Stephen Colbert Will Become 'Political Playa' in 2012 By Exposing Citizens United

[no limit]

A few weeks ago Stephen Colbert announced he would be a 'political playa' in 2012 by forming a political action committee, called http://www.colbertpac.com/">ColbertPac. He said if all those people at Fox News have one, he didn't see a reason as to why he shouldn't have his own. As of last night 68,000 people have entered their email address on a temporary website.

The goal of the PAC? Not a lot of details have emerged but Colbert explained the point of a PAC is to endorse candidates and then run political ads on behalf of those politicians without their consent nor permission. As Colbert put it: "We will be fair, the bodies we Photoshop candidates heads on to will always be human!".

And last night Stephen Colbert went after Citizens United by explaining that if it were not for that decision what he would be doing would be illegal. This is due to the fact that he is using his show, which Viacom pays for, to promote the PAC. This would mean Viacom was making in kind contributions which there would be a limit on under prior law. But as a result of Citizens United this is now perfectly legal as long as he forms a http://www.fec.gov/press/press2011/ieoc_alpha.shtml">Independent Expenditure-Only Committee. The difference between this and a political action committee? A legal cover letter with the PAC application letting the FEC know you will be starting a Super PAC consistent with Citizens United and that you will be spending as much money on behalf of candidates as you please. This is a great way for Stephen Colbert to constantly keep the spot light on Citizens United throughout the entire 2012 election. And I personally can't wait to see the political ads him and his writers come up with and what candidates they endorse.

The video from last night is here:

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/382013/april-14-2011/viacom-ruins-stephen-s-pac-dream?xrs=share_copy

[dana_b]

1. this is gonna be good..

probably the most interesting part of the election cycle.

[brewens]

4. Oh boy is this great!-Flounder from Animal House

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arZdeg_fL-I

[BrendaBrick]

5. Yep-per! It's already starting to give me a little...

...bounce in my step! :-)

Fight fire with....a smart, laser-sharp comedy venue to slash right through the absurdities some would actually confuse with *the truth*!!!

And hey, didn't he receive some kind of award from having the most tweets not too long ago?

Yep. This is gonna be good!!!!!

I'm sending in a little somethin' somethin' $ ~

[themadstork]

8. This is what we need!

We are not going to win this country over with reason alone. We may convince a few, and for them we should continue arguing for liberalism. But the GOP is mostly beyond reason, and the ubiquity of corporate culture can make them seem beyond criticism as well. We'll need smart, stinging, subtle satire if we want to turn the tide of public opinion. Colbert gets it. He mocks without becoming just another political mudslinger; he mocks but retains a certain sense of style. He wins with the appeal to character, ethos.

We need an ironic mode of messaging that's stripped of self-seriousness.

[buddysmellgood]

11. Can you imagine if ColbertPac runs ads? Oh my God would that be awesome!

[dana_b]

13. it would. And some politicians should be nervous. ;) n/t

[druidity33]

2. Love it. K&R. nt.

[lob1]

3. I bet some pubs are afraid of any ad Colbert might do

for them. This could be a lot of fun.

[hootinholler]

6. I hope he does the ads for the right wingers...

They would be awesome, but might work because the right is so easily taken in by satire.

-Hoot

[CBHagman]

7. Go, Stephen!

The 21st century: time when the comedians were better stewards of the public good than the entire media industry.

[Uncle Joe]

9. Apparently Viacom has already stopped him, and that's what corporate supremacy is about,

totalitarian by nature.

Thanks for the thread, no limit.

[BrendaBrick]

17. Say Hello To His New SUPER Colbert PAC Dream (just in):

http://www.indecisionforever.com/2011/04/15/stephen-colbert-bids-a-sad-farewell-to-his-colbert-pac-dream-says-hello-to-his-new-colbert-super-pac-dream/

The word "Super" added in red:

http://www.colbertpac.com/

weebles wobble ~~~~~

[howaboutme]

10. MSM is saying nothing about Citizens United

Why? Because this decision will bring in billions to their coffers. The more divisive their tactics and message and programming, the more they will profit.

Be assured that the corporate media will bring out many more political punditry shows on both sides to keep us angry and political donors paying up to stay in the game.

The over-the-air media should be required to run many hours of free political advertising instead of profiting from our political system, economy, and corrupt courts. We forget that money in the economy is a finite amount that goes to finite places. If the media and Wall Street get more than their share, others will get less.

[The Backlash Cometh]

12. I love me my Colbert!

[renate]

14. my imaginary boyfriend is so awesome!

:loveya:

[ladywnch]

15. Lincoln once said, "the best way to get a law changed is to obey it."

Colbert is going to use Citizens United in a way neither the Koch brothers or the Supremes ever thought of and I LOVE IT!

Between his Super Pac and the "not to be taken as a factual statement" cover provided by Sen. Kyle this going to be one fun/crazy campaign season!!!! I can hardly wait!

[ladywnch]

16. Colbert is single-handedly going to be responsible for the

repeal/reversal/undoing of the Citizens United decision!

I'm sure the Koch brothers and the Supremes never thought about the Colberts of the world and what they could/would do with this ruling and mercifully they're about to find out! LMAO!

[no limit]

18. If this could actually generate significant ad buys the establishment will shit its pants

[ladywnch]

19. exactly! if this gets the traction that most of Colbert's rallying cries

and if he creates the kind of ads we're all hoping for.....yeah, they will be shitting in their shorts big time!

How dare he use their own tactics against them.......da byastard!

[hulka38]

20. That is great. n/t

[Ignis]

21. K&R. Why are comedians doing our party's work, exactly?

No one making a bloated salary advising the party at the national level could have come up with this very idea sooner? Really?

:shrug: