Progressive groups unite to boost Bernie Sanders as Democratic attacks on him mount

[Donkees]

The independent expenditure effort is dubbed "People Power for Bernie.

Jan. 30, 2020, 6:02 PM EST
By Alex Seitz-Wald

Excerpt:

DES MOINES, Iowa — Nine outside groups backing Bernie Sanders will begin coordinating efforts to boost the presidential candidate in what they say is the largest independent mobilizing drive in the Democratic field, aides with the coalition told NBC News.

The independent expenditure, dubbed "People Power for Bernie," will be barred from coordinating with Sanders' campaign, but members of the coalition will be able to team up on grassroots organizing and potentially advertising.

The reinforcements for Sanders comes just ahead of Monday’s first-in-the-nation caucuses in Iowa, where Sanders' surge into the lead in most polls has worried some moderates and prompted an almost $700,000 ad campaign from a pro-Israel Democratic group arguing Sanders can't beat President Donald Trump.

The groups include Democratic Socialists of America, the youth climate advocacy group Sunrise Movement, and Our Revolution, which spun off of Sanders' 2016 campaign, along with the progressive organizing groups Center for Popular Democracy Action, Make the Road, Action People's Action, Student Action and Progressive Democrats of America. Also part of the effort is the criminal justice group Dream Defenders.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/outside-groups-unite-back-bernie-sanders-democratic-attacks-him-mount-n1126926

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[Uncle Joe]

1. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread Donkees.

[lapucelle]

2. How many are the groups are super pacs?

At least three.

So super pacs are engaged in battling apocryphal "Democratic attacks"?

Super pacs are spending money "fighting" the Democratic Party?

Has BS repudiated this yet?

[George II]

10. From FEC.gov ("dark money" groups highlighted):

Democratic Socialists of America - PAC
Sunrise Movement – Not registered with FEC
Our Revolution - PAC
Center for Popular Democracy Action - Independent Expenditor (Person or Group)
Make the Road Action – Super PAC
People's Action Movement – Super PAC
Student Action - PAC
Progressive Democrats of America - PAC
Dream Defenders – Super PAC

[lapucelle]

11. What happened to the BS pledge?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

13. Yes!

[LanternWaste]

16. I guess this why you guys abruptly stopped condemning dark money last month.

I get it... the year gets old pretty fast, and what we condemn one day becomes something we celebrate the next, the ethical sliding-scale dependent on convenience rather than conviction.

"Yes!"

[msongs]

3. I remember when bernie opposed PACS and outside groups lololol nt

[lapucelle]

4. Super pacs are spending money against "Democrats" on BS's behalf

and they expect a round of applause?

BS needs to repudiate these efforts and clarify exactly what super pacs are working on his behalf.

[myohmy2]

5. +1

...

[George II]

6. YOU already posted this!

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287457972

But while we're discussing this AGAIN, below is what I posted in your first OP on this. At least three of the groups are Super PACs, one isn't even registered with the FEC, and one is an "Independent Expenditor". Quite a bit of that dreaded "dark money" being thrown around in support of Sanders.

A quick review on FEC.gov:

Democratic Socialists of America - PAC
Sunrise Movement – Not registered with FEC
Our Revolution - PAC
Center for Popular Democracy Action - Independent Expenditor (Person or Group)
Make the Road Action – Super PAC
People's Action Movement – Super PAC
Student Action - PAC
Progressive Democrats of America - PAC
Dream Defenders – Super PAC

[lapucelle]

8. Super pac money, dark money, untraceable six figure donations...

Shadow group provides Sanders super PAC support he scorns

“The phenomenon of candidates using nonprofits to supplement their campaigns is a real problem,” said Adav Noti, a former FEC attorney who is now with the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center in Washington. “This is a creation of Citizens United and the fact that the FEC won’t crack down on coordination between these outside groups and candidates.”

https://apnews.com/345bbd1af529cfb1e41305fa3ab1e604

Watchdog files FEC complaint against pro-Sanders nonprofit

Our Revolution has taken in nearly $1 million from donors whose contributions exceeded those limits and whose identities it hasn’t fully disclosed, according to tax filings for 2016, 2017 and 2018. Much of it came from donors who contributed six-figure sums.

https://apnews.com/cd7a58676b6fc8cbe2f9783f469d0bee

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[DanTex]

9. Love it.

It’s great to see progressive groups and people come together like this!!

[Gothmog]

12. So sanders is accepting more support from Dark Money Pacs

Who is surprised by this?

[David__77]

14. Cool.

...also, they can do their own thing.

[Gothmog]

15. so sanders now likes dark money

Link to tweet