The DCCC is cynical. They think they are playing smart hardball politics.
It isn't smart. It is wrong.
They undermine the moral case against Trump's attempted coup.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee--the DCCC--tries to elect Democrats to the U.S. House of Representatives. They collect money from around the country to spend strategically. Republicans have a similar committee to help Republicans.
The DCCC got involved in a Republican primary election for a congressional seat in Michigan. They donated money to help a Trump-friendly election conspiracy advocate, John Gibbs, defeat an incumbent Republican Peter Meijer. The strategy presumed a Trump-endorsed election denier would be easier to defeat in November than a more moderate Republican. Meijer was already in political trouble. He was one of 10 Republican House Members to vote for impeachment in the days following the January 6 attack.
John Gibbs had raised little money. He had nothing going for him but an endorsement from Trump. But he won because the DCCC flooded the markets with ads to help him. Here is a 30-second ad the DCCC paid for:
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The ad is bait for Republicans. Democrats are attacking Gibbs for being too conservative and pro-Trump, so vote for Gibbs. This strategy is worse than cynical. It is dangerous. Gibbs just might win the general election.
Worse, the DCCC loses the moral argument. The strongest moral argument against Trump's coup d'état is that it is unconstitutional and wrong to lie and cheat and obstruct the peaceful transfer of power. Overthrowing an election with legal fictions, fake electors, and a mob intimidating Congress is just as much an attack on America as were Japanese planes at Pearl Harbor or the 9-11 jetliners. The moral argument--well voiced by Lyn Cheney and a few other Republicans--is that Trump's efforts to overthrow the election are a crime that eclipses partisan interest. An attack on democracy itself requires we do what is right, political costs be damned. Democrats say that, too.
The DCCC needs to walk the talk. Its devious support for Gibbs shows it doesn't really consider Trump's coup uniquely wrong and above politics. They don't protect the patriotic candidates who fight the good fight on that issue. They shoot them in the back.
Too many Republicans are enabling and normalizing Trump's attempted coup. It is shameful. They close ranks around party, not country. Shame also attaches to the DCCC for revealing its own party-first behavior. But helping an election denier defeat a Republican who said the Trump coup was impeachable is wrong. It reveals corrupt values. They are no better than Republican officeholders who are silent in the face of Trump's coup.
The fact that the DCCC helps empower election conspiracies does not make it right for Republicans to do it. It is wrong. Equally wrong.
I sometimes give campaign help to Democratic candidates. I give directly to ones I like. I hang up when the DCCC calls me to help their national effort. I am disgusted by what they do with it.
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8 comments:
As with any charity, it's better to give directly to people in need and eliminate the middlepersons.
Democrats should support democracy over party. We are in a war with reality versus party affiliation. I would hope Democrats would stick to being the party for democracy. Good post Peter, I had the same thoughts.
I have refused to send any contributions to the DCCC for the reasons your’ve discussed in your blog today. My reasons are two-fold, 1) a fifty state strategy is not in their playbook because they write-off areas of the country and 2) no outreach to the districts during off election years.
I am disgusted by DCCC contributions going to Trumpists and election deniers with the express of fielding their candidate as somehow the better choice. The cynical actions by the DCCC appear sophomoric. Shame on the DCCC.
These calculating and conniving behaviors are the incubator for the idea “party over country”
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Here’s a thought, if the DCCC’s ideas are worthy be honest with the voters. Don’t they know they’re hurting the brand of Democrat, making it small and mean. For shame!
While I'm not completely sure about the where and when I am pretty darn sure this is not a new tactic. The argument is simply that the end justifies the means. Is it immoral? I don't think so. Is it cynical and presumes the other side is stupid?
Definitely.
My guess is that it's being done because it works.
Republicans are pandering to a base that turns out for primaries, but elects candidates that lose generals. I think the lesson here is that Democrats take care not to do the same.
Joe wins elections, be like Joe.
Whenever I hear pontification about “the moral high ground,“ my first impulse is to look behind the curtain.
I quit donating to DCCC, DSCC, DNC about the time the feckless Tom Perez was installed by President Obama as a replacement for Dr. Dean, whose 50 State Strategy was getting Democrats elected across the board. Not to mention, not once have I seen a sliver of interest from the National Party in helping Oregon Democrats beat Seditionists and would be traitors. And I admit to a touch of Schadenfreude when Jamie McCleod-Skinner handed the Biden endorsed Kurt Schrader his head on a platter, and is now running to become another staunch Progressive Democratic Vote in the House. I'm not privy to Jamie's international Campaign records, but I cannot help but wonder if DNC is helping her opponent, and further wonder if Joe Yetter is getting any help in his Campaign to unseat Qliff Bentz.
I agree with you, Peter. We need to walk the talk.
The DCCC has a long record of shady deals, back in the old Bernie vs Hillary days.
Give to the candidates directly.
Very dangerous game the Democrats are playing.
At one time, Establishment Democrats and Democratic operatives at places like the DCCC were gleeful to see a reality TV star winning the GOP primaries instead of Jeb Bush, because they were so sure that Hillary would easily beat Donald Trump.
They have learned nothing.
If I was a Democrat living in Meijer's district, I'd be tempted to vote for John Gibbs out of pure spite. I won't be at all surprised if Gibbs is their next congressman.
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