In a political saga that reads more like a bizarre thriller than actual governance, some Democrat fundraising strategies have sparked outrage—and not just from their usual critics. Local grannies, purportedly enthusiastic Democratic donors, have unwittingly become involved in a scandal that has all the traits of a bad crime novel: identity theft, elaborate schemes, and questionable motives. Meanwhile, some well-known Democrat figures seem to be taking every opportunity to cash in on the chaos surrounding them, even when the stakes are a little higher than usual.
It seems that over the past few years, the Democratic fundraising juggernaut known as ActBlue has been rolling in dough, and not all of it appears to come from those who willingly opened their wallets. Reports suggest that a number of older, lower-middle-income individuals have become unwitting participants in a fundraising frenzy, with their identities being used to rack up trust-fund-like donations without their knowledge. Picture this: an 79-year-old living in an apartment somehow managed to make over 22,000 donations totaling nearly a million dollars since 2019. Does this seem feasible? Maybe she’s hiding a lucrative side business selling cookies—or maybe something else is afoot.
By some bizarre stroke of bad luck, the elderly blue-suit-wearers are caught in a labyrinth of political fundraising that frankly resembles a hamster wheel more than a path to any electoral victory. The reality is unsettling: many donations come from individuals who don’t actually have the means to contribute so lavishly. This means we have to consider the real possibility that these donations are a front for something even more nefarious. Is this a case of identity theft, or are there shadowy backrooms somewhere in Washington where mysterious money-men operate like puppeteers?
But wait, there’s more! The show doesn’t stop there. Kamala Harris’s campaign, fresh off its ultimately doomed attempt to seize the presidency, still managed to find a way to keep pulling on donors’ heartstrings—or, more accurately, their credit cards—even after the lights went out on her campaign. Reports indicate that her campaign fund began withdrawing money from supporters’ accounts long after it was supposed to stop. You see, instead of writing a graceful exit note, the campaign opted to keep the donations flowing like a never-ending river… for as long as the donors don’t call to stop it. A real piece of work, that one!
And as if that wasn’t enough, we have California Governor Gavin Newsom—yes, the same guy who had a casual chat while the world was engulfed in wildfires—now asking for donations via his campaign site to help fire victims. But, surprise! Those donations were routed through ActBlue, replete with skim fees. Can you believe the audacity? It’s like asking for a slice of birthday cake while simultaneously making the cake a fundraiser for a new bicycle. Fire victims? More like an opportunity to butter up some generous (or unsuspecting) souls.
The best part? Even other Democratic figures aren’t safe from the backlash. Elizabeth Warren received her due comeuppance when she attempted to secure donations for communities ravaged by wildfires. Public outcry arose when it was revealed that her solicitation linked straight to ActBlue, collecting fees while the actual aid—with which you’d think the links would align—seemed like an afterthought. This level of politicizing natural disasters has led to widespread criticism, with folks demanding to know how far these so-called leaders will go to fundraise.
As the plot thickens, it’s evident that a combination of desperation and sheer opportunism has woven itself into the very fabric of political fundraising. The Democrats appear to have constructed a web of questionable ethics that often blurs the lines between charity and cash-grabbing. One can’t help but feel sympathy for the unsuspecting donors caught in the crossfire of this political play, while vowing never to see a political donation in quite the same light again. If there’s one thing these antics prove, it’s that when it comes to fundraising on the left, ethical standards seem to fly right out the window—or maybe they were never really in the picture to begin with!
