Head of the California Democratic Party won't attend the national convention
John Burton,
the chairman of the California Democratic Party, plans to skip the
Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia this month.
Burton says the partisan confab will be a staid affair because Hillary Clinton has the party’s nomination wrapped up and has been endorsed by her main rival, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.
“Nothing is going to happen,” said Burton, a former California congressman and past president pro tem of the state Senate. “The platform has been worked out. Bernie has endorsed Hillary. It’s going to be a lovefest.”
Burton plans to send a Sacramento high school “Dreamer” – a young Latino immigrant brought to the country illegally as child – in his place.
“He’ll remember it his whole life,” said Burton, who is in his final year as party chairman.
Burton said he’s already been to plenty of Democratic conventions, the most memorable being the 1968 convention in Chicago, which erupted in violent street protests as the party nominated Hubert H. Humphrey.
“If you went one way, you could get beat up. If you went the other way, you’d go to jail. If you went a third way, you could keep walking,” Burton said. “I kept walking.”
Gov. Jerry Brown will be leading the California delegation to Philadelphia, and will be joined some of the state’s other top elected leaders, including: Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Alex Padilla, Treasurer John Chiang, Controller Betty Yee and Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones.
Burton says the partisan confab will be a staid affair because Hillary Clinton has the party’s nomination wrapped up and has been endorsed by her main rival, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.
“Nothing is going to happen,” said Burton, a former California congressman and past president pro tem of the state Senate. “The platform has been worked out. Bernie has endorsed Hillary. It’s going to be a lovefest.”
Burton plans to send a Sacramento high school “Dreamer” – a young Latino immigrant brought to the country illegally as child – in his place.
“He’ll remember it his whole life,” said Burton, who is in his final year as party chairman.
Burton said he’s already been to plenty of Democratic conventions, the most memorable being the 1968 convention in Chicago, which erupted in violent street protests as the party nominated Hubert H. Humphrey.
“If you went one way, you could get beat up. If you went the other way, you’d go to jail. If you went a third way, you could keep walking,” Burton said. “I kept walking.”
Gov. Jerry Brown will be leading the California delegation to Philadelphia, and will be joined some of the state’s other top elected leaders, including: Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Alex Padilla, Treasurer John Chiang, Controller Betty Yee and Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones.
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