The latest group of Democratic heroes, the Lincoln Project is a band of mercenaries.
The official media narrative is that the Lincoln Project is a group of ethical and heroic Republicans fighting the evil of Trumpism. In reality, events expose the Lincoln Project as a band of mercenaries.
Google describes a mercenary as a “person primarily concerned with making money at the expense of ethics.” Open Secrets estimates the Lincoln Project’s Political Action Committee (PAC) raised $82.604 million in the 2019-2020 electoral cycle.
Notably the Lincoln Project had $8.186 million in cash on hand at the end of the 2020 electoral cycle, Open Secrets estimates. Thus, the political strategists of Lincoln Project made a profit of nearly 10% from its “altruistic work” in the electoral cycle.
The Lincoln Project raised Enormous Amounts of Cash
Thus, the supposedly altruistic political strategists of the Lincoln Project raised enormous amounts of cash from their activities.
The project designed those activities to convince Republicans to vote against President Donald J. Trump (R-Florida). However, the percentage of Republicans voting for Trump rose from 90% in 2016 to 93% in 2020, Common Dreams estimates.
Thus, the Lincoln Project is a total failure if you consider it an effort to take votes from Trump. However, the Lincoln Project is an enormous success if you view it as a moneymaking venture.
The Political Mercenaries of the Lincoln Project
Thus the Lincoln Project is a band of mercenaries seeking cash not a heroic opposition to the Donald.
I think the Lincoln Project represents a dangerous new trend in our politics. The trend is the rise of professional political operatives with no ideology or loyalty to any political institutions. Instead, these operatives are mercenaries whose primary goal is to line their pockets.
For example, the Lincoln Project’s co-founder is Reed Galen, an “independent political strategist” who has worked for several prominent Republican leaders. Another Lincoln co-founder is Ron Steslow the owner of strategic consulting firm TUSK Inc. Then there’s Lincoln co-founder John Weaver who has served as chief strategist to scores of governors and US Senators.
Political Mercenaries Seek New War
I think the Lincoln Project is a group of mercenaries seeking a new war to fight. The Lincoln Project mercenaries left the Republican Party because its leader President Donald J. Trump (R-Florida) refused their services.
The Lincoln Project now fights for Democrats because they pay. Not because they share the Democrats’ beliefs or values.
Notably, Lincoln Project cofounder Steve Schmidt reached out to leftwing US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York). Schmidt claims he is working for America, The Wrap reports.
However, I think Schmidt’s real motive is to seek business on the left. I think Schmidt’s genuine interest is the $3.114 million in cash on hand, Open Secrets estimates AOC has. Moreover, Open Secrets estimates Ocasio-Cortez raised $18.901 million in the 2019-2020 electoral cycle.
Schmidt’s hope is to tap the tens of millions of dollars leftists, such as AOC, raise from small donors. For instance, US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) raised $211.126 million in the 2019-2020 electoral cycle, Open Secrets estimates. Sanders had $5.712 million in cash on hand in September 2020.
What motivates the Lincoln Project?
The Lincoln Project political strategists resemble mercenary soldiers who switch armies in search of more money. Conversely, money is the not only motivator the Lincoln Project warriors have.
The thrill and excitement of combat attracts most mercenaries, the Lincoln Project warriors are no different. The Lincoln Project soldiers love a good battle, if Republicans cannot give them one they will switch sides. The Lincoln Project leaders are political junkies who thrive on the thrill of electoral politics.
Thus, the Lincoln Project strategists resemble professional athletes who switch teams for money. For instance, quarterback Tom Brady plays just as hard for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as he did for the New England Patriots. Brady is a pro who is honor-bound to play the best game he can, no matter who pays the bills.
The Danger from Mercenary Politics
This behavior frightens me, because political mercenaries such as the Lincoln Project could work for anybody.
Would the Lincoln Project work for Nazis or Communists if those parties raised enormous amounts of money? Or would the Lincoln Project work for a foreign government such as China’s or a large corporation if it paid enough?
We need to ask this question because I think many political mercenaries will follow the Lincoln project’s lead. To elaborate, consultants and strategists will manufacture a political cause and use it to raise enormous amounts of money from true believers.
The money will tempt some of those political mercenaries to work for some terrible people. For example, the government of Saudi Arabia or Russian oligarchs.
The Lincoln Project shows America’s corrupt politics have given rise to a new class of unprincipled political mercenaries. The havoc those mercenaries could wreak is vast. Americans need to ask ourselves, do we want mercenaries or voters to control our political system?
Originally published at https://marketmadhouse.com on December 19, 2020.
