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.
UPDATE: Here’s POTUS in 2010:
