Wasserman Schultz Met With 'Boos' At Delegation Breakfast
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PHILADELPHIA (CBSMiami) - Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz received a raucous reception Monday morning at the Florida delegation's breakfast on the first day of the Democratic National Convention.
Most of those in attendance stood and applauded when the congresswoman entered the room. Critics shouted "Shame! Shame! Shame!" and booed her.
"We have so much left to do to make sure we move forward together in a unified way," she said.
Her detractors also held up signs that said "emails" and "roll call", mimicking some of the drama we saw last week on the first day of the Republican's four day political bonanza.
"We know that the voices in this room that are standing up and being disruptive, we know that's not the Florida we know. The Florida that we know is united," she said.
Wasserman Schultz appearance came one day after she announced that she would step down after the convention as the DNC Chair because of leaked emails which indicate she may have used her position to assist her preferred candidate, Hillary Clinton. The 20,000 or so emails include officials ridiculing Bernie Sanders' supporters and even questioning his commitment to his Jewish faith.
The congresswoman was among a group of Democrats holding a "counter convention" in Cleveland last week. She told CBS 4's Lauren Pastrana the DNC would be about unity, and not party in-fighting.
"We shouldn't be going in the direction the Republicans have proposed through divisiveness and poisonous rhetoric," she said at the time.
Sanders called for resignation and the congresswoman acquiesced so as to not create any further division in the party.
"While she deserves thanks for her years of service, the party now needs new leadership that will open the doors of the party and welcome in working people and young people. The party leadership must also always remain impartial in the presidential nominating process, something which did not occur in the 2016 race," Sanders said in a statement.
In her first joint interview with running mate Tim Kaine on CBS' "60 minutes," Hillary Clinton weighed in on the matter.
"I can't speak to what people who were not working for me, who were saying whatever they were saying, I can't speak to that," she said.
Wasserman Schultz vows to rally for the Clinton-Kaine ticket until election day.
"You will see me everyday now through November 8th on the campaign trail. And we will lock arms. We will not stand down," she said to a mix of cheers and jeers.
Donald Trump reacted to the contentious breakfast Monday morning with a tweet that said, "The state of Florida is so embarrassed by the antics of crooked Hillary Clinton and Debbie Wasserman Schultz that they will vote for change!"
Wasserman Schultz herself is up for re-election and facing a Democratic primary challenger next month.
