A major Democratic donor on Tuesday warned the party against straying away from centrist positions, adding he hopes Democrats “get our sh– together” before the 2020 elections.
“Good question,” Las Vegas businessman Stephen Cloobeck said on MSNBC when asked why Democrats have had so few election successes against an increasingly right-leaning GOP.
“A sad state for us,” he continued.
“Hopefully, we’ll get our sh– together.”
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Cloobeck, who donated $1 million last year to Hillary Clinton’s allied super PAC, Priorities USA Action, told MSNBC’s Stephanie Ruhle that he’ll cut off funds to the party if it moves too far to the left on economic issues following President Trump’s win last year.
“I can tell you if we go far left, I’m out,” Cloobeck said. “I’m out. We need middle ground.”
“It drives me nuts. So much so it would make me quit the party,” he added. “And I’ve made it very clear; I’ll cut your money off. And others will do the same. We’ve had enough. We need a new brand.”
Despite his avowed Democratic support and rumored consideration of a possible run as a Democrat to be Nevada’s governor, Cloobeck has shown willingness to work with some in the GOP. Earlier this year, he endorsed his state’s Republican Sen. Dean Heller.
“I am forever a Democrat,” Cloobeck said in April. “I believe in Roe v. Wade, Planned Parenthood, civil rights and the other core principles and values of the Democratic Party. But I also believe that Dean Heller has proven himself capable of representing ALL citizens of Nevada, not just those who elected him.”
Still, Cloobeck stepped up his criticism of the Republican Party on Tuesday, calling the GOP “bigoted” and “anti-Semitic.”
“They are very, unfortunately, bigoted, anti-Semitic and caustic,” he said on MSNBC. “And creating civil war.”