Intentional Consequences

by Charles Harris

“On the Chinese involvement, maybe so. I didn’t say anything about David Bernbach or any of his companies. Do you think David could be up to something like that?”

  “I don’t know. The breakfast we had with him and George Billings in New York was a little odd. Seemed like David was thinking through some grandiose ambitions.”

  “The Sentinel Observer put Andy on paid leave for two weeks. He thinks they’re trying to kill the story but don’t want to risk firing him or telling him outright to stop working on it.”

  “Maybe he’s actually on to something.”

  “Or he’s been watching too many movies about journalists,” Valerie said. “You may think this is silly, but what if we invited Andy to come down here for a few days?” Rakesh started to speak, but Valerie held up her hand. “Hear me out. My classes are almost over. I’m always looking for research talent and he’s obviously pretty good. I’d like to show him the material behind the blogpost I wrote and pick his brain about his conspiracy theory. I’d also like him to look at all the abolish the rich stuff being thrown at me on the internet. He might even be able to help you frame up some ideas about how to play your project with the media.”

  Rakesh said, “It sounds nice, but you need to remember this guy is a journalist. Anything we say can and will be used and held against us in the court of public opinion.”

  “Fair concern. I still think it’s worth a call to see if we could work something out. He can’t be having fun up there worrying about what happens next. He could probably stay with his Aunt while he’s down here.”

  “I know how you are when you get an idea like this. Play it out as you think best. Just remember we’re both really busy. I can’t babysit this man.”

  ◆◆◆

  Valerie called Andy. Before they could talk through the details, he said yes, he’d love to come. An hour later, he texted Valerie: “Arriving AUS tomorrow SW1366 4:50pm. Renting car. Staying with my Aunt Debby. Open return. Please call re your schedule.”

  His next text was to Eva.

  Chapter 38

  Unlike the woman who had openly tailed Andy at the Star Market the night before, the man who followed him to Boston’s Logan International Airport on Wednesday morning never caught his eye. Fortunately for Andy, the man lost him in the hectic security lines of Terminal A. Knowing the terminal, the man could logically conclude Andy was flying Delta or Southwest in the next couple of hours. The question was which city he was going to. Almost two dozen cities were possible. Bernbach’s people gambled on three of them: New York City, Austin and San Francisco. When Andy walked off his Southwest flight in Austin just after 5 p.m., they hit pay dirt.

  The Austin shadow followed Andy to his Aunt Debby’s house, videoing both his rental car and his Aunt’s house.

  By early evening, Bernbach had still photos and video confirming Andy was in Austin. The following morning, another tracker tailed him to Valerie Williams office at UT-Austin.

  Furious, Bernbach called Leonard Mayer. “Your man Andy Butler flew to Austin yesterday. He’s staying with his Aunt. Any idea why’s he back down there? He’s been meeting with Valerie Williams since 9:30 this morning. This can’t be good.”

  Mayer was no help. “I’m not going to ask how you know those things, but what am I supposed to do? We’re working on the problem. We put him on two weeks paid leave on Monday. We’ve locked him out of our company network and his business email account. He went to school in Austin. He had Williams as a professor. He has family in Austin. We’ll handle this when he comes back to work in a couple of weeks, assuming he comes back.”

  “Leonard, he may be on leave, but he’s still your employee. You need to get him off this case. If you can’t or won’t….”

  Mayer interrupted, “You don’t want to finish that. You’ve made your position clear. You and I have a valuable relationship. We have mutual interests here. We can do a lot more together. Respectfully, you need to calm down. Being impulsive in situations like this can turn a minor matter into a disaster.”

  “We may not have a lot of time. Thanks to your man’s stupid call to T.Y., the Chinese are watching how I deal with this. T.Y. called me over the weekend. They expect action, not two weeks of paid leave.”

  “I hear you, but you’re overreacting and you’re getting emotional. You need to let this settle.”

  After his discussion with Mayer, Bernbach took a deep breath and walked outside his office to clear his head. He called Billings. Ten minutes later, Billings was on the phone with Franks discussing what to do about Andy.

  Franks was clear. “We’ll deal with it by the weekend,” he told Billings.

  Chapter 39

  Early the following morning, Franks sent two encrypted updates to Bernbach and Billings. The first read, “On Bluebonnet, finding additional leverage opportunities. Beginning to trend. More to come. See example links below” and then included several links to website posts and tweets impugning Valerie.

  The second update simply said “Stirring the pot. Go to www.revengematters.com. Been working on this for a while. Bots spreading. Already viral.”

  Bernbach saw Franks’ updates before Billings did. When he went to the Revenge Matters site, he found only one article. He read the story:

  Secret Preview of Democrats’ Action Plan

  for a Single-Party America

  By the RevengeMatters Team

  RevengeMatters has gained exclusive access to a draft document that lays out the Democrats’ secret plan to position themselves for single-party rule in 2020. The remarkable paper calls for stripping away the existing procedural safeguards in the House and Senate, packing additional Justices onto the Supreme Court and enacting key legislation to assure progressive control for decades.

  The draft was provided by a reliable source with high-level access to Democratic strategy. The Democrat candidates for President and the Democrat members of the House and Senate we showed this to all refused comment. We have been unable to reach Speaker Pelosi. Although we expect to hear the no comment responses turn to denials and allegations of fake news, the plan resonates with existing conversation within the party. It also reflects the increasing influence of the progressive wing of the party. The individual items listed on the action plan are not new. What is new is the party commitment to implementing the ideas in the 2020-2024 timeframe you’ll see in the plan.

  We are printing the entire document below so you can make your own assessment. For clarity, the Additional Commentary is part of the document we received.

  CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT – DO NOT DISTRIBUTE

  Single Party Action Plan (SPAP)

  2020-2024

  With Democratic control of the White House, the House of Representatives and the Senate in 2020, the following steps will accomplish lasting realignment of American politics and usher in progressive single-party rule for decades.

  This Action Plan is based on the following important realities:

  First, to achieve success, long-standing Congressional norms must be altered at the outset. This action should be taken only if we have the discipline to follow this plan to completion.

  Second, the current imbalance in the Supreme Court must be corrected before any important legislation is enacted. Having a clear majority of the Court is essential to protecting far-reaching legislative changes from judicial interpretation or override.

  Third, structural reforms must be prioritized ahead of platform and policy legislation.

  ACTIONS FOR 2021:

  Adjust Procedural Norms in Congress.

  Eliminate PAYGO, which requires any bill that increases entitlement spending or decreases revenues be offset by corresponding tax hikes or decreased spending.

  Ignore the Federal Deficit in considering and passing new programs.

  Alter the Senate Filibuster, which effectively requires 60 votes to pass significant legislation (base action here on Democrat votes available after 2020).

  Expand the current reconciliation process, which applies to less s
ignificant legislation (this could require replacement of the Senate Parliamentarian), or make it harder or even impossible to filibuster legislation.

  Increase the size of the Supreme Court – at least 3 to 5 new seats.

  Make nominations and provide Senate consent to fill new open seats on the Supreme Court. (Note: Swear in new Justices before enacting any important legislation.)

  Enact H.R. 1 – For the People Act (approved by House in early 2019).

  Voting and Election Laws – increase access, enable online registration.

  Campaign Finance – increase disclosure, eliminate “sidecar” SuperPACs.

  Ethics – increase disclosure of individual donors, restrict lobbying.

  Enact American Equality Tax Reform Package – aimed at the Super Rich:

  Income Taxes;

  Estate Taxes;

  Wealth Taxes.

  Enact Federal Data Privacy Legislation, including Tech Tax.

  Enact Immigration Reform:

  Immediate pathway to citizenship and voting for Dreamers;

  Accelerated pathways to citizenship and voting (three-year and five-year options) for other illegal immigrants.

  File Other Platform Legislation (e.g., climate, college tuition, health care, other tax reform).

  ACTIONS FOR 2022-2023:

  Enact Other Platform Legislation (e.g., climate, college tuition, health care, other tax reform).

  Pursue longer-term (2021-2024) structural changes:

  Reduction of voting age to 16 for elections to Federal office;

  Statehood for the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico;

  Division of California into two states (North and South);

  Direct national election of President (eliminate Electoral College).

  ADDITIONAL COMMENTARY:

  Sweeping the Federal elections in 2020 does not assure longer-term dominance. The structural changes above are intended to assure the Democratic Party dominates all three branches of national government for decades.

  H.R. 1 comprises over 500 pages of legislation, much of it seemingly benign and overdue, but some of it extensive in impact. Mitch McConnell has called it a “power grab” and the “Democrat Politician Protection Act”. It’s hugely important to our dominance.

  The point with tax reform is to focus on the Super Rich and not get bogged down on broader tax policy or reversing Trump’s tax legislation. The goal is to increase the taxes on this group both to win voter support and to reduce the excess funds they can contribute to the Republicans. Note H.R. 1 includes Federal subsidies for candidates who use small contributions to fund their campaigns.

  Data privacy and the tech tax will be popular with the public’s anti-Tech backlash and provide an opportunity to enact legislation that will have a chilling effect on corporate involvement in political campaigns and issues.

  The immigration changes will offer an opportunity to add even more voters to the rolls in advance of 2024.

  The references to other platform legislation are placeholders. The substance and timing of this legislation are beyond the scope of this plan, so long as it is not prioritized ahead of the recommended structural changes.

  The 2021-2024 structural changes are placeholders for actions that require additional participation to achieve. Together, these will deliver additional voters, Senators and Representatives to our party. We must find a way to implement all of these in time for 2024. Voting age is the easiest to accomplish. Formally abolishing the Electoral College is the most difficult. Having the Supreme Court in our camp will be helpful on several of these issues.

  Bernbach sent an encrypted reply to Franks, copying Billings. It read, “Whose site is that? Where did that document come from?”

  Franks replied, “Just doing my job. Site is ours. We own URL. Suggest we leave details to next call. This has legs. Watch media.”

