Well that’s depressing. 10-20 people have replied to me saying “this is fine” about elected Democrats being *chosen for them* by some wealthy donors in secret who disguise it as public opinion. I just don’t understand rolling over and dying like that
At least since Citizens United, I've been under the impression that's how almost all candidates won their primary. If they truly appeal to people (like Mamdani), dark $ doesn't stop them. That, and the names in the story that I was familiar with, already push the same party line messaging.
Wouldn’t this article indicate that your impression was wrong?
Not that I'm aware. It's focused on a particular group of influencers as newly added, but it also stated that the same group (like others) has been running ops for quite some time.
We’re talking about the part where they dictate which politicians the influencers can praise or condemn with their funding, correct? Not, like, ad spending or campaign donations
Yes. But as I read it, "pushing *liberal and progressive* causes," at most, somewhat levels out against the field of centrist Dems who've been receiving major corporate funded messaging. I want dark money banned, F/S. But until possible, I'm never shocked at groups playing the game handed to them.
It’s specific about individual politicians in a way that strikes me as gratuitous—it’s no basic requirement for dark money funding, or advancing progressive causes. If it’s a primary, supposedly we’re all on the same side of that divide
Again, they seem to be the lib/prog competitors to the center Dem consultant class. Looking at the Dem to prog congressional ratio and the razor-thin majority in 2020, their *biggest spending year, not even very successful competitors. If they spend more in the general against maga, meh.
I think you’re being very optimistic about “liberal and progressive” as a self-description. Check this spending history
Admittedly, I just scrolled the main years, but what I saw - they spent heavily to: Oppose Kavanaugh. Oppose RFK Jr's appointment. To protect abortion rights. Not noteworthy, but certainly more evidence that they're not a very effective lot.
ok well I’m not going to pull out sections for you because you wanted to skim, so I guess we’re at an impasse
And the problem seems twofold: One, it’s wildly antidemocratic, and two, as the mayoral election in NYC continues I get stark examples every day of how bad their judgment is. If I *was* cool with backroom candidate-picking I’d want someone more competent than the D consultant class