Bernie supporters! I'm back! And I need help!

[retrowire]

I'm back! The 3rd year anniversary has been great! Plenty of laughs and wonderful moments together. It was a great week to remind ourselves what makes us so great for one another.

That aside, it's good to be back. I saw the debacle regarding this hillaryclintonsupporters.com thing and I've added some new usernames to my ignore list as well. Glad this was discovered... Also, disappointed in it as well.

So anyways, here's my question.

Bernie doesn't accept money from Super PACs correct? Then what the hell is opensecrets.org telling me on this page?

https://www.opensecrets.org/pres16/outsidegroups.php

You scroll down to see Bernie's outside groups and you'll see 1 Super PAC that's raised money for him and a "Leadership PAC"? Whatever that is.

So, whats going on with that? Is he not accepting their money? Is it different because those Super PACs aren't funded by billionaires? Whats the difference? Again, this is my first presidential election rodeo, so I'm learning a lot these days.

I just want to know so that I'll be armed with the knowledge, just in case someone else ever gets confused by this information.

Thanks guys, and again, it's great to be back! Even though, it's somewhat bittersweet knowing how many Hillary supporters here have set up an entirely separate flame website.

[SoapBox]

1. Welcome back!

I was just wondering about you folks and how the celebration went.

That site...I'm not even going to look at it...all that disgusts me.

And the SuperPAC thing...it would definitely not be sanctioned by Bernie...seems like there was one or two that tried and the campaign said no/change their name. Of course there are the slime balls that have tried to claim that he has PACs...uh, no.

Again, welcome back.

[retrowire]

2. Ah ok!

So they aren't sanctioned by Bernie. Where does the money go then? It's turned down? If so, why is it reported on by opensecrets.org at all?

And thanks for the welcoming back! Looks like the primary season is only going to get tougher from here on out.

[SoapBox]

3. I've not looked at that site either...

Is it a reputable site and credible?

I really don't know where the money would go if any were collected...does a PAC have to register itself with the FEC? Anyone know? Or can any dirtbag just set one up?

[madfloridian]

4. Here's a complete analysis of that PAC. Doesn't look that "Super" to me.

http://us-campaign-committees.insidegov.com/l/53965/Collective-Actions-PAC

Other sums of other pacs are at the bottom.

Here's a good explanation at Reddit:

https://www.reddit.com/r/SandersForPresident/comments/3ja8fp/the_democratic_socialists_of_america_has_a_super/

They can collect money whether Bernie says to do it or not.

[retrowire]

5. Thanks madfloridian

That does clarify it quite a bit. Thank you!

Bernie! Bernie! Bernie!

[virtualobserver]

6. Bernie has a PAC- Progressive Voters of America- since 2004

http://www.voteprogressive.org/

He has used it to donate money to other Democrats in the past.

It has the standard restriction of $5000 per donor per year

Not a SuperPAC

He can't prevent people from starting SuperPACS but he has rejected them in no uncertain terms.

[merrily]

17. Thank you. I did not know that!

[ZM90]

7. Welcome back man. Yeah some of the Clinton supports have gotten quite nasty...

I never visited the Hillary supporter website but I know all I need to know about some of them from reading DU. It would probably enrage me if I read the comments on that site I mean look at how upset I got when some of them went after yuiyoshida for example.

As for the SuperPACs Bernie doesn't want their money and has disavowed them as I recall but there is really not much he can do about them spending money to try to get him elected. A SuperPAC can help you whether you want it or not.

[retrowire]

10. yeah that website is nasty

but it's quite the eye opener.

I don't suffer fools who run in cliques and gossip about others in the corner like we're in high school.

I consistently see Hillary supporters here bring up right wing taking points against Bernie, I will constantly see Bernie supporters retort their points, and then.... silence.

at that point, Hillary supporters that just attack and then don't say anything are just using the hit and run trolling tactic. again, I won't suffer fools. so plenty of people have entered my ignore list.

secondly, sorry I didn't respond about the yuiyoshida thing but I'm glad to see that user is still here and active.

[ZM90]

11. Yeah I was pretty upset about that and I felt she was being unfairly attacked.

Whatever though. We Bernie supporters have to stick together against unfair attacks on our friends.

[merrily]

18. They attacked her AGAIN? She stopped posting in this group a while back because of that.

Moral: Never give in. It only emboldens them.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

8. There was some supposed SuperPac "for Bernie" run by a scam artist in the news recently.

I think Daniel Craig had donated 40k to it. So if you donate to that, you're donating to help the scam artist get rich, I guess.

[retrowire]

9. oh no worries

I use that Act Blue what whaaaaat.

.... I just woke up.

[TexasBushwhacker]

12. Daniel Craig 007? n/t

[marym625]

13. Yep

There's a post about it somewhere around here. Shady character running it. Sanders sent a letter saying cease and desist. The guy didn't care.

Just Google Daniel Craig Bernie Sanders super pac and I'm sure you'll find it

[TexasBushwhacker]

20. Interesting

The head of it, Cary Lee Peterson, does seem rather shady. His LinkedIn profile is full of fluff and he puts the letters LL. D. after his . Come to find out it's an HONORARY degree from the "Academy of Universal Global Peace ".

[marym625]

21. Shady. very shady

[merrily]

14. If you want an authoritative answer, call the campaign.

However, it's my understanding that these Super Pacs formed on their own and Sanders does not want their money. It's okay, though. Maybe they'll help some progressive populists who will take the money.

[retrowire]

15. What is the campaigns number?

I've heard I could call them, but how?

[merrily]

16. I bet it's pinned somewhere in this group and on his website.

[SandersDem]

19. Open Secrets is a Very Reputable Site

So let me break down after a little research on these PACs:

Collective Actions PAC: 2016 Cylcle $0 raised, $0 spent, Status: Terminated
Based on some research this was the PAC that was advocating for Bernie Sanders to run.

Progressive Voters PAC: 2016 Cycle $0 Contributed. This is a Democratic Leadership PAC made up of Unions.

Bernie 2016: This is represented as the Candidates PAC

It's important when looking at Open Secrets to select the CYCLE.

So, PAC purity for Bernie? YES.

Just a fast correction, based on previous posts, one of these PACs may have been a scam and has been ordered to cease and desist. Even if they are legit, no PAC money ahs gone towards Bernie Sanders Presidential run.