  By evening, the Action Plan was everywhere. The timing was impeccable as the media was looking for any story to keep politics in the spotlight after the letdown from the Mueller report. Blindsided, the Democrats initially did their best not to comment or even talk at all for fear of being asked. As the RevengeMatters site had predicted, the “no comments” moved to denials and accusations of fake news.

  The conservative media had a heyday, claiming that the plan showed the Democrats’ true intentions to seize one-party control at any cost to democracy. To bolster the paper’s validity, they quoted dozens of articles from liberals and progressives recommending the same actions the plan espoused, and in some cases more.

  The liberal media was all over the place, not sure whether the paper was real, but recognizing the ideas were, and the paper probably did reflect ongoing conversations and maybe even a formal commitment within the party. Most of the Democratic presidential candidates willing to talk did their best to hedge their positions by vaguely saying the ideas were interesting or blaming the Republicans for making it necessary to consider all the options. This was significantly harder for the centrists like Biden, Klobuchar, Hickenlooper and Delaney and the experts in vision and vagueness like Beto O’Rourke. For Pete Buttigieg, it was an opportunity to repeat his call for structural reforms in American democracy that would make it easier to accomplish the progressive agenda. Some of primary opponents even suggested Buttigieg was behind the post, given how closely it aligned with some of the changes he advocated.

  Outside the leadership and the presidential candidates, progressive Democrats widely applauded the plan. By the following day, initial polling showed strong progressive support for the plan, which led key progressives in the House to pile on the bus. In contrast, polling showed the plan infuriated the Republican base, worried most independents and drew mixed support from the rest of the Democrats. President Trump was the biggest beneficiary. In another day, the media would report his overall approval rating topped 50%.

  Chapter 40

  As Franks’ Single-Party Action Plan reverberated through the social and traditional media, Bernbach and Ward were attending a technology, communications and media conference at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. Bernbach was there to hear presentations by several of his portfolio companies, including PaprW8. Ward was there for one-on-one meetings with investors and dinner with the investment bankers who were sponsoring the conference.

  Ward met Bernbach for drinks before her dinner with the bankers. They met in the hotel’s Broadway Lounge, overlooking a rainy Times Square. Ward said, “What’s up? You seem concerned.”

  “I have a potential problem with the press. I need your help and your confidence. This is very sensitive.” Bernbach told her about the reporter and a little about the conspiracy story he was pursuing.

  Ward said, “Sounds ominous. Also sounds like I only know bits and pieces about what you’re doing. Look, David, I’ve tried to respect your ‘need to know’ fixation, but if you want my help with whatever this is you’ve got to cut me in on the big picture. Otherwise, find somebody else who wants to give you half-baked advice based on half-assed information.”

  Bernbach looked away, then said, “Fair comment. It’s the way I work. I use silos. Always have. We’ve had this conversation. Dividing things up helps protect people and information.”

  “I acknowledge the principle. It works for the military. It works for terrorists. It works for our company. But it doesn’t build trust in situations like this. The issue here is simple. You either trust me to be involved with you at a higher level or not. If you don’t want me in that broader role, don’t ask me for that kind of help. If you do, tell me what I need to know to give you advice.”

  Bernbach said, “We probably don’t have time to cover everything before your dinner meeting and mine, and you’re flying out early in the morning. Let’s discuss what we can now and, if you’re still in, find some more time to talk about it.”

  Bernbach laid out the pieces of the puzzle he was using to implement his political strategy. He reviewed the Chinese technology and data deals he’d made and res
tated the role he saw for PaprW8. He described his relationships with JPAC and his separate personal arrangement with Dan Johnson. He told her about Billings and Franks’ Special Ops. He mentioned the Super PAC and discussed the flow of funds in and out. He explained the think tank operation and how articles and papers were created and moved into print and social media.

  “I’ve told you a lot,” he said. “You now know more about this than anyone in the world other than me. If that’s not trust, nothing is. Before we go on, I need to know, are you still in?”

  “Yes. I don’t have your experience in politics, but I can play this game. I can be the partner you need. I’m willing to take the risk. But let’s be very, very clear. I expect to be a general partner, not a limited partner. Don’t box me off. Don’t leave me out.”

  “Done,” he said. He smiled and extended his hand across the small table. Eva made no move to reciprocate.

  “We need one more understanding,” Ward said.

  “What’s that?”

  “When the time comes, I expect to become CEO of PaprW8.”

  “Well, of course, you’d be the likely successor. But I can’t control that by myself. I mean, Hastings has his supermajority stock and the other….”

  Ward raised her hand to stop him. “Hear me. I said when the time comes. Today, he’s still valuable as the founder and creative visionary. But the time will come, and I have the evidence to make it happen when he’s no longer needed. Indisputable sexual misconduct and harassment, not with me by the way. When the shit hits the fan, I expect to have your absolute support. OK?”

  “Agreed,” he said. This time, they shook hands.

  Bernbach continued, “Now, we need to talk about some details.” He explained the Chinese concerns about the reporter and the need to look decisive. He talked about the ongoing work to damage Valerie Williams’ credibility. He mentioned the virtual assassination efforts underway against Harris and Warren. He talked about Rakesh Jain and his project to reunite America and why it needed to be stopped.