That’s the refrain we hear on a constant basis from Democrats and their pet media, right? That we need to save democracy. So, why do they want to block people in the general election?
A ‘unity’ ticket in 2024 presidential race? Why Democrats are objecting to 3rd-party group’s plan
A “unity” team running for the White House next year may sound farfetched — one Republican and one Democrat teaming up to share a platform and a presidential ticket — but some Democrats say they are worried that such a possibility could spoil Joe Biden’s reelection hopes.
And they’re looking to stop it.
No Labels is the group floating a bipartisan team-up if 2024 features the increasingly likely rematch of Biden versus Donald Trump, both of whom face weak approval ratings. Democrats, burned by third-party candidates who may have tipped key states in 2016 — when, for example, Hillary Clinton lost Michigan to Trump by 11,000 votes while Libertarian Gary Johnson earned 172,000 ballots — are sounding the alarm that No Labels could similarly siphon votes from Biden.
In response, Democrats are mounting a scattered effort to blunt the outside group’s efforts.
Among No Labels’ gripes are what they decry as attempts to block access to the ballot in certain states. And while both Democrats and No Labels agree avoiding a Trump presidency is a priority, the feud has sparked a debate over whether efforts to pump the breaks on a third-party bid amount to suppression or due diligence.
Don’t Democrats typically push for more access to the ballot box? Yet, here we have them attempting to squash the ability of No Labels to be on the 2024 ballot. That would sure seem to be contradictory to “saving our democracy.” Of course, Democrats do no want Democracy except in terms of everyone voting and only having the Democratic Party to vote for, much like Saddam Hussein allowed voting and he was the only one on the ballot.
Still, Chavis and No Labels’ chief strategist, Ryan Clancy, insisted repeatedly in a nearly 45-minute interview that the momentum of a ballot access campaign wouldn’t prevent the group from pulling the plug if need be.
“No Labels is on the record, we will not be a spoiler in any case … to the interests of Donald Trump,” Chavis said.
So, they’re really about trying to take out Trump (or, whichever Republican wins the primary)
The Democratic Party in Arizona is suing No Labels and the Democratic secretary of state, contesting No Labels’ status as a third party in Arizona and accusing it instead of being a “dark money” group. And in Maine, the Democratic secretary of state sent letters to residents who signed forms registering with the No Labels Party seeking to ensure they indeed meant to register.
Saving our Democracy by limiting who can run.
“No Labels is kind of the ‘Seinfeld’ of political parties. It’s a party about nothing. And I think they’re pretty clearly out there to sabotage,” said one operative, Jared Leopold.
“Absolutely, Democrats should aggressively try to stop ballot access if there is reason to do so,” he added. “There’s a lot at stake here. And I think Democrats need to play hardball.”
Or, Democrats could offer a better platform and beat them at the ballot box. To save democracy, you know.
Read: In Order To Save Democracy, Democrats Look To Stop 2024 “Unity Ticket” »