Why The DNC Chairwoman Could End Up Resigning

Democratic National Committee Chairwoman and representative of the people of Florida's 23rd Congressional District Debbie Wasserman Schultz has come under increasing pressure from her party to relinquish her position as chair for the sake of party unity. Will Wasserman Schultz have to step down? Some of her colleagues in Congress feel that this is the only way she can hope to unite the party now, according to an exclusive from Alexander Bolton at The Hill.

An incredibly colorful quote from an unnamed pro-Clinton senator reveals just how dire the situation has become for the head of the party. "There have been a lot of meetings over the past 48 hours about what color plate do we deliver Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s head on,” the anonymous source told The Hill. That's pretty strong language from a sitting Democratic senator, regardless of if it was made anonymously or not.

This report follows news that the Sanders and Clinton campaigns will take a more active role in determining the delegation to the platform committee. Usually, the chair acts to appoint the entire 15 person delegation. This year, Clinton's campaign chose six delegates, Sanders' campaign chose five, and Wasserman Schultz will end up appointing only four people.

Now, it would be easy for Wasserman Schultz’s team to spin this arrangement as a magnanimous gesture that empowers the will of the people over entrenched party politics. That argument will resonate especially well with Sanders supporters.

However, it may not be enough to save her position as party leader. Her political alliance with the Clinton camp has been a liability in this election cycle, rather than an asset. This also isn't the first time that she has been in hot water with other top Democrats. Only this time, the issues are more serious than whether or not the DNC should be footing the bill when she shops for work clothes.

Wasserman Schultz has spent just over five years at the helm of the Democratic Party. Stepping down gracefully, instead of being forced out by her colleagues in the party, may be a way for her to soften the blow to her future electoral prospects. She has been the head of the Democratic Party during a time of great grassroots-level change, which started really flourishing during the President's first election campaign, and there isn't anything wrong with that.

Picking a new, neutral, interim DNC chair to lead the convention might be an idea worth taking seriously. Someone who would be perceived by the public to be an honest broker for the true will of the voters in the primary process may be able to have a lot more control over what is shaping up to be the most contentious convention since 1968.