After helping to re-elect President Obama in 2012 and advocating for immigration reform in 2013, Sr. Simone Campbell and the Nuns on a Bus have returned for the 2014 midterm elections. Sr. Campbell, who heads the progressive Catholic group NETWORK and spoke at the Democratic National Convention in 2012, has warned in her typical populist tone that “Our election campaigns are now awash with big money.”
The nuns’ efforts to spread their message and increase voter turnout are well planned. Most of the ten states the nuns have targeted have tight Senate races in an election where Republicans are threatening to win back control of the Senate — and many of those have competitive governors’ races. The tour has now been extended to include get-out-the-vote efforts in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin, all of which feature multiple toss-up races in the Senate, House, or governors’ mansions.
For some insight into who the nuns will encourage voters to support at the polls, their website proudly features “partners and collaborators” like America Votes, which has received major support from billionaire progressive bankroller George Soros. The organization funneled nearly $1 million to support the recall of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker in 2012, and Walker is on the ballot for reelection this year in a race so close that the nuns’ election-day visit is certain to make a difference.
Of course, driving a luxury bus over 5,000 miles to convince unenthusiastic voters to participate in a midterm election can get expensive. David Gibson, who helped Sr. Campbell pen her memoir, wrote in September that the nuns had raised most of the $400,000 they needed for the tour “mainly from Network members and from foundations that promote voter registration and health care reform.” Because of the nuns’ concern for big money’s influence on politics and their advocacy for Democrat-leaning causes, one might expect a journalist to dig a little deeper into the sources of the nuns’ funding. Indeed, Gibson’s account is made conspicuous by the absence of further detail.
Sr. Campbell explained to a group of nuns in 2012 how Nuns on a Bus got its start: “The only inspiration I had was to ask for help. And we asked for help in DC, and our colleagues, all the big players, they came together and helped us brainstorm this.” Who might these big players include? NETWORK’s communications work is performed by Faith in Public Life, which, as the Catholic bishops have noted, receives funding and backing from the Washington, DC-based Center for American Progress and George Soros.
The Nuns on a Bus serve as their own best example of how elections can become “awash with big money.” Though Gibson’s profile of the bus tour is quick to proffer libertarian billionaires Charles and David Koch as the reason for the nuns’ concerns over “dark money” from wealthy donors, he conveniently leaves out any connection NETWORK has to Soros.
The nuns’ concern over money in politics is nothing new, and ideas to alleviate the problem vary across the political spectrum. Those on the right tend to point out that until there is a reduction in the federal government’s vast influence over American life and business, moneyed interests will inevitably seek influence over the government. The left’s latest solution is a drastic measure to amend the Constitution to gut America’s cherished free speech protections. The proposal, named for its drafter New Mexico Senator Democrat Tom Udall, has so seduced the left that even the ACLU has had trouble maintaining its traditionally consistent voice in opposition free speech restrictions.
As the Terry Eastland explains at the Weekly Standard, the Udall amendment could enable Congress to create “rules designed to reduce the amount of money spent in politics or to restrict the political participation of some citizens in order to enhance the relative influence of others.” This doesn’t really fit with Sr. Campbell’s insistence that “We need all of us at the table, not just the 1 percent or just the 98 percent. We need 100 percent at the table. We need those without and those who are rich.” At some point, progressives will have to decide: should we strictly limit the voices of the wealthy, or should we allow the wealthy to advocate for the poor through movements like Nuns on a Bus?
Sr. Campbell’s claim that her efforts are “all about ‘we the people’ standing up against big money” just sounds odd when we she tells us that Nuns on a Bus was launched by “all the big players” in DC. Sooner or later, she’ll find that throwing stones from glass buses can be a dangerous game.
TJ Whittle is a research assistant at the Ethics and Public Policy Center.
Comment by MarcoPolo on November 3, 2014 at 1:07 pm
Dear Guest Writer,
I think you totally missed the point of those magnificent Nuns.
To suggest that the Left’s solution is “…a drastic measure…” to alter our Constitution by amendment as something sinister, is just misleading.
