Whilst Russia strong arms voters and fiddles results, in America mega-donors simply buy candidates before they are elected. The sale of American politicians has already proved disastrous for Palestinians.
Global political landscapes differ vastly in the methods used to influence election outcomes. While Russia has gained notoriety for its blatant election rigging, the United States employs a subtler yet equally effective approach: the buying of elections through substantial financial influence. This phenomenon is especially evident in the context of former President Donald Trump’s campaigns, as illustrated by significant donations from influential figures the likes of Sheldon and Miriam Adelson, two people long associated with the Israel lobby.
The Russian Approach: Election Rigging
Russia’s interference in both its own and other nations’ elections is well-documented. The Russian government utilizes media manipulation, cyber-attacks, and direct vote tampering to achieve favorable outcomes. The 2020 U.S. Intelligence Community Assessment confirmed Russia’s efforts to influence the 2016 and 2020 U.S. elections, aiming to undermine public faith in the democratic process. Domestically, Russia’s government exerts control over media and uses state resources to secure the election of preferred candidates (Yahoo) (Politico).
The American Way: Buying Elections
In contrast, the United States witnesses massive financial contributions shaping electoral outcomes. Legal yet controversial, this process raises questions about the integrity and fairness of American democracy. Campaigns require vast amounts of money, leading candidates to cater to the interests of wealthy donors and super PACs (political action committee), potentially sidelining the general electorate.
The Trump Campaign’s Financial Struggles
Former President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign highlights the critical role of money in American politics. Despite previous fundraising success, Trump now faces a financial crunch. His campaign raised only $13.8 million in January 2024 while spending more than that amount, driven by escalating legal fees from numerous court cases. This financial strain has made potential donors wary, as they are reluctant to fund a campaign overshadowed by legal controversies (Politico).
Adding to Trump’s woes, his main rival, Nikki Haley, has outperformed him in fundraising, collecting nearly $3 million more than Trump’s primary campaign committee in recent months . The diminished cash flow underscores the challenges even a high-profile candidate like Trump faces in maintaining donor enthusiasm without guaranteed returns.
Sheldon Adelson’s Influence
The influence of major donors on U.S. elections is exemplified by Sheldon Adelson’s contributions. In 2016, Adelson donated $20 million to Trump’s campaign with the expectation that Trump would move the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump fulfilled this promise in 2018, a move that garnered widespread international condemnation and significantly impacted U.S.-Israel relations .
Miriam Adelson’s Current Stipulations
Following Sheldon Adelson’s death, his widow Miriam Adelson continues to wield considerable influence. She has touted the possibility of a large donation to Trump’s 2024 campaign, but with a significant condition: Trump must support the annexation of the West Bank by Israel. The West Bank has been illegally occupied and colonized by Israel since it invaded that part of Palestine in 1967. Together with the Adelson’s success in transferring the US Embassy to Jerusalem, in violation of international law, this latest demand by Miriam Adelson in return for finance highlights the transactional nature of political donations and the substantial influence donors have on policy decisions.
Big Donors and Their Conditions
Despite early financial difficulties, Trump’s fundraising picked up in the first quarter of 2024, largely due to the support of major Republican donors. Trump’s joint fundraising committee raised $65 million, although this amount still falls short compared to President Joe Biden’s formidable fundraising efforts (Politico).The reliance on large donors comes with strings attached, influencing campaign strategies and policy priorities, thus potentially skewing the democratic process towards the interests of a wealthy few and, notably, Israel, rather than towards the broader population.
Disastrous Consequences for Palestinians
The political influence exerted by donors like the Adelsons has had significant repercussions, particularly for Palestinians. The move of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and potential support for the annexation of the West Bank exacerbates tensions in the region and undermines the prospects for peace. This is to state matters mildly, however. The full potential of such influence is for the creation of a Greater Israel, in which the presence of Palestinians becomes even more precarious that it already is. This raises the spectre of mass killing, ethnic cleansing and expulsion of Palestinians from their homeland on a scale not seen even during the Nakba’s of 1948 and 1967, or even in the current genocide in Gaza. (Democracy Now!)
Should Trump be elected on Adelson’s money and Israel annex the West Bank, not only will American voters be robbed of their right to choose who leads them, the way will be open for Israel to commit its final crime against humanity in an effort to create a pure Jewish state.
Sources
- NY1. Trump faces financial crunch in 2024 campaign. NY1
- Politico. Trump fundraising picks up, with help from big donors. Politico
- U.S. Intelligence Community Assessment. Assessing Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent U.S. Elections. Intelligence Community Assessment
- BBC News. Trump moves US embassy to Jerusalem. BBC
- The New York Times. Sheldon Adelson, Mega-Donor to GOP and Israel, Is Dead at 87. NYT
- The Times of Israel. Miriam Adelson hints at further political donations. Times of Israel
- Haaretz. Trump is desperate for cash, but donors have conditions. Haaretz
- Democracy Now!: “A Textbook Case of Genocide”: Israeli Holocaust Scholar Raz Segal Decries Israel’s Assault on Gaza. Democracy Now!
Article Information
This articles is an edited version of text generated by ChatGPT. It was edited and approved by a human editor.
Initial prompt:
– Write a blog piece based on the title: “In Russia they rig elections. In America they buy them.” Reference this article for starter information: Trump is desperate for cash, but donors have conditions. Haaretz. –