If you follow politics at all, you are familiar with Democrats pretending they are protecting America from Republican efforts to destroy democracy. As you will see, in an effort to potentially improve their political fortunes Democrats are using millions of dollars to amplify the messaging of far-right candidates who believe the 2020 election was stollen and/or who supported or downplayed the January 6, 2021 insurrection.
Important Facts
- Democrats have spent nearly $60 million backing far-right candidates in 13 races across nine states.
- To date, the far-right candidate backed with Democratic money has won four of the 11 Republican primaries.
- The final two Republican primaries where Democrats have been supporting far-right candidates take place today in New Hampshire.
- Typically, Democratic money has been spent on television commercials.
- In at least one instance, a far-right candidate used Democratic money to influence down ballot races Democrats didn’t intend to influence.
- In several instances, Democrats spent way more money supporting far-right candidates than those candidates were able to spend themselves.
- In one race, the Democrats spent 30 times more on a far-right candidate’s campaign than the canidate was able to spend.
Democrats Argument
The Democrats who support the strategy of amplifying far-right candidates in Republican primaries do not shy away from their intent. They believe the far-right candidates they are backing are going to be easier to beat in the general election than would be more moderate Republicans. Some Democrats who speak openly about this strategy admit it’s an attempt to give Democrats more of an advantage in what is shaping up to be a challenging November for Democrats.
Why This is Terrible
By amplifying far-right candidates Democrats are giving them a platform to promote their lies that is a much larger platform than many of them could ever give themselves. If Democrat’s risk backfires, some of the people they believe would be terrible for the future of America will be elected and given an even larger platform.
But the biggest reason this cynical strategy is so terrible is it highlights what really matters to Democrats. If far-right candidates are truly an existential threat, as Democrats so often say, using millions of dollars to amplify their message, helping them run in general elections, and possibly helping them get elected is increasing the possibility of the supposed exestential threat becoming reality. Even worse, helping far-right candidates amplify their lies and conspiracy theories further undermines the shred of confidence most people still seem to have in American government.
Simply put, Democrats are willing to give voice to the kind of falsehoods and conspiracy theories they claim to reject in order to see if doing so helps them win a few elections. But even if Democrats win every election in which Democrats have helped amplify a far-right candidate, Democrats will have helped spread falsehoods, conspiracy theories, and will have further eroded public trust in the American political process.
In my 34 years of following politics, I have never seen a political party openly brag about repeatedly interfering in the political process. Democrats may get the short-term success they desire, but the cynicism necessary to believe amplifying the worst of candidates and some of the most terrible political messages as a justifiable electoral strategy demonstrates that the Democratic Party has no principles beyond its own power. When immoral means are used to justify the ends, the whole process has been further indicted.
If the Democratic Party was really concerned with decreasing division and cared about the fomenting of political hatred, the Democratic Party would never embark on such a reckless course of action. Once again, the Democratic Party is demonstrating that all it cares about is the power it holds. When the January 6 hearings resume later this month, Democrats will be engaging in political theater designed to convince the delusional that the Democratic Party stands for democracy. But no one who actually stands for democracy would spend millions amplifying the voices of those dedicated to destroying any semblance of democracy.
Closing Thoughts
Sadly, I have been convinced for a long time that the entire American political system is garbage and must be replaced. As this issue shows, there is no honor, integrity, or principle in American politics. It’s all about the duopoly maintaining power on behalf of its corporate masters. Within the duopoly, little rises to the level of being a price to high to pay for one side holding power over the other.
When one of a two-sided coin is actively interfering in the other’s political processes to try and choose its opponents, the system is beyond repair. But when the party interfering is fomenting hatred and giving credibility to lies in order to achieve power, the system shouldn’t be repaired.