Democrats are just as guilty as Republicans regarding dark money and voter suppression: Analyst

Democrats are just as guilty as Republicans regarding dark money and voter suppression, but Dems received more in dark money in 2020 than the GOP, according to an American political analyst and activist.

Myles Hoenig, a former Green Party candidate for Congress, made the remarks in an interview with Press TV on Friday after Senate Republicans voted Thursday to block the consideration of a bill to promptly require organizations that spend money on elections to promptly disclose the identities of donors who give $10,000 or more during an election cycle.  

The body failed to invoke cloture on the measure, in a 49-49 vote. Republicans voted against the measure, while Democrats voted for it.

Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) were not present for the decision.

“Dark money runs campaigns. No requirement to identify sources. It’s the bane of anyone who fights for electoral reform. Republicans are blocking a bill requiring donors to be revealed and of course the Democrats are planning to use it as a campaign issue. After all, the Republicans are the masters of dark money. However, according to the New York Times, the Democrats are not just as guilty but received more in dark money in 2020 than the Republicans. In that race the Republicans took in $900 million while the Democrats raked in $1.5 billion,” Hoenig said.

“This might sound hypocritical because it is, but this is how the two parties campaign. It’s always the other side that’s guilty and if found out that your side is also guilty, then excuses are made,” he stated.

“Other than dark money, there are other substantial arguments made against the Republicans in how they conduct electoral politics. The Republicans are largely known for voter suppression. They do all they can to either redistrict Blacks into a corner with little representation, or pass laws or procedures that make being black a detriment to voting. This is clearly a civil rights issue and helps to motivate Democratic voters, almost as much as the rights of women regarding health choices, e.g. abortion,” he said.

“And yet again, the Democrats are just as guilty regarding voter suppression. It may not be based on race, or even class, but political persuasions. Throughout the country, whether it be national or state-based elections, the Democratic Party does all that it can to disenfranchise voters whose positions are farther left than theirs. The Sanders’ campaign was consistently attacked at the state level to prevent his winnings from being counted and argued in court that being a private entity, they, the DNC, can make up its own rules. There are many states in which the Green Party is not even allowed on the ballot because of either Democratic votes on state electoral committees or sued to prevent them from being represented, even after they go through all the hoops necessary to be acknowledged as a legitimate party,” he noted.

“Whether it be dark money or voter suppression, both parties are equally guilty. It’s just that their sources and targets are different,” he concluded.

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