The Out of State Groups Start the Attack

Rove's Group Is Well Funded (4.00 / 1)

Salon did a piece about Rove's group and how well funded it is, and how as of July, 97% of the money it had raised came from four billionaires.

Since then, according to TPM the group has raised a lot more money:

American Crossroads and Crossroads GPS, outside groups backed by GOP heavy-hitters Karl Rove and Ed Gillespie, raised $14.5 million in the 30-day period ending Sunday, bringing their fundraising total this year to $32 million, according to the Associated Press.

In addition to American Crossroads, which is a 527, there is another one called American Crossroads GPS:

It's also important to note that American Crossroads has set up a partner organization called  American Crossroads GPS that, because it has a different tax status, does not have to reveal any donor information and is also more limited in spending its money on campaigns (Politico has more on this). American Crossroads GPS took in over $5 million in June, and we'll likely nver know who is putting up the money.

In other words, the $300,000 on ads on WMUR that have been ordered up are chump change, and likely just the first installment, as the Republicans know that they need to keep this seat to have any hope of taking the majority.  Also, special interests can donate unlimited amounts to AC GPS without disclosing their identity, and can be used as a vehicle to get around individual donation limits.

Salon story on AC: http://www.salon.com/news/poli...

TPM story on AC:
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo...



"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

---

by: Kathy Sullivan 2 @ Mon Sep 20, 2010 at 14:34:04 PM CDT

Given that there are still only 24 hours in a day and (0.00 / 0)

about forty days to the election, the object of tying up large blocks of advertising minutes is probably more to deprive the opposition of air time in favorable time slots.
Filling the airwaves with blather risks alienating their base, as well as Democrats, so they may depress their own turnout.  
So, it seems to me what we should be about is telling voters to ignore the annoyance, explain why it's there and insure that everybody votes.
I'm not keen on urging people to vote because the alternative is bad.  But, we know from experience that's the truth.
What was wrong with Democrats' bi-partisanship was that you don't try to work with the devil.

If we assume that all politicians are con men, how do we tell the good con men from the bad?  The good con man aim to enhances; the bad con man aims to deprive.

It's not a matter of the ends justifying the means.  It's a matter of the beginnings being bad.

---

by: hannah @ Thu Sep 23, 2010 at 02:25:25 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

The Secret Election (4.00 / 2)

The New York Times had an editorial  about the tidal wave of corporate money and the failure to date to enact disclosure laws to provide citizens with the information they need to evaluate the sources.


"But, in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope." Si se puede. Yes we can.  

---

by: Paul Twomey @ Mon Sep 20, 2010 at 14:40:07 PM CDT

What good would it do to know who's wasting money (0.00 / 0)

on New Hampshire elections.  We should thank them for bringing money into the state and celebrate that they consider our Congressman so important.  

We should counter by singing Paul's praises and letting everyone know how dedicated he's been to our work in Washington.

The singing Senator.  Aren't there some Republican old timers who are renowned for being in a quartet?
Ah, yes

Jim Jeffords (1995-2000)
John Ashcroft
Trent Lott
Larry Craig

Hodes, better than ashcroft,lott or craig.

---

by: hannah @ Mon Sep 20, 2010 at 15:08:37 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Lip synching (4.00 / 5)

I have a lot of respect for voters. If you tell them about the special interests funding elections, and the sources of the money funding astro turf groups, they will digest that information when making their voting decisions.  

If you want to sing, go ahead, but, you would have to be Pavorati to drown out the noise machine created by phoney grass roots groups. That is why we need to let the voters know these singers are Milli Vanilli.



"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

---

by: Kathy Sullivan 2 @ Mon Sep 20, 2010 at 15:49:42 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Think Target (4.00 / 1)

People can make rational choices when they have information.

"But, in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope." Si se puede. Yes we can.  

