Democratic National Committee chair Tom Perez had to shout himself hoarse on Friday over heckling from liberal activists demanding a universal health care program.
According to the Sacramento Bee, at the beginning of California Democrats' three-day convention in Sacramento a nurses' union that opposed Perez's chairmanship warned they would primary lawmakers if they didn't support a single-payer health care bill.
In a clip on the Bee's website, Perez did his best to keep the crowd happy, his voice cracking as he shouted that President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin were in a "bromance" that was "really weird:"
As California Democrats kicked off their weekend convention here with a cocktail reception featuring trays of scallion pancakes with Hoisin sauce and red grapes rolled in blue cheese and coated in pistachios, the throng advocating for a statewide publicly funded, universal health care system snaked down a staircase behind Perez, shouting down his calls for unity.
"This gathering kind of reminds me of Thanksgiving dinner at my house with my extended family," Perez said, trying to lighten the mood.
Perez, the establishment choice for DNC chair, has faced hostility throughout his tenure. During his Democratic "Unity Tour" alongside Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) last month, crowds constantly booed his name. Perez also drew media criticism for using obscene language in an attempt to rev up crowds.
He was at it again on Friday, however, saying Republicans who support the recent Obamacare repeal bill "don't give a shit" about people.
State party chair John Burton got impatient with the noise inside the convention hall, at one point taking the microphone and snapping, "Shut the fuck up or go outside, all right?"
Burton later got a standing ovation for yelling, "Fuck Donald Trump!"
Outgoing @ca_dem chair @Johnburton gets standing O w final words to his party, finger upraised: "F@ck Donald Trump!" pic.twitter.com/VIqNQlhDJc
— Carla Marinucci (@cmarinucci) May 20, 2017
UPDATE: 4:53 P.M.: This article was updated to include Carla Marinucci's tweet.