There’s a very interesting article in Fortune Magazine exposing yet another Republican “Big Lie” involving Donald Trump. This time it has to do with Trump’s supposed fundraising prowess heading into the 2022 elections.
And, once again, as usual, Republican-owned national news media outlets (which, by the way, is most of them) are shameless in how they are doing the bidding of the Republican National Committee by reinforcing Republican talking points on this subject.
This new big lie from the Republican-owned national news media is that Trump is some kind of super fundraising machine through his various political committees.
There have been many headlines recently saying Trump supposedly has raised $102 million so far this year.
The problem with those headlines, and the stories themselves, is that, based on an analysis of that fundraising, it’s simply not true.
fortune.com/...
Some key points in the article, which focuses on an analysis by three Yale University professionals, including two researchers and a professor:
-Of the $102 million supposedly amassed by Trump this year, according to these numerous published articles, that $102 million actually includes funds from 2020 that were just transferred into Trump’s new accounts this year, raising questions about exactly how much money has actually been raised this year.
-A report by the New York Times shows that about 20 percent of the money raised in 2021 had to be refunded due to the highly questionable fundraising tactic of making contributions automatic monthly payments rather than a one-time contribution without that being made clear upfront.
-In terms of comparisons between Congressional incumbents, the numbers for the first half of this year so far, based on FEC reports, also show Republicans lagging, with incumbent Republicans having raised $149.1 million compared to $231.7 by Democratic Congressional incumbents.
-The article mentions how the use of inaccurate numbers falsely portray Trump as, somehow, undergoing a resurgence in terms of his influence and potential impact on upcoming elections.
-The real story is that Republican fundraising has been lagging while Democratic fundraising is out-pacing Republicans heading into 2022, including the Democratic fundraising powerhouse ActBlue.
But, then again, facts have never stopped Republicans, nor Republican-owned “news” media from shamelessly bending over backwards to try to bolster Republican talking points at every opportunity, in terms of both framing issues and details in their news stories.
fortune.com/…
So what, you may ask? Isn’t it good for Democrats to be outperforming Republicans under the radar, so to speak?
Yes, it is good that Democrats are outperforming compared to previous elections. However, these inaccurate articles do not benefit Democrats.
Why?
Because it could well discourage Democrats and left-leaning independents. It feeds into Republican talking points..and actions. Not only do those talking points seek to discourage Democrats psychologically, which can affect things like whether Democrats can get top-tier candidates to run, but also seek to discourage them from donating money, volunteering and actually getting out to vote next year, too.
This new Republican Big Lie seems designed to try to convey the message that Democratic defeat is inevitable next year. It’s seems intended to reinforce the notion that, because off-year elections have not been kind to the incumbent party in the White House in the past that that means that it won’t be kind to Democrats next year. Yet another component to their textured messages to discourage Democrats.
It seems to me that we Democrats need to ensure that our supporters and potential supporters know that Democrats are outshining Republicans when it comes to fundraising as part and parcel of our ongoing get-out-the vote efforts for 2022.