Super PACs a corrupting influence on American politics
In this Presidential
election cycle, we are experiencing, for the first time, the influence of Super PACs.
They can raise as much money as they want. They can spend as much money as they want
Super PACs exist because of Citizens United, the U.S. Supreme Court's 2010 ruling against limits on spending by independent political action committees.
The Court said that as long as these committees were independent and didn't give money to candidates, they had no limit at all on what they could spend based on the principle of free speech.
Candidates are allowed to fund raise for these supposedly wholly independent committees. And, close aides, fundraisers, and relatives of the candidates run the Super PACs. The Court did not anticipate the extent to which PAC spending is closely tied to the candidates.
U.S. Senator John McCain blasted the Supreme Court's Citizen United decision which has given rise to the Super PACs and allows corporations to funnel as much money as they'd like into our elections. Senator McCain (who has been a long time advocate for campaign finance reform) said the court's ruling was, "one of the worst decisions I have ever seen." He went on to say, "I predict to you that there will be huge scandals associated with this huge flood of money."
Restore Our Future, a Super PAC supporting former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, Make Us Greater Again, a Super PAC supporting Texas Governor Rick Perry, and Winning Our Future, a Super Pac supporting former House Speaker Newt Gingrich have already spent millions on predominantly negative attack adds and have had a significant impact on the Republican Presidential nomination process.
A Super PAC has been established to support President Barack Obama's re election.
In addition, there are dozens upon dozens of Super PACs that will be supporting or attacking congressional candidates.
This Presidential election year will be a corrosive year because of the toxic influence of Super PACs. People are going to be offended on all sides - conservatives, moderates, and liberals - to see how these PACs taint and change America's electoral process.
The Supreme Court was wrong in thinking you could have independent spending that was going to be totally independent of candidates. If it's wholly independent, it can't be corrupting. Problem is when someone gives $5 million to Winning Our Future, Newt Gingrich knows exactly who it is.
The Supreme Court's narrow decision, where they voted 5-4 to say corporations are people and money is speech, needs to be reversed or scaled back.
Money is not speech; money can stifle speech. Corporations are important, but they're not people.
Richard O. Schwab was formerly associate head of school, and middle school head, Cincinnati Country Day School. He is currently neighborhood team leader, Glendale Organizing For America Community Team (www.gofact.blogspot.com)
