We Don't Need a No Labels Candidate, We Already Have a Bipartisan President

[Celerity]

A “moderate” third party run would help Trump and hurt Joe Biden, a president with a successful record of working across the aisle and getting things done.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/we-dont-need-a-no-labels-candidate-we-already-have-a-bipartisan-president



A healthy, functioning democracy should have more than just two options for voters. And that’s what No Labels, which calls itself “a national movement of commonsense Americans pushing our leaders together to solve our country's biggest problems,” claims to offer. The organization, largely made up of conservative Democrats and non-MAGA Republicans, says it wants to eradicate the “anger and divisiveness that are ruining our country” and get us back to bipartisanship. It’s hinted it may nominate a candidate for the 2024 presidential election.

According to former Sen. Joe Lieberman (a Democrat turned independent), No Labels plans to hold a bipartisan nominating convention in Dallas in April 2024, and is currently working to get on the ballot in all 50 states. Lieberman promises the group will only run a candidate if they have a “chance to win realistically,” but cites Americans’ distaste for both parties as evidence of support for a third-party centrist group. The organization’s purpose seems noble on the surface. However, No Labels doesn’t state any coherent beliefs or principled values, claiming instead to be “intellectually open.”

The truth is No Labels is largely composed of politicians who no longer have futures within their parties, and should the group run a candidate on all 50 state ballots a Donald Trump 2024 victory grows ever more likely, putting our democracy in peril. It’s not even clear why a No Labels candidate is needed right now. If the goal is bipartisanship, why not recognize President Joe Biden’s numerous bipartisan accomplishments? The Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, the PACT Act for veterans’ health care, the CHIPS and Science Act, and providing support for Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression were all major bipartisan achievements.

But rather than appreciating this administration’s ability to work across the aisle, No Labels continues to push the narrative that a Biden-Trump rematch would only further divide the country. This is a way of building political influence through cynicism and disillusion within our electorate. They are aware that the center is a very small demographic, and unlike other third-party candidates—such as Cornel West, who takes stances on actual issues—No Labels focuses more on sentiment than substance. Being “intellectually open,” with a vague ethos of not representing extremes on the left or right, leads one to wonder whose interests No Labels represents. According to an investigation by Mother Jones, No Labels is funded by millions in dark money, meaning they refuse to disclose who is funding their efforts. In other words, No Labels does not represent a change in our politics, it’s actually politics as usual.

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related

https://www.nolabels.org/problem-solvers-caucus

Inspired by the No Labels Movement, the Problem Solvers Caucus is a bipartisan group committed to cooperating on key issues. Founded in 2017, the caucus is quickly becoming one of the most influential blocs on Capitol Hill.

The Problem Solvers Caucus features 58 House members — evenly divided between the parties — with each member committed to cooperation and dialogue. The group operates as an independent member-driven caucus that sets its own rules, standards and priorities.

The Problem Solvers Caucus developed out of informal "get to know you" meetings on Capitol Hill hosted by No Labels in the early 2010s. Our mission evolved over time and the group became larger and more structured. The "Problem Solvers" formally organized in 2017 and since then they’ve successfully broken through the gridlock of today’s politics many times getting key legislation passed with bipartisan support.

https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/no-labels/

https://problemsolverscaucus.house.gov/members

The Problem Solvers Caucus is a bipartisan group in the United States House of Representatives that includes members equally divided between Democrats and Republicans, who seek to foster bipartisan cooperation on key policy issues.

The group was created in January 2017 as an outgrowth of meetings held by political organization No Labels starting in 2014.

It is currently co-chaired by Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA).

Democrats

Salud Carbajal of California
Ed Case of Hawaii
Jim Costa of California
Angie Craig of Minnesota
Henry Cuellar of Texas
Don Davis of North Carolina
Debbie Dingell of Michigan
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington
Jared Golden of Maine
Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey
Josh Harder of California
Steven Horsford of Nevada
Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania
Dan Kildee of Michigan
Greg Landsman of Ohio
Susie Lee of Nevada
Wiley Nickel of North Carolina
Donald Norcross of New Jersey
Jimmy Panetta of California
Chris Pappas of New Hampshire
Scott Peters of California
Brittany Pettersen of Colorado
Dean Phillips of Minnesota
Mary Peltola of Alaska
Brad Schneider of Illinois
Hillary Scholten of Michigan
Elissa Slotkin of Michigan
Darren Soto of Florida
Abigail Spanberger of Virginia
Haley Stevens of Michigan
Emilia Strong Sykes of Ohio
David Trone of Maryland