‘Definition of a Rigged System,’ Says Sanders Campaign After DNC Changes Debate Rules for Billionaire Latecomer Mike Bloomberg
“DNC changing the rules to benefit a billionaire.”
(By: Eoin Higgins, Common Dreams) After debate rules were changed in favor of allowing billionaire Mike Bloomberg to join the candidates onstage vying for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination on Friday, Sen. Bernie Sanders’ campaign hit back, calling the decision emblematic of the corrupt political system the Vermont senator has centered his run for the White House on defeating.
“To now change the rules in the middle of the game to accommodate Mike Bloomberg, who is trying to buy his way into the Democratic nomination, is wrong,” Sanders senior adviser Jeff Weaver told Politico. “That’s the definition of a rigged system.”
New statement from Bernie Sanders senior adviser Jeff Weaver on DNC debate rules: “To now change the rules in the middle of the game to accommodate Mike Bloomberg, who is trying to buy his way into the Democratic nomination, is wrong. That’s the definition of a rigged system.”
— Holly Otterbein (@hollyotterbein) January 31, 2020
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) announced Friday afternoon that the criteria for making the debate stage will no longer include a requirement about individual donors—allowing Bloomberg, whose campaign is largely self-funded, to join the candidates if his polling numbers reach the new threshold.
“DNC changing the rules to benefit a billionaire,” tweeted Sanders campaign manager Faiz Shakir. “I much prefer Democrats being a grassroots party. And under Bernie Sanders, that’s the way it will be.”
According to Politico:
Candidates will need to earn at least 10% in four polls released from Jan. 15 to Feb. 18, or 12% in two polls conducted in Nevada or South Carolina, in order to participate in the Feb. 19 debate in Las Vegas. Any candidate who earns at least one delegate to the national convention in either the Iowa caucuses or New Hampshire primary will also qualify for the Nevada debate.
The rules change caught Democrats by surprise.
Some observers noted the timing of the change and wondered if it was part of a coordinated attack on Sanders from both the DNC and Bloomberg.
The DNC & Bloomberg ready to try & defeat Bernie! ? pic.twitter.com/aHZ5OgAuVQ
— Anthony Clark for Congress (@anthonyvclark20) January 31, 2020
The Intercept’s Ryan Grim, citing Federal Elections Commission data, noted Bloomberg donated $325,000 to the DNC in November 2019.
“Totally normal system,” said Grim.
Just before jumping into the race, @MikeBloomberg gave $325,000 to the DNC, on top of the gobs he spent on ads this month. Totally normal system. pic.twitter.com/u4JDelWb7H
— Ryan Grim (@ryangrim) January 31, 2020
The debate rules have been a source of contention throughout the primary process, with some former hopefuls like Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro questioning the restrictions on polling and donors as prohibitive to their campaigns.
Progressive strategist Tim Tagaris wondered what could have been different if not for the qualifications.
“How much money did candidates like Julián Castro and Cory Booker have to spend chasing donor thresholds that could have been spent building organizations in early states?” said Tagaris.
Comedian and writer Jack Allison took a wry look at the changes and what they mean about the party.
“Remember when they wouldn’t even think of changing them for like Cory Booker,” Allison tweeted. “This is what we mean when we talk about the DNC cheating, obviously and out in the open.”
“Thankfully seeing Bloomberg speak can only hurt his standing,” Allison added, “but still.”
This is pure down and dirty politics. It has been this way for over two hundred years. Sanders and Warren lie right along with the rest of them, others that cannot even win one delegate should just pack it up and do something worthwhile.
However, to allow someone like Bloomberg, regardless of qualifications to bypass all rules and go to the head of the line with his check book is just plain un American. Nobody should vote for a weasel of any party.
Everything about present-day U.S. politics is un-American. The bad guys own everything now, including the voters’ feeble minds and the two parties’ nominees. The USA that once had at least some semblance of high principles has been beheaded by the plutocratic (and un-Islamic) jihadis of Wall Street and Washington. Washington was annexed by Wall Street with Reagan’s blessing.