Evan Barker, a former Democratic Party campaign fundraiser, has publicly renounced her affiliation with the party, citing its "hypocrisy" and reliance on "out-of-touch" celebrity endorsements.
Barker's disillusionment with the Democrats was laid bare during an appearance on "Fox & Friends," following a virtual campaign event featuring Vice President Kamala Harris and media mogul Oprah Winfrey.
According to Fox News, Barker, who once raised millions for the Democratic Party, expressed her disenchantment with the party's elite. "I've worked in Democratic politics a long time. I've raised the millions of dollars and I went to the DNC last month hoping to feel re-inspired, and instead, I just felt like I was in a room with the most out-of-touch and elite people in the world," Barker shared with Lawrence Jones.
In a recent Newsweek op-ed, Barker chronicled her journey from being a prolific fundraiser for the Democrats to distancing herself from a party she now perceives as disconnected from the realities of everyday Americans. She recalled her initial excitement at volunteering at the DNC, where Vice President Kamala Harris accepted the presidential nomination. However, Barker's enthusiasm soon gave way to disillusionment.
"But once there, wandering amidst the glitz and glam, imbibing the gloss and schmaltz of it all, I couldn't escape a sinking feeling. I felt submersed in a hollow chamber whose mottos were Brat summer and Joytotally out of touch with regular, every-day Americans and their pressing needs; instead, the most elite people in the world chanted in unison that 'We're not going back,'" Barker wrote.
Barker identified the Democrats' "hypocrisy" as a key factor in her decision to distance herself from the party. She argued that donors, who "control everything," including the candidates' policy positions, have a disproportionate influence on the party.
"I'm originally from the Midwest. A lot of the people in my family are union workers or have been in unions, and they are people who once voted for Barack Obama, and now they vote for Donald Trump. And for a long time, I did not understand why, and after raising money for Democrats and just being in these circles, I have realized that the donors control the party," Barker said.
Barker criticized the "Unite for America Rally," a livestream event hosted by Oprah Winfrey and featuring several celebrities. The event, organized by the "Win with Black Women" group in support of Harris, was attended by over 140 grassroots organizations. Barker argued that the celebrities present at the event are far removed from the everyday Americans grappling with the rising cost of goods as inflation continues to surge, causing financial strain for families nationwide.
"They're just telling us basically that all we need to have is optimism and joy, and that's going to fix our lives," Barker said. "And I'm just tired of it. I'm completely fed up My grandmother, she lives in Missouri. She voted for Obama twice. She's voted for Trump the last couple of times She's getting by just on her Social Security check right now."
Barker's frustration extended to the party's failure to address the economic struggles of ordinary citizens like her grandmother. "Things have gotten so outrageously expensive, it is so difficult for her," she continued. "I want to see the Democratic Party talk about what they're going to do for my grandmother, not just have a bunch of celebrities fly in and tell us all to be joyful and optimistic. It's cringy. It's embarrassing."
Barker's disillusionment with the Democrats is a stark reminder of the widening chasm between the party's elite and its traditional base. "They have become the party of Dick Cheney, of Goldman Sachs, of endless proxy wars, of identity politics," she said. "I'm just at a point I've been very brave the last couple of weeks, and I've gotten a lot of flak from a lot of people. And I'm just at the point where I can't stand it anymore, and I have to speak out."
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