I resent Sanders' claim "we decided not to do a Super Pac"

[BainsBane]

followed by a chastisement to Clinton not to "insult the intelligence of the American voter," which is precisely what his previous statement does. It assumes Americans neither know nor care about campaign finance. It falsely implies that candidates directly form Super Pacs, when that is in fact illegal. It also ignores the fact that his campaign does in fact benefit from Super Pacs and authorized PACs. One Super Pac formed in order to promote Sanders is run by a former Sanders campaign Staffer.

But Sanders hasn't always ruled out super PAC support. And, like many of his foes, he's likely to get a little help from a super PAC run by a friend and former campaign aide.

When Sanders last ran for reelection, in 2012, then-Seven Days political columnist Andy Bromage asked if he'd "ever accept help from a super PAC."

"I certainly would prefer not to," Sanders responded, calling it "a hypothetical question."

"But we can chat about it if, six months from now, many, many millions of dollars are coming in attacking me," he said in the February 2012 interview.

"If it was a last resort?" Bromage pressed.

"That's something we would look at," Sanders said, adding that he hoped he wouldn't have to.

Ah. So the senator opposes super PACs unless they're necessary to win?

Indeed. Just a week before the interview, President Barack Obama's aides announced that he would accept support from a major Democratic super PAC, Priorities USA Action, in his 2012 reelection race. Sanders defended the president's choice at the time.

"Should you be principled and allow your opponent to spend huge sums of money and you say, 'Well, I'm a principled guy and we're going to get outspent 5-to-1, and I'm going to lose the election?'" the senator asked.
http://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/sanders-shifting-stance-on-super-pacs/Content?oid=2759783

The Atlantic reports, "Bernie Sanders Super Pacs."

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/12/bernie-sanders-super-pac/420930/

Nor will he tell them not to spend money on his behalf. http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/23/politics/bernie-sanders-super-pac-nurses/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bernie-sanders-super-pacs_us_56548429e4b0879a5b0c6ccd

Now, people may say a union super pac is okay and one funded by George Soros isn't. They are still Super Pacs, and Sanders has sworn time and time against that he "doesn't have Super Pacs"--a technically true statement for him, just as it is for Clinton, Bush, Cruz or anyone else because candidates do not form or "do" Super Pacs. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_action_committee

He also benefits from more dark money and Super Pac spending that any candidate in the race, in part because Karl Rove's American Crossroads is commitment to ensuring Sanders be the GOP's opponent in the general election.
http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/01/20/bernie-sanders-gets-some-outside-help-he-didnt-ask-for/?_r=0

The problem is systemic. It's subverts democracy at all levels, and pretending it is about one candidate not taking "super pacs" or certain kinds of money (especially when there is evidence that claim isn't true) trivializes it. It takes a systemic problem and reduces it to an opportunistic political slogan. I find his statement incredible and that, combined with what I see as a series of empty campaign promises, is why I find him incredible.

[beam me up scottie]

3. *snerk*

[virtualobserver]

2. SuperPACS paid for from union dues do not distort elections

[BainsBane]

5. So when he said he didn't have Super Pacs

He only meant certain kinds of certain pacs? I don't recall his ever qualifying the statement to say super pacs of certain kinds.

And the one run by his former staffer? That isn't funded with union dues.

And what about Rove's Super Pac? Is that one cool too?

[virtualobserver]

7. PACS that allow for donations of unlimited size is what he wants to eliminate.

Union pacs that are paid for by union dues only would never be unlimited.

You want to pretend that it is more complicated than that. It isn't.

Unlimited bad.......only from union dues good.

[msongs]

4. when you've few accomplishments after being in congress 25 yrs ya gotta say something nt

[morningfog]

6. But Hillary DOES coordinate with her SuperPAC. I agree it's illegal.

But she does it. She the worst yet claims to want reform while incredulously giving the current law the finger.

THAT is insulting, don't you agree?