President Obama, who had in the past called Super PACs “a threat to our democracy”, has reversed course and given his stamp of approval to a pro-Obama Super PAC called Priorities USA Action.
From an email from Obama re-elect honcho Jim Messina to supporters:
“[W]e can’t allow for two sets of rules in this election whereby the Republican nominee is the beneficiary of unlimited spending and Democrats unilaterally disarm. Therefore, the campaign has decided to do what we can, consistent with the law, to support Priorities USA in its effort to counter the weight of the GOP Super PAC. We will do so only in the knowledge and with the expectation that all of its donations will be fully disclosed as required by law … Senior campaign officials as well as some White House and Cabinet officials will attend and speak at Priorities USA fundraising events.
“While campaign officials may be appearing at events to amplify our message, these folks won’t be soliciting contributions for Priorities USA. … [T]he President, Vice President, and First Lady will not be a part of this effort; their political activity will remain focused on the President’s campaign. … Supporting Priorities USA means that our side will not concede the battles on the air in the months to come, but we continue to believe that this election will be won on the ground. … It’s my hope that by making this decision and doing what we can to neutralize the onslaught of special-interest money, we can ensure that the decisive factor in this election won’t be an unprecedented flood of special-interest spending, and the outcome will be back in the hands of ordinary Americans.”
This is me not making a joke about the president and unilateral disarmament.
Sierra Club; World Wildlife Fund; Moveon.org; Center for American Progress; George Soros, etc. -- they invented the 501(c)(4) and the whole process of funneling campaign money through private groups.
Then, they launch diatribes against the Citizens United decision and claim, in two-faced fashion, that they don't plan to eschew super pac money, while they invented the super pac to begin with?
Is there a federal law that requires leftists to be as disingenuous as possible?
Or, is it merely one of Saul Alinsky's imitable Rules for Radicals?
Is this anything like all those Republican congressman that complain about the Stimulus and say how terrible it is but then show up at a ground breaking of some project funded by stimulus funds try to take credit? Is it kinda like that?
If I were in Obama's position? I'd use every means possible to take down Romney, including Super PACs, even if it meant reneging on every previous promise I had made.
If I were in the position of a principle candidate who actually cared about campaign reform? I'd probably do something completely different, like take the moral high road, and stick to formal campaign advertising while enjoying the huge advantages that a Presidential incumbent enjoys, including effectively unlimited media coverage.
"It is with the greatest of regret that we note that our opponent has sunk to the level of slinging mud. We had previously decried all forms of mud-slinging, but now that our opponent has started it, sort of, we are forced to respond in kind, and will do our utmost to sling the mud as fast and as hard as we can - but only with the heaviest and saddest of hearts."
Republicans: "How dare you allow a SuperPAC to counter our SuperPAC ads"
Sounds so much like
Republican reading from a teleprompter: "Obama reads all his speeches from a teleprompter"
or
Limbaugh the Hutt saying the first lady is fat.
or, possibly my favorite
Orrin Hatch “Just this morning at the National Prayer Breakfast, the president took what has always been a non-partisan opportunity for national unity and used to promote his political agenda."
HA! Republican hypocrisy knows no bounds.
Thank goodness for McCain Feingold and campaign finance reform!!! It sure got money out of politics.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWell, it did a tolerably good job until the Supreme Court overturned the law saying anybody with money can buy an election. Yay democracy.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSierra Club; World Wildlife Fund; Moveon.org; Center for American Progress; George Soros, etc. -- they invented the 501(c)(4) and the whole process of funneling campaign money through private groups.
Then, they launch diatribes against the Citizens United decision and claim, in two-faced fashion, that they don't plan to eschew super pac money, while they invented the super pac to begin with?
Is there a federal law that requires leftists to be as disingenuous as possible?
Or, is it merely one of Saul Alinsky's imitable Rules for Radicals?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIs this anything like all those Republican congressman that complain about the Stimulus and say how terrible it is but then show up at a ground breaking of some project funded by stimulus funds try to take credit? Is it kinda like that?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYour clan loses quoting the "never bring a knife to a gun fight" line. What would you do in Obama's position.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIf I were in Obama's position? I'd use every means possible to take down Romney, including Super PACs, even if it meant reneging on every previous promise I had made.
If I were in the position of a principle candidate who actually cared about campaign reform? I'd probably do something completely different, like take the moral high road, and stick to formal campaign advertising while enjoying the huge advantages that a Presidential incumbent enjoys, including effectively unlimited media coverage.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"It is with the greatest of regret that we note that our opponent has sunk to the level of slinging mud. We had previously decried all forms of mud-slinging, but now that our opponent has started it, sort of, we are forced to respond in kind, and will do our utmost to sling the mud as fast and as hard as we can - but only with the heaviest and saddest of hearts."
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseRepublicans: "How dare you allow a SuperPAC to counter our SuperPAC ads"
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSounds so much like
Republican reading from a teleprompter: "Obama reads all his speeches from a teleprompter"
or
Limbaugh the Hutt saying the first lady is fat.
or, possibly my favorite
Orrin Hatch “Just this morning at the National Prayer Breakfast, the president took what has always been a non-partisan opportunity for national unity and used to promote his political agenda."
HA! Republican hypocrisy knows no bounds.