---

by: Paul Twomey @ Mon Sep 20, 2010 at 18:09:42 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

We Need Disclosure Laws AND... (0.00 / 0)

...prohibition of direction contributions from the treasuries of corporations -- which we came close to passing in the NH Legislature this past Spring with House Bill 1367, which was approved by the House but for some reason got stalled in the State Senate.  

I wonder why.  

Must be my imagined political insiders desire for more campaign cash and influence.  

---

by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 05:50:08 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

something odd about the ad (0.00 / 0)

The American Crossroads ad uses a sample of Hodes' own hot dog eating contest commercial:

How do these groups get away with this sort of thing legally?  They certainly don't have permission from the Hodes campaign.  I am gussing American Crossroads is relying on the "fair use" exemption for brief quotes used to illustrate critical commentary.  To a lesser extent, they mat be relying on the fact that they are hard to find.

Although they are not that hard to find; their contact info is on their web site:

American Crossroads
1401 New York Avenue, NW Suite 1200
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 559-6428
info@americancrossroads.org

(Happily this is not a very effective ad.  The old "ants in Africa" bit is worn out: the voters already know that the government funds all sorts of esoteric research projects.)

-----

Thanks for all the fish

-----

---

by: TimothyHorrigan @ Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 17:25:47 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

If the corporations aren't chartered in the state, (0.00 / 0)

the state has no leverage to enforce compliance with the prohibition.  Private corporations are going to have to be appropriately chartered and the authorizing body is going to need the ability to revoke the charter and dissolve the corporation.

Fines do no good because it's other people's money and putting a few officers out of office or even into jail just makes room for younger predators to take their place.  Corporate bodies are designed for immortality, unless there's a term-limit in the design.

Republicans are familiar with sunset provisions.  It's something they fear.  They bring up term limits, so they can defeat the concept.

---

by: hannah @ Thu Sep 23, 2010 at 02:32:53 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

We CAN Limit What Candidates Receive... (0.00 / 0)

...and that's the way disclosure laws work.  Prohibiting candidates from accepting those contributions is within the state's rights, and responsibility.  

The problem of big money in politics, however, will always grow -- fact is, there are many ways to influence voters.  That's why the Granny D concept of voluntary public funding for candidates is so important -- and the Task Force created last year to create legislation for 2011 continues to be hard at work.  Eventually, it is a real answer.  

---

by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Thu Sep 23, 2010 at 06:39:09 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

And (4.00 / 1)

And while these suggestions will help on the issue of direct contributions, the use of non-profit groups to engage in political activity needs to be addressed.  They are fast becoming (if they have not already become) the biggest recipients of coprorate and other special interest money.  501 (c) (4) groups - and, in some cases, 501 (c) (3) groups - are taking n millions of dollars but don't have to disclose the sources, and then spending it on what is, for all intents and purposes, political activity. The money does not go directly to candidates, but assists them, just as American Crossroads and National Organizatin for Marriage are doing here in NH.  

That spigot needs to be addressed.




"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

---

by: Kathy Sullivan 2 @ Thu Sep 23, 2010 at 09:08:00 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

On That... (4.00 / 1)

...we totally agree.  The battle has to be waged on many fronts.  

---

by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Thu Sep 23, 2010 at 09:27:21 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

TV Saturation (4.00 / 1)

Thinking, if the TV gets overwhelmed by ads, voters may block them out. What is the best way to get to these voters?

Canvass? Direct mail? Neighbor to neighbor e-mail?

www.KusterforCongress.com - www.paulhodesforsenate.com

www.nikitsongas.com - www.devalpatrick.com

---

by: Jack Mitchell @ Mon Sep 20, 2010 at 15:35:33 PM CDT

Neighbor and mail (4.00 / 4)

I am a big believer in neighbor to neighbor and direct mail.  



"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

---

by: Kathy Sullivan 2 @ Mon Sep 20, 2010 at 15:50:38 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

The U.S. Postal Service Rocks !! (4.00 / 2)

Imagine setting this up from scratch...
They deliver to every address in America six days a week with a high degree of on time accuracy.

