Just two months after a unanimous vote banning donations from companies that produce and distribute fossil fuels, the Democratic National Committee executed what appears to be a 180 degree turn on Friday.
In a 30-2 vote, the DNC voted to allow donations to flow in from the employees of fossil-fuel based companies.
DNC spokeswoman Xochitl Hinojosa claimed that the new resolution was “not a reversal,” and challenged those concerned to review recent donor history — but R.L. Miller, president of the super PAC Climate Hawks Vote, doesn’t believe that.
“I am furious that the DNC would effectively undo a resolution passed just two months ago just as the movement to ban fossil fuel corporate PAC money is growing (and Democrats are winning),” Miller said. His PAC co-sponsored the June resolution to ban such donations.
DNC Chairman Tom Perez was diplomatic in his explanation of the policy change, arguing that it was really about inclusivity within the Democratic Party. “We have to draw the line that we are indeed a party of a big tent where all working people are welcome,” he said on Friday. “We’re not a party that punishes workers simply based on how they make ends meet.”
But as Townhall.com reported early Saturday, the DNC’s quick reversal may be more about the money than politics. “Heading into the summer, the DNC had nearly $5.7 million worth of debt and with $8.7 million of cash on hand. The Republican National Committee, however, had zero debt and nearly 5 times the amount of cash on hand.”
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