I Did Not Expect This

The Democratic Party establishment (There is no Democratic Party establishment) is known for a number of things, incompetence, self dealing, and affection for horrible candidates who raise lots of money.

It appears however, much to my surprise, for a number of the political consultants who make their money by giving bad advice to, and charging exorbitant fees to, hapless Democratic candidates, Kyrsten Sinema is a bridge too far.

I don't get it.  She ticks off all the boxes that make a Democratic consultant's cash register to ring with delight.  

This sudden outbreak of ……… conscience? shocks me:

Since the beginning of 2020, Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s reelection campaign has paid the Democratic consulting firm Authentic [Now there is an ironic name] nearly a half million dollars for digital work and list acquisition.

Inside the firm, staffers have revolted over the contract, expressing shock and agitation that a company that professes fidelity to a set of progressive values has worked alongside a lawmaker many believe are standing in the way of progress on those values.

"I am doing the devils work,” said one employee at Authentic of the work done for Sinema, according to internal union messages reviewed by POLITICO. "I feel sick about it tbh," chimed another.

………

“The Authentic Union views Sen. Sinema’s recent actions to block voting rights legislation as an affront to their company’s values, which they’re proud of and committed to upholding,” Taylor Billings, organizing director of the Campaign Workers Guild, which represents Authentic’s union, said in a statement to POLITICO.

………

Internal union correspondences obtained by POLITICO reveal a base of workers at Authentic sparring with its management over its business with Sinema. Employees broached the topic of the firm’s contract after the senator’s vote against raising the minimum wage to $15-an-hour, during which she offered an infamous thumbs down with an accompanying curtsy, according to a person with knowledge of the discussions. Leadership at Authentic responded by making it clear that the firm did not have plans to end the contract, the person said.

………

“Ugh, not a good look. I feel like we have clients who would consider leaving us if they realize we work for her…” said the same employee, who also expressed fears about being passed over for a promotion if they were to say no to working on Sinema’s account. The employee also complained that the senator’s actions were effectively “letting Jim Crow 2.0 become a reality” and questioned whether the senator would reconsider if “literally no one in democratic politics wants to work with her anymore.”

“For me, the bigger question is how long until we become known as the team behind KS and it impacts all of our reputations regardless if we worked on the account,” said another member of Authentic’s staff.

Sounds like the rank and file are leaking this in order to hold Authentic's feet to the fire.

Now that her status as a client is known, and with this article it is, a lot of their other clients will be looking elsewhere. 

I'm not sure if this is the exception to the old Upton Sinclair quote, "It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it," or if they are worried that working with Sinema will hurt the business and tar their future prospects, but this revolt of the mercenaries is interesting.