Hacker ‘Guccifer 2.0’ has been a thorn in the side of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee after he says he broke into their computers. Now he has released several internal memos, including one calling Black Lives Matter a “radical movement.”
In a memorandum to fellow DCCC staff members from last November, Troy Perry outlined the background and demands of the Black Lives Matter movement.
“Presidential candidates have struggled to respond to tactics of the Black Lives Matter movement,” Perry wrote. “While there has been little engagement with House candidates, candidates and campaign staff should be prepared.”
He then warns staffers that the document is for internal use only.
“This document should not be emailed or handed to anyone outside of the building,” he wrote. “Please only give campaign staff these best practices in meetings or over the phone.”
In the background section, Perry refers to BLM as a “radical movement to end ‘anti-black racism’.”
He then outlines tactics for staffers in dealing with BLM, including meeting with local activists, providing a point person, and being a partner by leading “from behind.”
“However, BLM activists don’t want their movement co-opted by the Democrat Party,” Perry wrote. “They are leary of politicians who hijack their message to win campaigns.”
“Do not say ‘all lives matter’ nor mention ‘black on black crime’,” he added, because both terms are “viewed as red herring attacks,” and such a response “will garner additional media scrutiny and only anger BLM activists.”
“This is the worst response,” he added.
Perry no longer works for the DCCC, and is now a member of the campaign for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, according to his Twitter profile.
The BLM memo was one of ten total documents “related to immigration, Hispanics, BLM, Islam and other issues” that came from “a folder from the [sic] Nancy Pelosi’s PC”released by Guccifer 2.0 on Wednesday. Pelosi is the House minority leader.
The memo about Hispanics was written by DCCC Executive Director Kelly Ward to DCCC Chair Steve Israel of New York ahead of a Congressional Hispanic Caucus BOLD Political Action Committee weekly breakfast in October, 2013. While much of the document covers background minutiae, Ward does discuss several sore points that the CHC has with the congressional committee.
The biggest problem is the “lack of Hispanic staff at the DCCC, particularly at senior levels,” she wrote, noting several ways in which the committee is addressing their concern, including asking Israel to acknowledge the work of the DCCC’s CHC liason, “who has played a critical role in our Hispanic outreach efforts this cycle.” Ward also asked him to mention open positions with the committee.
Another concern was about Hispanic candidates during that election cycle.
“CHC members are divided on their support of DCCC’s Candidate Mayor Pete Aguilar (CA-31). It is in your talking points to acknowledge their divided support for Baca/Aguilar,” she wrote. “The CHC Members might ask you about Luz Robles, UT-02 Latina candidate. DCCC’s political team has been in contact with CHC BOLD PAC staff regarding this race, although it is not a competitive district.”
Much of the rest of the document dump is filled with “inside politics” type talking points or fundraising goals. This stands in stark contrast to Guccifer 2.0’s last leak in mid-August, which included the DCCC’s password lists, cell phone numbers and many campaign documents.
Pelosi said she received “obscene” phone calls after that release, Bloomberg Politics reported.
“I have received scores of mostly obscene and sick calls, voicemails and text messages,” Pelosi wrote in a letter to party members. “Please be careful not to allow your children or family members to answer your phone.”