Over the past week, the World Socialist Web Site has published a series of articles exposing the moves by the Democratic Party to set up a unit to wage “all-out war” against third parties in the 2024 US elections. In response to the hemorrhaging of support for Joe Biden due to his blatant role in facilitating Israel’s genocide of the Palestinians, the Democrats are seeking to suppress all political parties outside the framework of the corporate-controlled two-party system.
The WSWS’ coverage of the Democrats’ attacks on democratic rights has received a powerful response from workers and young people internationally. Multiple posts of a Perspective and news article on this topic by WSWS writer Jacob Crosse have been widely shared on social media, in particular on Twitter/X.
The most circulated post, from an author in Arizona, has been viewed nearly 30,000 times as of this writing, with dozens of supportive comments.
Another post by “Berniegirl No More,” viewed nearly 10,000 times, commented, “These psychos think if we don’t have 3rd party or indy’s on the ballot that we’d vote for them.”
A post of the WSWS perspective by Compton Jay, a co-founder of Revolutionary Blackout Network, has been viewed over 5,000 times as of this writing.
Justin Paglino, a field director for the Jill Stein presidential campaign in Connecticut, also shared the WSWS article, noting, “The ‘Democratic’ Party putting their donors’ money to work.”
In a written comment to the WSWS last week, Stein’s campaign manager Jason Call stated:
Rather than try to take away ballot options that would better represent the interests of the American public, perhaps the Democratic Party should focus on passing legislation that would actually help struggling people such as a universal single payer healthcare program or guaranteed housing. Sadly, both major political parties in America are fully beholden to the corporate interests which fund the political system.
The WSWS also reached out to the campaign of Cornel West. Edwin DeJesus, co-manager and director of ballot access for the West campaign, responded with a statement that read in part:
The irony of a party, self-proclaimed guardians of democracy, working to eliminate third-party participation in the electoral process cannot be overstated. This pattern of behavior is not new but a continuation of a disconcerting trend aimed at consolidating power by any means necessary, reminiscent of past actions to manipulate the electoral process against candidates like Bernie Sanders. Such actions are not only anti-democratic but also indicative of a deeper systemic issue within the current political system, where the interests of the few are prioritized over the fundamental rights of the many.
Our campaign believes in the sanctity of the electoral process and the right of every citizen to have their voice heard through a fair election. The effort to limit ballot access, under whatever pretext, is a direct assault on these principles, more damaging to the fabric of our democracy than any alleged external threats. The suppression of voter choice, especially under the guise of legal challenges, reveals a troubling inclination towards authoritarianism that we vehemently oppose.
Socialist Equality Party candidate Joseph Kishore published a video on Sunday, followed by a text statement denouncing the Democrats’ campaign against the right to vote.
Referring to the previous statements from the Green Party candidate, Kishore wrote, “Despite our political differences, the Socialist Equality Party welcomes the statements of the Jill Stein campaign and others. We support the right of all independent and third party candidates to get on the ballot.”
Kishore added:
The Democrats’ attack on the most basic right, the right to vote, exposes the fraud that they are a “democratic” alternative to the fascistic Trump. The Democrats and Republicans represent two factions of the corporate and financial oligarchy. As they go to “war” on the right to vote, the Democrats joined hands with the Republicans to pass a record military spending bill, $825 billion. The war abroad is at the same time a war on democratic and social rights at home.
In our campaign, [SEP vice presidential candidate Jerry White] and I will connect the defense of democratic rights with the fight against both parties, the corporate-financial oligarchy they represent, the war they are waging, and the capitalist system that is responsible.