You might better explain to the reader, that the Nuns’ effort is targeted at overturning the disastrous Supreme Court decision called “Citizens United” which opened up the pocketbooks of every Billionaire and Corporation interested in buying our Democracy.
Thereby stealing away from ordinary citizens, the sovereign ability to have their individual vote be worth what it used to be.
If the Right’s reaction to too much Government is addressed by spending more money on special interests and Lobbyists, then I think we’ve found the culprit.
The Nuns voices would not have been heard, had they not found financial support from like minded sources. No harm, no foul!
Comment by ElizD on November 3, 2014 at 10:49 pm
I’ve met them and they are in no way magnificent and in no way represent a Catholic point of view. They are just blatently Democratic-partisan progressives, like I was myself BEFORE I returned to the Catholic Church and realized that so many non-negotiable political progressive beliefs are diametrically opposed to so many non-negotiable Catholic beliefs. When I met Sr Simone I asked her whether she believes in the right to life from conception to natural death; she obviously hadn’t any regard for that. “It’s complicated,” was her dodge of this completely basic question. Above her pay grade, I guess. They don’t teach this stuff in nun school, I guess. She is a political sellout exploiting a nominal identity as a Catholic religious sister, without in any real way embodying the purpose or way of life of a religious sister.
Comment by MarcoPolo on November 4, 2014 at 7:36 am
So, ElizD,
By Sister Simone’s dismissal of your concept of Life, and women’s legal right to control their own bodies, you’ve decided that their other cause which is possibly even more damaging to our nation, is not worth railing against?
Are you not concerned about the Citizens United decision affecting our very Democracy?!
And why shouldn’t our sacred sisters be fighting at the front against such injustice?
Catholic or not, they are trying to open America’s eyes to the ever creeping Plutocracy that has certainly corrupted the halls of Washington.
No pun intended, but you’re “throwing the baby out with the bath water” on this subject!
Comment by Jude on November 4, 2014 at 10:35 am
If you deny the sanctity of life from conception to natural death, you are no longer a sacred sister. You are a heretic and a sellout. These pathetic bus-riders are the ones throwing out the babies.
Comment by MarcoPolo on November 4, 2014 at 3:35 pm
Or better, a Unitarian-Universalist?
Either way, we live in a “free” country, and by the grace of God we are all able to fight for causes that serve our concepts of what is right.
I for one applaud these durable doers of Good..The Nuns on the bus!
Comment by mnemos on November 4, 2014 at 5:41 pm
Yes – I get the idea that we want to limit the “influence of money” – the problem is always that we really want to limit the influence of money for people who don’t agree with us. That’s part of the point of the article: the Nuns don’t seem to notice, and David Gilbert deliberately avoids mentioning, that the “influence of money” is supporting them as well as the folks they disagree with.
I know some people think Citizens United was terrible, but personally I’m not sure. I can see that it puts corporations and unions on the same level playing field. And I can see that it takes away monopoly power from the main political parties. (The previous system required most political advertising money to go through one of the parties – so if neither party wanted to support your idea you were basically out of luck.) I think those are both good things. However, one of the benefits of giving the main political parties a monopoly on spending money was some limited ability to track money – which is weakened after Citizens United. That’s not good and may be enough to outweigh the other stuff. Not sure.
Comment by MarcoPolo on November 4, 2014 at 6:52 pm
Thank you, mnemos, for your reasoned exchange.
I think you’ll find that the Citizens United decision will do nothing except place greater control over our Democratic process that will only subvert the system of equal representation.
Of course that’s already underway with American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC’s) influence by meeting secretly with Legislators to craft ideological concepts that are intended to become Bills for State legislation.
The fact that the US Supreme Court bestowed “personhood” upon Corporations didn’t do anything to fortify the sacred aspects of our Rights as voting citizens.
Unions and Corporations don’t exist to be on equal footing as you and me. And Citizens United is only going to pollute the political process beyond recognition if left in place.
Comment by FW Ken on November 3, 2014 at 5:10 pm
Since the good sisters are now blatantly partisan, perhaps it time to have their 501(c)3 status reviewed.
