I am alarmed by what the group No Labels is attempting in this election. In press releases and interviews, No Labels insists its only goal is to provide voters with a “better” choice — a “nonpartisan” alternative to the two main candidates likely to be nominated. That might be fine — during any election but this one.
Plainly put, this election is about nothing less than our democracy’s survival. Pundits say most independent or third-party candidates will likely take more votes away from President Joe Biden than from his Republican opponent. No Labels knows this, of course. Yet they are systematically muddying the issues, misrepresenting themselves to the electorate and gearing up to nominate an “independent” candidate of their own. Did I mention they’re fueling these efforts with dark money from ultra-right-wing billionaires, people on record as die-hard Trumpians?
In this election, we cannot afford to spend our votes on any candidate who cannot win. Yes — this is a tragically ironic situation that belies our sacred privilege as voters. But if we want to preserve the source of that privilege, there is only one choice: We must vote for democracy.
No thank you, No Labels.
