Independent groups
Republican Lawyer Blog: Former FEC Chairman Says SuperPACs Are Good for Democracy
In a radio interview last week, Center for Competitive Politics and former FEC chairman Bradley A. Smith spoke about the benefits of SuperPACs and how they actually benefit the electoral process. Mr. Smith believes one benefit is that without SuperPACs one candidate would have already won the Republican nomination because he would have far more money than his opponents. Mr. Smith said it is especially good if you are a supporter of one of the other Republican candidates.
Washington Post, George Will: Super PACs can’t crown a king
When communists and sympathizers made excuses for Stalin’s terror, they said, “You can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs.” To which George Orwell responded, “Where’s the omelet?”
CNN: Super PACs provide air cover to GOP candidates
Atlanta (CNN) – Heading into the Michigan and Arizona primaries Tuesday night, the two leading men for the Republican presidential nomination benefited heavily from air cover paid for by independent political organizations created to promote their candidacies.
USA Today: Super PACs, candidates blur lines ahead of Nov. 6
WASHINGTON – Presidential candidates and the super PACs accepting unlimited donations to help their campaigns cannot coordinate their activity, yet they are sharing consultants, donors and even advertising footage, raising new questions about the independence of outside groups.
SCOTUS/Judiciary
The Hill: Former Sen. Feingold: Super-PACs making Supreme Court ‘squeamish’
Former Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) says he is increasingly optimistic that the Supreme Court will act to reverse the Citizens United ruling that rolled back limits on campaign spending.
iWatch: Lawrence Lessig on campaign finance reform: Overturning ‘Citizens United’ isn’t enough
In contrast with many other campaign finance reformers, Harvard Professor Lawrence Lessig believes fixing the U.S. election system will require more than just overturning the Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission Supreme Court ruling, which removed many restrictions on independent political spending.
Candidates and parties
Politico: Romney says super PACs will drag out the process
Mitt Romney, who’s been able to effectively deal with his rivals thanks in part to negative attacks launched by the super PAC supporting him, commented to Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly on the role that the outside groups are playing in the primary – and the likelihood that they will help drag out the race.
Washington Post: Obama team fires back at Koch brothers
President Obama’s re-election campaign is accusing the Koch brothers-funded conservative group Americans for Prosperity of faking its grassroots support.
FEC
Washington Post: Two ads aired 5 years apart spark fight over election rules
The two television ads are almost indistinguishable. In both, former Bain Capital executive Robert C. Gay tells the tale of Mitt Romney’s role in leading a search for Gay’s missing daughter, interspersed with footage of New York and flashes of Romney.
STATE and LOCAL
California –– LA Times: Evil lurks in Super PACs
You and I have been here before, with me recommending something you don’t want to hear about, even though it’ll be good for you.