Comment by MrRightWingDave on November 3, 2014 at 8:45 pm
Why haven’t these tired old liberals announced that they left the Church back in the 70’s, and only use the term “nun” as a novelty to get their 15 minutes of fame every election cycle?
Comment by JTLiuzza on November 4, 2014 at 9:26 am
Exactly correct. These are not nuns. They are sixties generation radical hippie leftists.
Comment by BotGregory on November 6, 2014 at 9:11 am
Heretics gonna heretic.
Comment by Mal on November 3, 2014 at 9:50 pm
Is the IRS looking into this? Or are they different because they are feminists?
Comment by mnemos on November 4, 2014 at 5:26 pm
No – they are different because they are Democrats.
Comment by PuerDei on November 3, 2014 at 11:28 pm
These aren’t “nuns.” REAL nuns shun the laws of man for the Laws of God and focus on prayer SEPARATED from the world. These are mere communistic social workers posing as women religious set to deceive the political wiles of the ignorant liberal masses.
Comment by Proteios on November 4, 2014 at 11:21 am
They are just democrat activists. Nothing more. Nothing less. The difference, which we all find insulting, is their use of Catholic and women religious credentials to promote a clearly deceptive message. If they said they were DNC activists, it wouldnt be so disturbing.
Comment by MarcoPolo on November 6, 2014 at 2:29 pm
“…ignorant liberal masses…”
I’ve never heard that one before!
Pretty much conflicts with the evidence that the ignorant masses tend to vote Republican…Hmm?
Have you seen the map of the US by political party affiliation? Almost exclusively, the coastal communities are Liberal, and the inland areas are Conservative.
Why is that?
I await your response.
Thanks in advance.
Marco
Comment by PuerDei on November 6, 2014 at 4:13 pm
Let’s be clear, far from their intended purpose of reaching out to those who are politically timid, they’re merely galvanizing an already established liberal base at those midwestern stops that have already accepted their political ideology. A map reflecting political party affiliation has nothing to do with it. My main point of contention is the fact that these women, under the guise of “nuns” (technically they’re “sisters” as the term, “nun” only applies to cloistered religious), have drifted so far from their religious vocations that political activism has become their new “god.” Simone Campbell loves to invoke Pope Francis when it’s convenient to her cause, but IMHO, it would be much more noble if they returned to the point and purpose of what being a sister is – prayer and the saving of souls. If they want to engage in social justice causes and political activism, they ought to do it OUTSIDE of the Church as lay persons. These folks bring scandal to the faithful especially when their ideas and politics directly conflict with Catholic doctrine.
Comment by MarcoPolo on November 6, 2014 at 4:44 pm
Wasn’t it also true that the late great Mother Theresa was active in the Social Justice realm?
Whether these Sisters hold evennts for righteousness and equality “at work” or on their own time seems petty in regard to upholding what is right. Their causes are for the Greater Good. That should be pushed forward at every waking moment.
I guess that’s why I’m not Catholic.
Comment by PuerDei on November 6, 2014 at 4:57 pm
That is correct; however, comparing Mother Teresa of Calcutta to Simone Campbell and her ilk is a false analogy. Unlike most post-conciliar “sisters”, Mother Teresa didn’t compromise the ontological purpose of religious life for identity with the world. She relied on prayer and made it clear that the purpose for her acts of charity was ultimately for the salvation of souls and the Glory of God. Not once have I heard anything of the sort from Campbell & Co. So yes, Catholic Christians are called to serve their neighbors through Corporal Works of Mercy, but not at the expense of the 1st Commandment which calls us to serve God first and foremost.
Comment by MarcoPolo on November 6, 2014 at 5:51 pm
Excellent distinction!
Thank you for that clarification.
Comment by PuerDei on November 6, 2014 at 6:47 pm
You are most welcome.
Take it easy MarcoPolo
Comment by fredx2 on November 4, 2014 at 1:52 am
It is very sad when nuns take to politicking. They essentially are no longer nuns, just Democratic party Employees, working away at getting out the Democratic vote. Of course, they appear at the Democratic Party convention. Oh, for the olden days when nuns were more than Democratic Party hacks, funded by George Soros.
