Democrats spent over $1.5 billion in dark money during the 2020 election cycle, according to a new report.
Despite years of complaining about “dark money” in politics, Democratic groups actually outspent Republicans.
As Hot Air notes, during Obama’s presidency, Democrats, including the then-president, were very upset about a Supreme Court decision called Citizens United:
The concern was that “dark money” was a corrupting force in politics that would benefit mostly Republicans.
Democrats like Harry Reid repeatedly warned that the billionaire Koch brothers were trying to “buy America.”
Per the New York Times:
The analysis shows that 15 of the most politically active nonprofit organizations that generally align with the Democratic Party spent more than $1.5 billion in 2020 — compared to roughly $900 million spent by a comparable sample of 15 of the most politically active groups aligned with the G.O.P.
A single, cryptically named entity that has served as a clearinghouse of undisclosed cash for the left, the Sixteen Thirty Fund, received mystery donations as large as $50 million and disseminated grants to more than 200 groups, while spending a total of $410 million in 2020 — more than the Democratic National Committee itself…
Sixteen Thirty is part of a broader network of progressive nonprofits that donors used to fill specific spaces on the political chessboard.
The groups in the network, which also included Hopewell Fund, New Venture Fund, North Fund and Windward Fund, were administered by a for-profit consulting firm called Arabella Advisors. Taken together, the Arabella network spent a total of nearly $1.2 billion in 2020, including paying Arabella a combined $46.6 million in 2020 in management fees, according to the funds’ tax filings.
Democrats who complain about dark money are simultaneously swimming in it.
Good analysis by @ShaneGoldmacher & @kenvogel —> https://t.co/DxCrbjV4kd
— Jack Pandol (@jackpandol) January 29, 2022
