Insanity

The Government Accountability Office issued a report that the Pentagon lost track of 190,000 AK-47 assault rifles and 80,000 pistols given to Iraq security forces.

The report from the Government Accountability Office indicates that U.S. military officials do not know what happened to 30 percent of the weapons the United States distributed to Iraqi forces from 2004 through early this year as part of an effort to train and equip the troops. The highest previous estimate of unaccounted-for weapons was 14,000, in a report issued last year by the inspector general for Iraq reconstruction.

The Pentagon isn't even going to attempt to dispute the report. They have started an investigation into the missing rifles. The question is how many of these weapons were sold to insurgents and terrorists. "It likely means that the United States is unintentionally providing weapons to bad actors," said Rachel Stohl of Center for Defense Information.

In a galaxy far, far away known as the Republican presidential debate...

“They are making progress, and we are winning on the ground,” said Senator John McCain of Arizona. “We must win. And we will not set a date for surrender, as the Democrats want us to do.”

Senator McCain's track record is less-than-steller on Iraq. His appearance on The Situation Room was the moment that sank his campaign and credibility.

SEN. JOHN McCAIN (R-AZ): I mean that there are neighborhoods safe in Iraq and he does go out into Baghdad and the fact is there has been significant progress and people are stuck in a time warp of three months ago. Of course, it’s still dangerous. Of course it’s still very dangerous. We only have two of the five brigades there and we are already seeing significant progress.

Rudy Giuliani does his usual tough guy spiel.

But over all, the candidates were adamant about continuing the fight. “The reality is that you do not achieve peace through weakness and appeasement,” said Rudolph W. Giuliani, the former mayor of New York.

Guiliani is doing a combination of Bill Kristol and professional wrestler trash talk. I have yet to hear him talk seriously about policy. Healthcare wonk Ezra Klein breaks down Giuliani's healthcare plan.

I'm supposed to be writing about Rudy Giuliani's health care plan today. And I would, if Rudy Giuliani had a health care plan. But Rudy Giuliani doesn't have a health care plan. What he has is a pretext with which to attack the Democrats. Indeed, just about all you need to know about Giuliani's thoughtfulness on the issue can be summed up by the following: In the speech introducing and detailing his new health care proposal, Giuliani refers to the "Democrats" six times. "Single-payer" is said eight times. "Socialized medicine," or some variant thereof, makes nine appearances. "Uninsured" is never uttered -- not once.

I was amazed by how horrible Giuliani was on Larry King Live. He advocates staying in Iraq, but will not go on-the-record to guarantee success.

KING: Let's get to some issues.

A leading industrialist, a friend of mine, said if the United States were a corporation, based on the Iraq War, everyone at the top would be fired.

How would you comment on that? And that -- in other words meaning it ain't going right.

GIULIANI: Yes, but that would have been true -- he would have said the same thing about the Civil War and Abraham Lincoln would have been fired. And he might have said the same thing at the Battle of the Bulge and Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Marshall -- all would have been fired. And...

KING: So you're confident this is all going to turn around?

GIULIANI: Oh, no. No.

Giuliani makes McCain look credible on Iraq. The former is posturing. The latter knows he is sinking his presidential aspirations. I certainly don't want John McCain to be President, but he is sticking to his guns. Partly, because he has a delusional idea about the ground situation in Iraq. GOP candidates either back Bush's policy cynically or foolishly. Hardly reassuring.

There are now 3,669 U.S. military casualies from the Iraq war.

Howard Dean at Yearly Kos

Howard Dean speaks at Yearly Kos and asks the netroots to lobby to improve voting machines.

Dean: “This is not a one day or one election struggle. This is something we have to do every single day for the rest of our lives… And when we get knocked down, we’re going to stand up again for the core principles of America, because America was knocked down by the far-right wing of the Republican Party in the last eight years. And by God, we’re going to get up and recover and stand up for what we used to stand up for. We are going to regain the moral leadership that made America a great country. And we are going to live again in America and stand up and lead the world to the promised land.”

Dean gets the crowd going talking about forcing Republicans to vote on Iraq.

Update: Jill Filipovic is liveblogging a Q and A session with Democratic presidential candidates at YK.

Update: Jill reports that Mike Gravel's tax plan bombed with the crowd.

Sen. Gravel was just asked about his tax structure, which would eliminate the IRS and institute a 23 percent sales and service tax. Joan asks him how low-income people are going to survive waiting for their rebate check every month.

Gravel responds that “you need to know how politics works.” Everyone hisses. He says not to worry about the Fair Tax, because it will never pass Congress. He discusses the corruption and the structural flaws in Congress. “The answer is with you, the American people, to acquire law-making power. That is where the power lies.”

Gravel's national sales tax program is horrible.

Update: Amanda Marcotte reports that Hillary Clinton got slammed by Edwards and Obama.

Jill and I were sitting together at the Presidential forum, and she liveblogged the whole thing. Check it out. Hillary Clinton got the worst of it, I think, because Edwards and Obama tagged her for taking money from Washington lobbyists and she couldn’t squirm out of it. That said, I felt that her first attempt to answer accusations about taking lobbyist money was honest and reasonable—she feels the system puts you in this situation and that it’s hardly a singular, personal failing. Fair enough, but in the end, she had a hard time convincing the admittedly tough crowd at Yearly Kos that she was sincere in wishing that it could be different. Then she blew it completely by denying that the money lobbyists spend has the amount of influence that it does, giving Edwards and Obama a chance to pounce and point out what’s obvious—lobbyists would not spend billions of dollars if they weren’t buying influence.

It's amazing how Hillary always tries to say something to please everyone and ends up alienating all.

Update: It gets better. Ezra Klein has a great take on the crowd's reaction to Hillary's lobbying money defense. This is comical.

Hillary Clinton on Edwards' challenge to stop taking lobbyist money: "I certainly think thats a position Sen, Edwards has taken." Yes, indeed it is. She then says that "I've been in politics for 35-years, and I think it's silly for anyone to think that money impacts my positions." The crowd laughs at her then boos.

Hillary's a horrible candidate. Having a great campaign staff and famous last name doesn't hide it. There are so many women in the Democratic Party more worthy of the attention Hillary is receiving.