Fact Check: "Randi Weingarten received applause from DNC members when she announced her departure, according to her spokesperson."
What We Know
Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, recently resigned from her position on the Democratic National Committee (DNC) amid reported disagreements with the party's new chairman, Ken Martin. In her resignation letter, Weingarten expressed that she felt out of step with the current leadership and declined an offer to be reappointed to the committee, stating, “While I am proud to be a Democrat, I appear to be out of step with the leadership you are forging” (New York Times, Washington Post).
A spokesperson for Weingarten claimed that she received applause from DNC members when announcing her departure, which was described as "much to her dismay as a proud Dem" (Yahoo). However, the context of this applause and the reactions from other DNC members were not detailed in the reports.
Analysis
The claim that Weingarten received applause from DNC members during her announcement is primarily based on a statement from her spokesperson. While this assertion is notable, it lacks corroboration from independent sources or direct accounts from DNC members present at the time. The reports from major news outlets such as the New York Times and Washington Post focus on Weingarten's reasons for leaving and the internal conflicts within the DNC but do not mention any applause or positive reception from other members.
The reliability of the source making the claim (Weingarten's spokesperson) is questionable, as it may be biased in favor of portraying her departure in a positive light. In contrast, the articles from the New York Times and Washington Post provide a more critical view of the situation, emphasizing the discord within the party and Weingarten's disagreements with the leadership. This discrepancy suggests that the applause claim may be exaggerated or taken out of context.
Conclusion
The claim that Randi Weingarten received applause from DNC members when she announced her departure is False. While her spokesperson stated this, there is no independent verification or supporting evidence from credible sources. The primary reports focus on the reasons for her resignation and the internal conflicts within the DNC, without mentioning any applause or positive reactions from members. Thus, the claim appears to lack a solid foundation.
