An organization launched by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is fundraising on behalf of his stepdaughter, Burlington mayoral candidate Carina Driscoll.
Our Revolution sent out an email Tuesday seeking $5 donations. The solicitation by the national organization could open the floodgates for Driscoll, who lags behind incumbent Mayor Miro Weinberger in dollars raised. Campaign finance reports filed this week show that Driscoll drummed up $32,000, a figure that includes $10,000 she loaned her campaign. Weinberger, a Democrat, amassed an $80,000 war chest while independent Infinite Culcleasure raised $5,000.
Driscoll applied for — and received — an Our Revolution endorsement last month. At the time, Driscoll said that she would accept fundraising help if the organization offered.
Our Revolution, which is based in Washington, D.C., was born in 2016 out of Sanders’ failed presidential bid. Vermont’s junior senator is not involved in the day-to-day operations, though former campaign staff members and longtime Sanders allies continue to preside over the organization.
Tuesday’s Our Rev email praised Driscoll’s approach to “always put people first.”
“Carina’s message is clear: Burlington is not for sale,” the email read, quoting a Driscoll mantra that her stepfather popularized in Burlington in the 1980s.
The email, signed by organization president Nina Turner, continued: “Carina’s inclusive vision of government is one that listens and works for the people, not just insiders connected to the establishment.”
Our Revolution doesn’t send out fundraising emails on behalf of every candidate that it endorses, spokesperson Diane May said in a January interview. She also said that Our Rev would send “get out the vote” texts for Driscoll before Town Meeting Day. May did not immediately return a request for comment.
Driscoll has had a complicated relationship with her stepfather on the campaign trail. Last week, the Progressive Party-endorsed candidate invoked Sanders in a social media campaign ad. Driscoll has said repeatedly that she will not seek Sanders’ endorsement, and that she does not consider Our Revolution’s support to be nepotism.
In a series of local TV interviews last week, Sanders said he’d donate to Driscoll’s campaign and urged Burlingtonians to vote for her.
The People for Bernie Sanders, another group inspired by Sanders, offered Driscoll an endorsement on Monday. The organization tweeted to its 93,300 followers a link to donate to Driscoll’s campaign.
Driscoll, Culcleasure and Weinberger traded barbs Monday night during their first mayoral forum at Burlington City Hall.
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From Merriam-Webster:
“Definition of nepotism
: favoritism (as in appointment to a job) based on kinship”
Maybe Carina should consult a dictionary before speaking with the press.
Well Well, it runs in the family, don’t it… LYING.. Won’t ask my stepfather for anything or take money from them… HAHAHAHA that was funny. Watch that $5.00 donation turn into over a million in real short time..Bet you a lot of the money will come from out of state.. from people or groups who don’t even live here.. Such a fraud, yes will get $5, donations but the cover-up will be big money will come from outsiders.. Just like old bernie did..
I am pretty disgusted by this. As a Vermonter who believes strongly in one voice – one vote, I really hope Our Revolution doesn’t become the new way for outside money to buy Vermont elections.
I’m terrified that people will vote in Carina Driscoll as mayor because they’re upset with the status quo. Voting for scoundrels and incompetents like Trump and Driscoll will not fix our problems.
We need high minded and honorable people to run for office, those who won’t give in to the temptation of graft and corruption. Carina Driscoll is desperate for money, she got her mother to give her a job earning hundreds of thousands of dollars doing woodworking, and now that she failed at that they’re trying to foist her off on the taxpayers of Burlington.
I loved Bernie Sanders. But the way he is manipulating Our Revolution and others to buy his daughter political office is horrifying and I am physically nauseated watching this legalized nepotism and corruption play out.. Politics corrupts even the most decent people when they remain too long. We need term limits, politicians remaining several decades in office is bad for our democracy. And gives us awful, frightening candidates like Driscoll.
Corrina is just following suit of the very long list of nepotism infecting our state. She,like all good politicians, adapt to the greatest demographic voting base in their area. The big headed fish politicians in Vermont,a very small pond,get their crowns certainly not thru talent or being expectional,but get voted in thru daddies niche base,TJ Donovan by literally being related by blood to more people in Vermont, it rivals that of Genghis Khan. Shumlin in turn appoints TJ ‘s brother in law,Greg Glennin,to that of a judge. Corrina runs and steps over encumbants bodies just like TJ did to Sorrel,the very man who gave TJ his endorsement during his chittenden county prosecutor’s top endorsement,not to mention Sorrel campaigned for TJ’s grandfather who narrowly lost his race for governor. There is no real fervor,no real passion in any of these under qualified,silver spooned,family gained positions,meritless of paving their own path,unworthy of positions GIVEN BY FAMILY,and stepping over the bodies of the patsies who follow them around like groupies on a “boyz to men” tour. If the boat goes down they would trample over their cult like followers to make the lifeboats first. Personal gain,power,wealth, this is there true motivation. From Bernie to screaming Dean all the way to grateful dead loving Leahy. You all have been duped ,but if idolatry makes you happy..