Bernie … Bernie … Bernie …

from The Washington Post....

Democratic National Convention: Calls for unity met with
boos and jeers from Sanders supporters as event opens

By ABBY PHILIP and SEAN SULLIVAN | 7:51PM EDT - Monday, July 25, 2016

Bernie Sanders supporters chant during the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on Monday, July 25th, 2016.
— Photograph: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post.

PHILADELPHIA — The still-raw wounds from the Democratic Party's primary were on full display on the opening night of their convention as supporters of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders made their displeasure with the party’s nominee known on the convention floor.

Sanders supporters booed loudly at virtually every mention of Hillary Clinton's name and at other times, defiantly led chants of “Bernie! Bernie! Bernie!”

Behind the scenes, the Sanders and Clinton campaigns rushed to quell the anger within the Sanders ranks that had been reignited with the release of hacked emails of Democratic National Committee officials in the past week.

In an emailed message to his delegates, Sanders urged them not to sabotage the movement they had spent months building.

“Our credibility as a movement will be damaged by booing, turning of backs, walking out or other similar displays,” Sanders said in the note.

After being heavily criticized by Sanders and other prominent party leaders, ousted DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz faced the prospect of boos from Sanders supporters and instead of gaveling in the convention, she remained off stage. She was replaced by Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake who opened the convention at 4:15 p.m.

But Wasserman Schultz's absence did not appease Sanders supporters.

They objected nearly every time a motion was brought up for a voice vote, calling instead for a roll call; they chanted against the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal; they waved signs and banners.

The Monday night programming was supposed to highlight a party unified around a platform of economic policies for working families. Scheduled to speak are first lady Michelle Obama, Senator Elizabeth Warren (Democrat-Massachusetts) and Sanders.

As the night progressed, speakers turned more fully toward making the case for Clinton and against Trump.

Between speakers, an old clip of a Trump interview played through the convention hall.

“I don't want to sound too much like a chauvinist, but when I come home, and dinner is not ready, I go through the roof,” he said in the clip.

Later, Clinton's campaign chairman John Podesta declared: “He is too erratic dangerous and divisive to entrust with the White House.”

But the ongoing fallout from the release of troves of embarrassing DNC emails threatened to distract from a lineup of high-profile speeches.

The leak of emails that showed DNC staff apparently scheming to help Clinton win the Democratic primary looms over the four-day convention. Wasserman Schultz resigned her post effective the end of the event. The FBI said it was investigating the breach.

Sanders was cheered by supporters at a rally Monday afternoon when he smiled and told the crowd that the Florida congresswoman's departure would “open the door” for new leaders to take the reins.

“Her resignation opens up the possibility of new leadership at the top of the Democratic Party that will stand with working people,” Sanders said.

Minutes later, when Sanders encouraged Democrats to elect Clinton and her running mate, Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, the crowd started booing loudly.

Sanders tried to talk them back, arguing that Republican nominee Donald Trump “must be defeated.”

Sensing a raw mood among his supporters, the Sanders team reached out to the Clinton team on Monday afternoon to voice worries that its supporters may cause a stir during Monday night, even after Wasserman Schultz resigned, according to a Democrat familiar with the talks.

Clinton aide Marlon Marshall and Sanders deputy campaign manager Rich Pelletier huddled in the afternoon to develop a joint plan to try to avoid excessive disruptions, the official said. This person spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Sanders sent out a signed text message to some supporters that reads: “I ask you as a personal courtesy to me to not engage in any kind of protest on the floor. Its of utmost importance you explain this to your delegations — Bernie,” the official said.

The Clinton and Sanders camps have also proactively merged their floor whip teams, and Sanders surrogates — including former NAACP President Ben Jealous — will be urging Sanders supporters to not cause a ruckus on the floor.

On the convention stage, one of Sanders's most ardent backers, Maine state Rep. Diane Russell, urged his supporters to celebrate a real victory: the “unity commission” that would recommend cutting back the number of superdelegates that were not bound to vote for a nominee based on the results of the primaries or caucuses.

“We did not win this by selling out,” Russell said. “We won this by standing up.

“We won this by standing together,” she added.

But moments later, when Clinton supporter and Maryland Representative Elijah Cummings rose to speak about his experience and the legacy of the civil-rights movement, hecklers rose to chant “No TPP! … No TPP!”

As the party prepared to transition to a new party chair, there were already signs that fresh efforts were underway to extend an olive branch to Sanders.

Top DNC officials released a new statement offering a “sincere apology” to Sanders for the “inexcusable remarks” expressed in the leaked emails.

Longtime Democratic strategist and a vice chair of the convention, Donna Brazile, was named interim chair of the party effective on Friday, upon the resignation of Wasserman Schultz.

On Monday afternoon, Brazile acknowledged the rowdy convention atmosphere but said she was confident that the party would get through it.

“It takes time to heal, time to come together,” Brazile said. “I'm confident that we can find common ground, which is what's most important.”

She added that she has been apologizing to Sanders and his campaign officials.

“We're bigger as a party than this,” she added. “I've told them that we will make sure our system gets better, make sure our practices get better and make sure our email gets more secure. I've been in this party for 40 years, we love this party, and we're going to do what needs to be done.”

Meanwhile, Sanders pledged to push for greater unity in his remarks later in the night, regardless of the strong feelings that remain among his supporters.

And Clinton officials said they expect that there will be a roll-call vote of all 50 states and that Sanders will have his name placed in nomination.

“We anticipate there will be a roll-call vote tomorrow night and that every vote will be counted, that we'll go through all 50 states,” said Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon. “We're happy to have it.”

• Dan Balz, Robert Costa, David Weigel, Anne Gearan, Philip Rucker and Ed O’Keefe contributed to this report.

• Sean Sullivan has covered national politics for The Washington Post since 2012.

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