This Wall Street PAC Bankrolling Democrats Thinks Being Progressive Means Mirroring Betsy DeVos
If Democratic candidates want to keep the support of grassroots voters, they need to reject money from Democrats for Education Reform
Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) put out a new video about what they think it means to be an education progressive.
And by the political action committee’s definition, Betsy DeVos may be the most “progressive” education secretary ever.
She champions “public charter schools.” Just like them!
She is in favor of evaluating teachers on student test scores. Just like them!
She is a booster for “holding schools accountable” through the use of standardized tests. Just like them!
And she loves putting public tax dollars into private hands to run schools “more efficiently” by disbanding school boards, closing public debate, and choosing exactly which students get to attend privatized schools. Just like... you get the idea.
But perhaps the most striking similarity between DeVos and DFER is their methodologies.
DFER announced it again was going to flood Democratic races with tons of campaign cash to bolster candidates who agreed with them. That’s exactly how DeVos gets things done, too!
She gives politicians bribes to do her bidding! The only difference is she pays her money mostly to Republicans while DFER pays off Democrats. But if both DeVos and DFER are paying to get would-be lawmakers to enact the same policies, what is the difference!?
Seriously, what is the difference between Betsy DeVos and Democrats for Education Reform?
Progressives in Colorado and California say it is only the word “Democrat.”
Democratic party conferences in both states passed resolutions asking DFER to stop using the name “Democrat” because the privatization lobbying firm does not represent party ideals or goals.
Why do some progressives vote third party? Because of groups like DFER.
Voters think something like—if this charter school advocacy group represents what Democrats are all about, I can’t vote Democrat. I need a new party. Hence the surge of Green and other third party votes that is blamed for hurting Democratic candidates.
The Democrats have always been a big tent party, but the canvas can’t shelter the most regressive far-right bigotry without destroying the organization’s identity as an opposition party.
The reason for the confusion is that DFER is not a grassroots organization. It is funded by Wall Street hedge fund managers.
It is not an authentic expression of the public’s wants and desires. It is another avenue Continue reading: This Wall Street PAC Bankrolling Democrats Thinks Being Progressive Means Mirroring Betsy DeVos