7 Days
Have you knocked on doors today? Have you made calls ? Have you talked to your neighbors ?  

---

by: JonnyBBad @ Mon Sep 20, 2010 at 16:23:16 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I heard on the 9-21 Diane Riehm show... (4.00 / 1)

I heard an anecdote on the Tuesday Sept. 21 Diane Riehm show that the Boston & neighboring media markets literally ran out of broadcast spots before the January 2010 special election.  TV & radio stations supposedly ran out of spots to sell.


-----

Thanks for all the fish

-----

---

by: TimothyHorrigan @ Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 11:44:38 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Open Secrets: 'Shadow RNC' American Crossroads (4.00 / 2)

'Shadow RNC' American Crossroads Raises Millions in August from Wealthy Individuals, Corporations

Whether you call it a "527 committee," an "independent expenditure-only committee" or a "super PAC," the conservative outfit American Crossroads continued to demonstrate its fund-raising prowess in August.

The political operation reported raising more than $2.6 million in August -- and has now raised more than $7.9 million between January and August -- according to a Center for Responsive Politics review of campaign finance reports filed today.

The group's latest bankrollers include two corporations -- one of which is a Fortune 500 company -- and three wealthy Texans. Such donations demonstrate how a few key players may now, in the aftermath of major federal court decisions, significantly affect the fortunes of certain political interests.
-snip

www.KusterforCongress.com - www.paulhodesforsenate.com

www.nikitsongas.com - www.devalpatrick.com

---

by: Jack Mitchell @ Mon Sep 20, 2010 at 19:31:47 PM CDT

NY Times on Crossroads and Other Anonymous Groups (4.00 / 2)

The NY Times has a front page article today on Crossroads, Rove's 501(c)(4), and other 501's:  

The rule of thumb, in fact, is that more than 50 percent of a 501(c)(4)'s activities cannot be political. But that has not stopped Crossroads and a raft of other nonprofit advocacy groups like it - mostly on the Republican side, so far - from becoming some of the biggest players in this year's midterm elections, in part because of the anonymity they afford donors, prompting outcries from campaign finance watchdogs.

Because of the lack of disclosure, corporate money is flowing into these groups - something that any law trying to limit direct contributions to candidates would not stop, as these groups are set up so that donors can make unlimited, anonymous donations for the purpose of influencing elections. And the money is coming in:

Interviews with a half-dozen campaign finance lawyers yielded an anecdotal portrait of corporate political spending since the Citizens United decision. They agreed that most prominent, publicly traded companies are staying on the sidelines.

But other companies, mostly privately held, and often small to medium size, are jumping in, mainly on the Republican side. Almost all of them are doing so through 501(c) organizations, as opposed to directly sponsoring advertisements themselves, the lawyers said.

"I can tell you from personal experience, the money's flowing," said Michael E. Toner, a former Republican F.E.C. commissioner, now in private practice at the firm Bryan Cave.

It is an interesting article about what has become the biggest loophole for companies and indivduals to use to get around donor limits.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09...

 



"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

---

by: Kathy Sullivan 2 @ Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 07:30:23 AM CDT

"the donor hole" n/t (0.00 / 0)

7 Days
Have you knocked on doors today? Have you made calls ? Have you talked to your neighbors ?  

---

by: JonnyBBad @ Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 07:33:31 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Legislation to which McCain lent his name so he could insure (0.00 / 0)

it wouldn't have the ostensibly desired effect.  It was designed to fail.  But, before the SCOTUS threw it out, a lot of righteous Democrats restricted themselves and their constituents.

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions" because the devil knows well how to take advantage.

---

by: hannah @ Thu Sep 23, 2010 at 02:43:00 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Donor limits were a bad idea to begin with. (0.00 / 0)

Trying to control the behavior of candidates and office holders by putting restrictions on voters is like keeping the fox from eating chickens by locking the doors and keeping the hens quiet.

---

by: hannah @ Thu Sep 23, 2010 at 02:38:23 AM CDT

[ Parent ]