Ad Blitz: No Labels, Third-Party Presidential Candidates Facing Backlash

Third party presidential bids and the no-label movement have come under heavy scrutiny in recent months, as opponents unleash ads designed to “inform” the public against such candidates. This recent wave of advertisements has been met with criticism from many in the political realm, as many see it as a way to divide public opinion on potential candidates and overall, discredit non-partisan movements. No-labelers, such as the Centrist Project, are hoping to present an alternative to the traditional two-party model of veering left or right. They support the idea that legislators should represent their constituents in the true spirit of democracy, rather than conforming to strict party ideologies. The goal of the Centrist Project is to run centrist candidates for office in 2016, who will remain open to compromise. However, as with any third-party option, these alternative candidacies have been met with opposition. Recent ads funded by a political action committee, the Defeat Insecure Politicians PAC, depict a dystopian future in which there are no labels. They go on to warn voters of electing candidates who “lack a definitive diplomatic doctrine.” The PAC’s stated objective is to dissuade voters from choosing independent or otherwise “non-labeled” candidates. Opposition to third-party presidential bids and the no-label movement is nothing new. Politicians often fear that having additional candidates running will disrupt the method in which they traditionally build coalitions and mobilize their respective voting bases. While the Defeats Insecure Politicians PAC’s ads have been met with controversy, many fear that it could be the beginning of a larger campaign against third-party candidacy and the no-label movement. Though it remains to be seen what kind of difference these ads will make in the upcoming elections, it is safe to say that opponents of non-partisan candidates and ideologies will continue to use fear tactics and scare-mongering to discourage voters from choosing non-traditional presidential candidates. Despite the controversy, third-party supporters remain steadfast in their commitment to changing electoral politics and igniting a new phase of democracy.