2016 Postmortem

Bubzer

(4,211 posts)

89. This is a non issue. We all agree (or should) that super PACs shouldn't exist.

Fri Jan 29, 2016, 10:16 AM

Jan 2016

But they do. The reason super PACs shouldn't exist is that they unfairly influence elections to favor the affluent. So, what's at issue is where that money is coming from. Bernie is receiving money from individuals Americans, while Hillary is receiving money from corporate interests, investment groups, and in general, the affluent. That's what's at issue here.

To illustrate the issue, let's look at the source of her funds:

https://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cid=N00000019&cycle=Career

Not exactly a list of philanthropy. In fact, quite a few of those are some of the most corrupt corporations out there.

Now, one of the classic arguments is that all that money is coming from individual donors... the proverbial average American... but that's only partially true:

https://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/pacs.php?cycle=Career&cid=N00000019&type=I

She receives over 50% of her funding from affluent sources and/or or sources expecting a quid-pro-quo relationship... collectively; business.
That 50+ percentage is where the issue resides.

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Bernie wins the Super-Pac spending contest! According to the Federal Election Commission, [View all] pnwmom Jan 2016 OP

Candidates are not in control of super pacs, as you know. Vinca Jan 2016 #1

Now you're saying Bernie can't do stuff? I thought you guys are the ones stevenleser Jan 2016 #2

What does Hillary bring to the table madokie Jan 2016 #9

No moving the goalposts. Respond to my point. Nt stevenleser Jan 2016 #11

What is your point, exactly? Art_from_Ark Jan 2016 #13

Anti-Sanders attack ad isn’t quite what it seems to be Gothmog Jan 2016 #49

This is a non issue. We all agree (or should) that super PACs shouldn't exist. Bubzer Jan 2016 #89

Super pacs aren't supposed to be in direct communication with the candidates. A Simple Game Jan 2016 #33

Lamest straw man ever. morningfog Jan 2016 #44

it's like dealing w/Freepers, isn't it? Roland99 Jan 2016 #91

hmmmm Perogie Jan 2016 #68

Now you're saying Bernie can't do stuff? AlbertCat Jan 2016 #83

re: "Which is it? Either the guy can do magic and accomplish everything he wants or he can't." thesquanderer Jan 2016 #85

oh good grief Roland99 Jan 2016 #88

Is this what you'd be saying if Hillary had had the most spent on her? pnwmom Jan 2016 #3

I'd vote for Hillary if nurses supported her with a super pac. tazkcmo Jan 2016 #40

One candidate does control her PAC: Hillary. morningfog Jan 2016 #37

You should present your evidence directly to the FEC. JohnnyRingo Jan 2016 #84

Her campaign relies on a "loophole" in the law. morningfog Jan 2016 #90

Mr. Brock Lage Nom Ai Jan 2016 #98

Somehow spending $600,000 in attack ads against Bernie is helping him, but when they Dustlawyer Jan 2016 #64

What a brain-dead attack. John Poet Jan 2016 #71

Except when I read a post about how David Brock is.... JohnnyRingo Jan 2016 #80

I think their analysis is grossly misleading and wrong Jarqui Jan 2016 #4

Yeah, I'm having difficulty believing a nurses' union has outspent Corrupt the Record. n/t winter is coming Jan 2016 #5

Corrupt the Record spent $333,000 Jarqui Jan 2016 #7

Priorities USA is saving money for the General Election campaign. pnwmom Jan 2016 #17

Too bad they will be forced to either 1) return the money or 2) spend it on Bernie. Health Wagon Jan 2016 #114

Why would it be too bad if they spent it on another Democratic nominee? pnwmom Jan 2016 #115

Then they shall spend it for Bernie. Health Wagon Jan 2016 #116

This report is on money SPENT and it is quite possible that they've collected money pnwmom Jan 2016 #8

I am talking about money spent. Jarqui Jan 2016 #20

Do you have links for all that? Maybe you should report it to the FEC. pnwmom Jan 2016 #24

I have posted them before. May not have time to find them all Jarqui Jan 2016 #28

And your big claim that Super-Pacs gave her $15 million pnwmom Jan 2016 #42

All I can do is repost it: Jarqui Jan 2016 #55

"Outside groups" doesn't equal "Super pacs." And Super pacs pnwmom Jan 2016 #61

When opensecrets goes to the trouble of adding Jarqui Jan 2016 #93

No coordinating with SuperPACs, unless you are Hillary morningfog Jan 2016 #41

She isn't. There isn't a bit of truth to the idea that she has SuperPac pnwmom Jan 2016 #43

She coordinates with Brock and correct the record. morningfog Jan 2016 #45

Saved for the General. tazkcmo Jan 2016 #36

Then those SuperPacs can donate their funds to Bernie. pnwmom Jan 2016 #46

Sweet! n/t tazkcmo Jan 2016 #48

Clinton Camp: GOP Attacks On Hillary Show They'd Rather Face Bernie In Fall Gothmog Jan 2016 #52

The GOP would like to see them bash each others brains out and Jarqui Jan 2016 #57

Oh noes!! Karl Rove! frylock Jan 2016 #110

Looks like someone had similar issues with the article Jarqui Jan 2016 #94

This screaming Hey look over there isn't working madokie Jan 2016 #6

Your attempt at distraction from the FEC report fails. As all your attempts pnwmom Jan 2016 #10

That's what you get whenever you raise a point unfavorable to Bernie stevenleser Jan 2016 #12

What does Hillary bring to the table madokie Jan 2016 #25

Again, moving the goalposts instead of addressing the criticism of Bernie. nt stevenleser Jan 2016 #75

