Tilting the Playing Field

"What is most troubling is that the attack on ActBlue is not an isolated incident. Rather, it seems to be part of a long-term strategy to change the norms of political engagement in America-and to do so in a way that tilts the playing field, benefiting one side of America's political divide and harming the other. The Democrats may have had good elections earlier this month, but that could lead Trump and his allies to redouble their efforts for future contests."

"To be sure, Republicans and Democrats alike have gerrymandered districts and attempted to disadvantage their opponents as long as the parties have existed. But those efforts have, for the past 100 years at least, taken place within limits-for example, redistricting almost always occurred only following the decennial census. Acting recklessly with regard to the physical safety of opponents has also long been considered beyond the pale. Those limits have now been discarded."

ActBlue operated as a major fundraising platform for Democratic candidates and affiliated PACs, enabling outreach to known donors and grassroots solicitation. The attack on ActBlue fits into a broader strategy to reshape norms of political engagement in America in ways that advantage one side and harm the other. Recent Democratic successes could prompt intensified efforts to secure future victories by changing underlying political architecture. Established limits on partisan advantage, such as time-bound redistricting and norms against reckless threats to opponents, have been abandoned, risking hollowed-out democratic competition while preserving forms of participation.

Read at The Atlantic