(NewsGlobal.com)- Independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is calling for an end to super PAC money in Democratic primary elections.
Sanders recently sent a letter to Jaime Harrison, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee. In it, the Vermont senator — who is independent by caucuses with Democrats — said that leaders in the party haven’t lived up to the values they are touting since they refused to condemn “the many millions of dollars in dark money being spent by super PACs that are now attempting to buy Democratic primaries.”
He continued:
“The goal of this billionaire funded effort is to crush the candidacies of a number of progressive women of color who are running for Congress.”
Sanders believes that the DNC should denounce money from super PACs publicly, at least as it relates to primaries within the Democratic Party. Apparently, he believes it’s OK to use that money in elections against Republicans, though.
The senator has also proposed taking disciplinary action against candidates who end up accepting money from super PACs for Democratic primaries. His letter to Harrison reads:
“I am writing to you today to demand that the Democratic National Committee make it clear that super PAC money is not welcome in Democratic primaries. I believe the Party should make a public statement about our values and simultaneously consider actions that punish candidates who refuse to adhere to this principle.
“Let Democratic candidates compete with each other based on their ideas and grassroots support, not on the kind of billionaire super PAC money they can attract. Let us try to create a Democratic Party which is truly democratic.”
Super PAC money is rolling in at record rates for Democratic Primary races. In the 12th District in Pennsylvania, which his newly created around Pittsburgh, more than $2 million was spent from the United Democracy Project super PAC to oppose state Representative Summer Lee.
That super PAC is aligned with the AIPAC, or the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Lee, a Democrat, is being backed by some of the biggest stars in the progressive movement, including both sanders and New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
That same super PAC is spending loads of money for the primary in the 28th District in Texas, which pits progressive challenger Jessica Cisneros against incumbent Representative Henry Cuellar, a moderate.
Railing against super PAC money is nothing new for Sanders. In fact, he has often derided wealthy donors having a heavy hand in Democratic politics in the past. He has even publicly attacked AIPAC, the Democratic Majority for Israel (another super PAC) and the United Democracy Project super PAC.
His letter continued:
“A super PAC is a super PAC, whether it is funded by Republican billionaires or Democratic billionaires. Dark money is dark money, whether it is funded by Republican billionaires or Democratic billionaires.
“There is no question but that the continuation of super PAC money in Democratic primaries will demoralize the Democratic base and alienate potential Democratic voters from the political process.”