Same with David Gibson. Masquerades as a journalist, is in fact an activist pushing one side of the story.
Comment by Guest on November 4, 2014 at 3:42 am
These women being called nuns makes me want to puke!
Comment by patrick oconnor on November 4, 2014 at 9:42 am
these nuns need to spend a litttle more time on their knees instead of standing on their soapboxes!
Comment by MarcoPolo on November 6, 2014 at 2:23 pm
Social injustices need to be made visible in order for change to come.
Why shouldn’t these devout Nuns be the torch bearer for such social needs?
Comment by Paul on November 4, 2014 at 12:08 pm
These co called nuns should really leave the catholic church and form there own cult. They ruined the catholic school system, since they did not want to teach any more, they wanted to do Social Justus, want to become priests, a place at the table as on nut said, and out of all type of wearing a habits at all. Police, nurses, doctors, sales mans, and even garbage men wear a uniform, but these nuns, flowered dresses, jewelry (who buys this) getting their hair done, what is this???? They should take the Blessed Mary as their role model not some grandma as they all look today. I stopped giving to these orders 10 years ago, I only give now to the traditional orders. Please leave the church, also, so many sisters/nuns were caught molesting too, my best friend and his sister were molested by these grandma nuns.
I have NO respect for any of them at all. as a priest said many years ago, Those converts were nothing but hot beds of gossip. Now look at the sisters. YECK!
Comment by MarcoPolo on November 6, 2014 at 2:22 pm
Paul,
Perhaps the Nuns should wear burkas?
Would that satisfy your image of sacred servants?
You may have noticed that Nurses no longer wear the hats of their alumna. Does that diminish their capabilities as health care personnel…NO.
Comment by Paul on November 6, 2014 at 3:02 pm
don’t know where you come from jack, but the nurse here do where caps, they are not called Hats, and for your info, most of the nursing orders have sold out, get with it
Comment by MarcoPolo on November 6, 2014 at 3:50 pm
My former wife is still an RN and those “caps” are nowhere to be found in Florida Hospitals.
Point being, the deriguer (sp?) of the past has evolved so as to facilitate costumes not getting in the way of performing their tasks.
I don’t know who you’re referring to, as my name is not Jack! If I were being as nitpicky, I might remind you that your spelling of JUSTICE speaks volumes by spelling it the way you do: Just-Us! Funny, Huh?
Comment by Paul on November 6, 2014 at 6:11 pm
well, I am not sure how old you are 60’s?? are you catholic??. There is a real serious problem in the church the last 50 yrs. I can be liberal,but I am very much serious about the state of the Roman Church. Its not the name calling as here but a most of the Roman Church has lost a lot of what being a Catholic is about but also what the center of the church is, which is the true presence
and because for these so called groups within the church, the true church is losing its true identity as this group has taken a great part away from it. Amen
Comment by MarcoPolo on November 7, 2014 at 8:28 am
Paul,
From what you’ve said in a couple of your posts, it sounds like you’ve reached the same point of disgust, with what your church has become.
You’re definitely on the correct website, if you’re looking for a return to a more Orthodox approach to religion.
Much of what you’ve said is reflected by the many adherents to the IRD (Institute on Religion & Democracy).
Personally, I hold a contrarian view to much of their concerns. As I see the plurality of this planet’s peoples and their respective religions to be one area that needs work.
If the world’s religions continue to be as destructive as has been the case in the past, we’re all doomed. But if we can allow for some tolerance and understanding of our differences, then possibly we might survive to better serve one another, and our respective God!
Comment by Paul on November 6, 2014 at 3:05 pm
most of these so co called NUNs look like LISBOs a novelty for sure
Comment by Älter und weiser on November 7, 2014 at 3:52 pm
This needs a global find and replace.
Find (progressive) replace with (heretic)
Comment by virginiagentleman on November 7, 2014 at 4:52 pm
Not only to review the Sister’s 501(c) 3 status but isn’t it heartwarming to realize their efforts were for naught?