This plan for a third-party presidential bid in 2024 is dangerous

[Nevilledog]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/05/04/no-labels-third-party-bid-dangerous/

No paywall
https://archive.is/opRIs


As leaders of three groups that represent various segments of the Democratic Party coalition, we don’t always agree on policy or politics. But lately, we find ourselves strongly united on one alarming issue: the possibility of a well-financed third-party presidential campaign that could help elect a MAGA extremist president in 2024.

Our country is staring down a series of once-in-a-generation threats that strike at the heart of American democracy — corruption on our nation’s highest court, fundamental rights tested at the ballot box and, of course, the Jan. 6, 2021, coup attempt. Yet instead of responding to these attacks with clear-eyed determination to protect our country, the organization known as No Labels is spearheading an effort to put a third-party ticket on the ballot in every state.

The group — founded in 2010 to combat rising political polarization — has said it is raising at least $70 million for the effort and is planning a convention in Dallas for April 2024. No Labels has condemned Donald Trump and Joe Biden as equally extreme and claims that their likely nominations by the major parties require another choice.

We understand the sentiment that has driven donors to the No Labels banner. But there is simply no equating a party led by Biden to today’s MAGA Republican Party. One side believes in American democracy, while the other has attacked it. One is governing from the mainstream, while the other champions extremism. One seeks to work collaboratively on the issues; the other has given way to conspiracy theorists and cranks.

*snip*

Clarence's sugar daddy, Harlan Crow, is a mega-donor to this effort.

Link to tweet

Tweet text:

Melanie D'Arrigo

@DarrigoMelanie
·
Follow
Billionaire Nazi memorabilia collector and Clarence Thomas vacation buddy, Harlan Crow is a huge donor to No Labels candidates.

No Labels isn’t “bipartisan.”
They’re corporate and billionaire interests first.

No Labels

@NoLabelsOrg
It’s time for a new choice for America. It’s time for a new choice for America. Increasingly, it looks like the 2024 presidential race will just be a divisive replay of 2020 rather than unify the country. https://thehill.com/opinion/congress-blog/3939951-america-needs-a-new-alternative/…
6:27 PM · Apr 10, 2023

[RegulatedCapitalistD]

1. Which is Why Harlan Crow

Is their biggest Donor.

[Fiendish Thingy]

2. And they are trying to recruit Manchin to be their nominee. Nt

[Mme. Defarge]

3. Source/s for Harlan Crow connection?

[Hekate]

4. OP cites Washington Post, which is generally accepted as a credible news source

[Nevilledog]

5. ...

Link to tweet

https://truthout.org/articles/gop-donor-funding-thomas-also-funded-conservative-democrats-2021-revolt/

Link to tweet

[Mme. Defarge]

13. Merci!

I don’t think he was mentioned in the WP article, and I failed to find another source when I tried researching it.

[Wednesdays]

6. We definitely should keep an eye on them, BUT

unless they field a candidate with super name recognition, they'll be mostly dead in the water.

By super name recognition, I mean someone like Dwayne Johnson or Oprah Winfrey. I doubt anyone like that would be remotely interested.

[Lonestarblue]

8. They may be assuming that Trump will not be the Republican nominee and will be theirs.

If that’s the case, go for it. But if they’re just determined to be spoilers for Democrats, then they’ll choose someone like Manchin. According to Wikipedia, the founders are Nancy Jacobson and Tom Davis (R).

The national leaders are Joe Lieberman (I/D), Larry Hogan (R), and Benjamin Chavis. Anything Lieberman is involved with is suspect in my opinion.

[Johonny]

7. People chanting unity never want compromise

on any other term but theirs.

[stopdiggin]

9. Despite anything said

this is an effort to hamstring, and eventually defeat, a major party candidate. (you may guess which is the preferred target) As there is absolutely NO realistic path to a win by a third party candidate ... It remains that this is at core an effort to destabilize the political system and invoke discord and chaos. Full stop.

[Demsrule86]

10. Which is what we must hammer home...a vote for a third party is a vote for Trump or whoever...

and more GOP garbage.

[BeckyDem]

11. Don't trust this group. Never.

[Kennah]

12. I suggest they run Perot, Nixon, or Hugo Chavez