Remember the “political and media A-listers” of lobbyist self-promotion group No Labels?:
Republicans and ex-Clintonistas, spanning the political gamut from far-right to center-right! Hey, no point bothering with ‘unserious’, non-Right points of view, if your whole purpose is to encourage that all-American chimera known as “Centrism”. McKinnon & Mark Penn, together again — and if either one takes you by the hand, be sure to count your fingers afterwards…
Meredith Shiner at Yahoo News reports that McKinnon & Penn have just about given up on that figleaf of “bipartisanship”, to better tap the deep pockets of GOP diehards:
… Like many other outside political groups, No Labels spends a disproportionate part of its budget maintaining and promoting its own organization, trying to keep its profile high while ensuring a steady flow of fundraising dollars, whose donors they keep secret, in a cluttered non-profit environment. As part of its efforts to gain legitimacy and grow its membership No Labels has also occasionally waded into congressional contests that in ways that have raised suspicions among Democrats about the group’s own commitment to bipartisanship.
And though No Labels has positioned itself as a warrior against gridlock, an internal document obtained by Yahoo News suggests the group is banking on more political dysfunction in an attempt to find “opportunity” and relevance for itself.
The confidential document, distributed at No Labels’ May executive board meeting, outlines a “break through strategy” for the group, which despite raising millions and a buzzy-for-cable-news-talk launch, has struggled to find a foothold on the campaign trail or in the halls of Congress. The first point in that strategy is a “balance of power shift in the U.S. Senate,” an awkward position to outline, if not advocate, given No Labels’ aim of bipartisanship and that one of the group’s co-chairs, Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, currently sits in the majority caucus.
“Should the balance of power in the U.S. Senate flip following the 2014 midterm elections and Republicans gain control, No Labels sees an opportunity to bridge the gap between Congress and the White House,” the document reads in its “Break Through Strategy” section. “With Republicans holding control of both chambers in Congress and a Democrat in the White House, the likelihood of gridlock will be higher than ever before.
“We have already begun back door conversations with Senate leaders to discuss this increasingly likely scenario,” the document continues.
This privately stated position exacerbates an already publicly spoiled relationship with Senate Democrats, who are still fuming from an April incident in which the group supported conservative Republican Cory Gardner in Colorado over Manchin’s colleague, incumbent Democrat Mark Udall. The endorsement, which No Labels later tried to clarify by saying that any candidate could be backed by the group if they just agreed to be a member, was touted by Gardner in press releases & caused the few Senate Democrats involved with the group to threaten to pull their membership, according to Democratic sources….
Much of the group’s expenses go toward sustaining or promoting itself. According to No Labels’ confidential document, the group employed 22 paid staffers and eight consultants as of May. Of its projected $4.5 million budget for 2014, only four percent — or $180,000 — of spending was slotted for “Congressional Relations.” By contrast, administrative and operational expenses got $1.035 million over the same time period. Another five percent was set for travel. A further 30 percent ($1.35 million) was earmarked for digital growth and press, and 14 percent for fundraising…
No Labels’ critics question the seriousness of a group that includes a number of Republicans whose conservative bent and heated rhetoric have more of an outsize influence on their party than does the liberal wing on the Democratic Party. The No Labels website talks about “unprecedented, even dangerous” tactics from the right in trying to defeat health care, but the group also includes some of the most outspoken members on this issue. Democratic critics ask what it says about the group that its so-called “Problem solvers” could vote to shut down the government or against raising the debt ceiling but maintain their “problem solver” status by attending No Labels meetings…
Back during the Reagan Administration, critic Calvin Trillin first suggested that members of Congress should be required — like NASCAR drivers — to wear uniforms prominently emblazoned with the logos of all their monetary supporters. It’s still a good idea, frankly. But in the case of serial offenders like McKinnon and his fellow grifters, I’d go a step further (for the historians!) and require lobbyists to get a logo tattoo for every supporter above a certain level. I’d even be willing to calibrate the size of the mandatory tattoo with the size of the donation — the bigger the “love gift”, the more extensive the flair.
(C’mon, you don’t think the Koch brothers wouldn’t be secretly delighted to see their Big Swinging Donations suitably publicized?)
(More history on Mark McKinnon from Mr. Pierce and BJ’s own Dennis Greenia, among others, here.)
Open Thread: “No Labels? No Results? No Problem”Post + Comments (76)