After the 2016 and 2020 primary losses, many Bernie Sanders supporters argued that the DNC ‘rigged’ the primaries, costing the Bern the win.

The argument wasn’t a good one. DNC leaders certainly favored Hillary Clinton in 2016. And they certainly opposed Sanders in 2020, even if they weren’t necessary thrilled by Joe Biden. In 2016, in particular, there was even evidence that they put their thumb on the scales in certain ways.

As I’ve argued many times, though, the ‘rigged’ accusations amounted to excuse making from left and progressive electoralist camps. The biggest reason Sanders lost in 2016 and 2020 is that the left has been at a historical weak point for years. We haven’t yet done the base-building needed to become powerful enough for a credible presidential campaign.

But that’s not the point of this post. The point is that the DNC always manages to step on its own dick. Even when the things it does don’t really have a major impact, it always manages to look like it’s engaged in some kind of fuckery.

DNC Steps on Its Own Dick: David Hogg Edition

This time it concerns David Hogg. Apparently it wants to void the election of Hogg as Vice Chair.

Why?

According to the DNC, it wants to do so because the election violated certain procedural rules. But DNC detractors allege it’s because Hogg wants to encourage primary campaigns against lousy Democrats in office.

The DNC’s official reason is probably the real reason. But, once again, it looks bad. It looks like the DNC is stepping up to punish dissent. The fact that the DNC repeatedly does things like this doesn’t help. And while its detractors, once again, engage in self-serving reasoning, it’s hard not to see their point.

In other words, no matter what it does, the DNC manages to step on its own dick.

Carry on, I guess.