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portlander23

(2,078 posts)
Fri Oct 9, 2015, 10:32 AM Oct 2015

Super PACs stretch the rules that prohibit coordination with presidential campaigns

LA Times: Super PACs stretch the rules that prohibit coordination with presidential campaigns

The power of super PACs was unleashed by a series of Supreme Court decisions dating to 1976, including Citizens United in 2010, that opened the door to unlimited contributions to political groups — so long as they didn’t coordinate with campaigns.

This presidential cycle, that rule is being stretched like never before, as super PACs shadow candidates and take on roles once reserved for the campaign organizations themselves — even staging campaign rallies.

“These super PACS are more and more operating as arms of the campaigns,” said Ellen Weintraub, a former campaign finance lawyer. “I just find it hard to reconcile the notion that there’s no potential for corruption with super PACs raising and spending unlimited amounts of money."

Early this year, Jeb Bush traveled around the country for a super PAC called Right to Rise America, helping it to pile up an eyebrow-raising $103 million. In his view, he never broke the law because he had not yet formally declared his candidacy.

Bush was routinely seen in front of “Right to Rise” banners and he sometimes stumbled when asked about his plans — saying he was running and then immediately taking it back.

Much of the basic political grunt work for Carly Fiorina’s campaign is being handled by a super PAC, Carly for America, which sends staff and volunteers to shadow her on the campaign trail, setting up tables, taking down voters’ names and handing out buttons and bumper stickers.

Groups supporting Hillary Rodham Clinton are part of this phenomenon too. A rapid-response group called Correct the Record broke away from a pro-Hillary super PAC and is now working directly with the campaign. A spokeswoman for the group contends an FEC loophole means that the coordination regulation doesn’t apply to them because their work is posted only online.

Some advocates are pushing for the FEC to draw clearer lines on what super PACs can and can’t do. In March, two groups that want stricter limits on political spending filed a complaint against Bush, saying he kept raising money for Right to Rise long after he had decided to run.



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Super PACs stretch the rules that prohibit coordination with presidential campaigns (Original Post) portlander23 Oct 2015 OP
Of course they do. That is the nature of the beasts. djean111 Oct 2015 #1
 

djean111

(14,255 posts)
1. Of course they do. That is the nature of the beasts.
Fri Oct 9, 2015, 10:42 AM
Oct 2015

I understand that candidates (with Super PACS) in both parties have been looking for loopholes to exploit.
I remember when I was working for a giant soulless IT company, we were constantly pressured to donate to their PAC. Do I believe there is not a quid pro quo? I do not - those PACS and huge donors, I believe, already have negotiated what their rewards will be.

And I never contributed to the PAC.

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