Friends -
You know it. I know it. The current American political system is corrupt.
You get to cast one vote. Billionaires get to spend hundreds of millions supporting or defeating candidates of their choice. That's not democracy. That's Oligarchy. And that's why we must overturn the disastrous Supreme Court decision on Citizens United and move to public funding of elections.
But, in the mean time, living within this corrupt campaign finance system, we have to fight back and support progressive candidates under attack from right-wing billionaires.
One example.
As you may have heard, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and their billionaire-backed Super PAC are planning a $100 million campaign targeting progressive members of Congress this election.
If we do not support those members, I fear that no one will.
So today, I am reaching out asking you to split a donation between Reps. Jamaal Bowman, Summer Lee and my campaign. If that's all you need to hear, use this link.
https://act.berniesanders.com/go/defend-progressives
Otherwise, let me be as blunt as I can about what is happening here:
AIPAC and other groups rely on right-wing billionaires in order to influence primary races and defeat progressives. They spend unlimited amounts of money to undermine our democracy, mislead voters, and maintain the status quo. When we talk about billionaires buying candidates and elections, this is exactly what we are talking about.
During the 2022 campaign, they spent $33 million largely attacking progressive candidates and supporting their right-wing opponents.
They spent more than $3 million attacking Summer Lee in Pennsylvania. They spent more than $1 million defeating Jessica Cisneros in her primary, and they spent significant sums of money to defeat Nina Turner in her primary.
They do it through a Super PAC ironically named the United Democracy Project. Yet, despite their "democracy" project, AIPAC endorsed over 100 election-denying Republicans who refused to certify Biden's election and are funded by billionaires who want a "two-party" system that is united in support of large corporations and the rich. And, quite cynically, for an organization whose mission is to support "Pro-Israel" candidates, their ads attacking progressives often have nothing to do with that issue at all. They don't even have the courage to talk about the issue they ostensibly support in their ads.
Cowards and hypocrites!
In this election, AIPAC is expected to spend $100 million just to try and unseat progressive members of Congress who dare to speak out about what's going on in Gaza. Yes. As a candidate, all you have to do is speak out against the horrific and destructive war that Israel is waging against the Palestinian people and you will find yourself on the AIPAC Hitlist - and be the recipient of large amounts of money trying to defeat you.
It is also no coincidence that most of the candidates AIPAC targets are women and people of color, and they are almost all progressives who center their campaigns and their work in Congress on protecting the needs of the working people of this country.
So it will surprise no one to hear that the top donors to AIPAC's super PAC are a who's who of financial service industries: Highfields Capital Management, JLL Partners, Saban Capital Group, the right-wing founder of Home Depot, and more. They spend unlimited amounts of money to undermine our democracy, mislead voters, and maintain the status quo.
Billionaire participation in elections is nothing new but, every election cycle, they become bolder and more influential. And the elections of 2024 are shaping up to be the most dangerous yet — with progressives often the target.
So what can we do about it?
First, the progressive members of Congress being attacked by AIPAC deserve the full financial and organizational support of the Democratic Party establishment in their races. When progressives run against sitting members of Congress, the entire Democratic Party leadership contributes to the more conservative Democrat and floods their district with events and fundraisers. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, the progressive members of Congress deserve no less support from their House colleagues and leadership.
But these candidates need our help as well, because it would be a tragedy if Jamaal Bowman and Summer Lee were replaced in Congress by some conservative Democrat at a time when progressive voices are needed more and more.
So I am once again asking for your financial support:
If you've stored your info with ActBlue, we'll process your split contribution between Jamaal Bowman, Summer Lee, and Bernie Sanders instantly:
It is not a radical idea to say that the very wealthiest people in this country should not be able to control our political system and our representation in government. This nation and its government belong to ALL of our people, and not to a handful of billionaires and their super PACs.
In solidarity,
Bernie Sanders
Paid for by Friends of Bernie Sanders
PO BOX 391, Burlington, VT 05402
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