Two days after Biden was inaugurated, I said that, as long as we can root out dark money and opaque funding sources in our political system, Dems would be in a great position to win in 2022.
I still believe this, which is why I have spent so much time bringing attention to it.
I still believe this, which is why I have spent so much time bringing attention to it.
https://twitter.com/clearing_fog/status/1352781029778411520
In Florida, three state Senate seats were bought with dark money - by covertly funding fake ghost candidates to steal votes from Dems.
These are the ones that we know about.
These are the ones that we know about.
https://twitter.com/clearing_fog/status/1381774661248110595
Dark money vehicles are also responsible for funding and coordinating most of the astroturf style propaganda operations that continue to divide us against each other and erode confidence in our government.
Including the StopTheSteal movement itself.
Including the StopTheSteal movement itself.
https://twitter.com/clearing_fog/status/1324817230425542656
This battle can be fought on multiple fronts.
In the NDAA, Dems included language requiring shell corps to report their owners.
Unlike other countries’ registries, it isn’t public; it is reported to Treasury.
Good for fighting laundering; not so much for political transparency
In the NDAA, Dems included language requiring shell corps to report their owners.
Unlike other countries’ registries, it isn’t public; it is reported to Treasury.
Good for fighting laundering; not so much for political transparency
https://twitter.com/clearing_fog/status/1334671524133969920
Why did both parties appear to support having this shell company ownership data kept inside Treasury, rather than in a publicly searchable registry?
I don’t know.
I suspect our Defense and Intel communities use some of these vehicles for NatSec purposes.
newsweek.com/exclusive-insi…
I don’t know.
I suspect our Defense and Intel communities use some of these vehicles for NatSec purposes.
newsweek.com/exclusive-insi…
Another way to fight the plague of opaque funding in our political sphere is by simply requiring these companies to regularly disclose their donors.
CA & other states have done this, and the Koch network is fighting this at SCOTUS as we speak (arguments have already been heard).
CA & other states have done this, and the Koch network is fighting this at SCOTUS as we speak (arguments have already been heard).
https://twitter.com/clearing_fog/status/1351225535347752960
And then, if our new SCOTUS Justices rule in favor of their own donors, there is another option - one that is much simpler, but that also will require a lot of political courage and public support.
Biden can simply have the IRS enforce the rules; remove their tax exempt status.
Biden can simply have the IRS enforce the rules; remove their tax exempt status.
https://twitter.com/arapaho415/status/1352806512209530880
So, as with many things, where there is a will, there is a way.
We know this has been a priority for Biden from the very beginning; his staff are working to combat this, and they will continue to.
Some liberal groups will be impacted as well.
We can’t shy away.
We know this has been a priority for Biden from the very beginning; his staff are working to combat this, and they will continue to.
Some liberal groups will be impacted as well.
We can’t shy away.
https://twitter.com/arapaho415/status/1335029618160455680
In 2018 and 2020, for the first time, Democrats received more dark money support than Republicans.
One might expect the GOP to want to meet in the middle, now that tables are turning.
But...
One might expect the GOP to want to meet in the middle, now that tables are turning.
But...
https://twitter.com/clearing_fog/status/1384747855668146179
..the GOP has built a ruthlessly efficient authoritarian power structure around these various groups, coordinating it all from the top down - from the national down to the state level.
This is not an arms race we want to escalate or continue.
Democracy cannot operate this way.
This is not an arms race we want to escalate or continue.
Democracy cannot operate this way.
https://twitter.com/clearing_fog/status/1361429078851526657
So, if you can, keep pressing your Senators and Representatives, and let them know that removing dark money from our politics is non-negotiable.
Allowing wealthy interests to siphon money from our real economy, and then secretly use that money to manipulate us, isn’t democracy.
Allowing wealthy interests to siphon money from our real economy, and then secretly use that money to manipulate us, isn’t democracy.
https://twitter.com/clearing_fog/status/1282393013981900800
Addendum
Quite a few folks have commented that voting rights are critical also - that is absolutely true.
And it is important to understand that the GOP’s nationwide assault on voting rights is also being funded/coordinated by these dark money groups:
motherjones.com/politics/2021/…
Quite a few folks have commented that voting rights are critical also - that is absolutely true.
And it is important to understand that the GOP’s nationwide assault on voting rights is also being funded/coordinated by these dark money groups:
motherjones.com/politics/2021/…
Addendum 2
The HR-1/S-1/For the People Act also includes the DISCLOSE Act, which would strike a huge blow against dark money in our politics.
This is why HR-1 needs to be passed, instead of just passing the VRA.
But also, Koch’s AFPF SCOTUS case will fight against this.
The HR-1/S-1/For the People Act also includes the DISCLOSE Act, which would strike a huge blow against dark money in our politics.
This is why HR-1 needs to be passed, instead of just passing the VRA.
But also, Koch’s AFPF SCOTUS case will fight against this.
https://twitter.com/clearing_fog/status/1365043247584747526
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