I've heard the criticism of Bernie and it's been proven to be bunk madokie Jan 2016 #95

It's easier to hide the question. NurseJackie Jan 2016 #26

It’s fucking tiresome dorkzilla Jan 2016 #63

You know the thing is madokie Jan 2016 #73

I knew it! Those goddamn nurses have created Warren Stupidity Jan 2016 #14

What is worse about Super-pacs funded by the League of Conservation Voters pnwmom Jan 2016 #19

Those fucking nurses are going to be the end of Warren Stupidity Jan 2016 #29

Priorities USA is saving most of its funds for the general, according to this article. pnwmom Jan 2016 #30

I'm sure you think that is an argument of some sort. Warren Stupidity Jan 2016 #31

Me, too Art_from_Ark Jan 2016 #32

For that matter Plucketeer Jan 2016 #100

Typical HRC supporter math--counting Republican superpacs as actual Sanders supporters n/t eridani Jan 2016 #15

You misread the piece. The nurses union has spent more on Bernie pnwmom Jan 2016 #21

Only in a Clinton World tazkcmo Jan 2016 #51

Only in Bernie world is Planned Parenthood and the League of Conservation Voters pnwmom Jan 2016 #53

Only in Bernie world is Planned Parenthood and the League of Conservation Voters AlbertCat Jan 2016 #92

No, I didn't make it up. That is the term used by the Bernie campaign, pnwmom Jan 2016 #117

There are organizations that bother to poll their members before endorsing, and those that don't eridani Jan 2016 #121

Note to self Uponthegears Jan 2016 #16

What is worse about Super-pacs funded by the League of Conservation Voters pnwmom Jan 2016 #18

Because LCV and PP are part of the "establishment"! Pay attention! DanTex Jan 2016 #23

The short answer Uponthegears Jan 2016 #34

Hillary's spent SuperPac money, according to this report, is mostly from Planned Parenthood pnwmom Jan 2016 #50

Is it even possible Uponthegears Jan 2016 #81

This. navarth Jan 2016 #96

I don't understand where you got that Skidmore Jan 2016 #27

As usual, the facts here aren't going down too well with Bernie fans. DanTex Jan 2016 #22

Good for Bernie! tazkcmo Jan 2016 #35

Cracks in Bernie's shining armor? One day his supporters will realize livetohike Jan 2016 #38

he is a career politician, and one who is learning to play the game. AlbertCat Jan 2016 #97

This is his first national race. The "game" is indeed a game. There are rules and these errors the livetohike Jan 2016 #102

Oh please! AlbertCat Jan 2016 #103

VT is a small state. Can't even accept that fact? livetohike Jan 2016 #105

VT is a small state. AlbertCat Jan 2016 #106

DU rec...nt SidDithers Jan 2016 #39

Republicans Take Their Sanders Advocacy to the Next Level Gothmog Jan 2016 #47

I'm A Pediatric Hospice Nurse Proud to Support Bernie! mucifer Jan 2016 #54

How very Third Way of you hueymahl Jan 2016 #56

The Republicans went after the teachers. SamKnause Jan 2016 #58

Conservatives are always at the root.. frylock Jan 2016 #111

K&R mcar Jan 2016 #59

OK, so it's David Brock versus gordyfl Jan 2016 #60

No, its Nurses vs. Planned Parenthood and the League of Conservation Voters. nt pnwmom Jan 2016 #62

That's a sloppy and distorted article Armstead Jan 2016 #65

'New York Times Gets it Wrong: Bernie Sanders Not Top Beneficiary of Outside Money' Eric J in MN Jan 2016 #66

And the real nail in the coffin n2doc Jan 2016 #70

^ This! ^ SoapBox Jan 2016 #72

New disclosures which they’ll under-report dorkzilla Jan 2016 #82

It didn't get it wrong. The article specifically focused on independent funds pnwmom Jan 2016 #76

Correct the Record raising soft money & letting the Clinton campaign control spending is worse. NT Eric J in MN Jan 2016 #78

Shocking! frylock Jan 2016 #112

Awesome! the one person who will work to end Super PAC spending gets the most! fbc Jan 2016 #67

Oh my god, you're right! Not Sure Jan 2016 #69

The nurses are coming! The NURSES are coming! bread_and_roses Jan 2016 #74

The nurses spent the money on him; Planned Parenthood and the League of Conservation pnwmom Jan 2016 #113

the excuses ought to be good joeybee12 Jan 2016 #77

Thanks for pointing out his hypocrisy and gimmicks. R B Garr Jan 2016 #79

re: "lift Mr. Sanders, whom conservatives believe will be easier to defeat in a general election" thesquanderer Jan 2016 #86

"be careful what you wish for" AlbertCat Jan 2016 #101

This message was self-deleted by its author Bubzer Jan 2016 #87

It takes very clever parsing of words to make this happen karynnj Jan 2016 #99

The same people recommending this SheenaR Jan 2016 #104

Projection AgingAmerican Jan 2016 #107

Bwahahaha! MoonRiver Jan 2016 #108

Bernie Sanders-the canditate who harps daily against the eveils of Super Pacs Wins. whow!!!!!!!!!!! riversedge Jan 2016 #109

Thank you for this, pnwmom! Cha Jan 2016 #118

Wonderful news!! RobertEarl Jan 2016 #119

Kick & very highly recommended! William769 Jan 2016 #120

Trying to pretend that union money is the same as bankster money is why I cannot support Hillary. w4rma Jan 2016 #122