How Super PACS Price Out the Average American Voter
I was about to wrap up my bad morning ritual, doom scrolling through memes and the news. Nine out ten well-functioning humans say this is the worst way to start the day, but at this point my habit is now a anxiety-inducing addiction. I stumbled across an article about Robert Kennedy, Jr. having his ballot access challenged in Pennsylvania, New York, and Illinois. I know hearing “Robert Kennedy, Jr.” makes eyes roll. I get it, but his mention wasn’t tthe most alarming part of this article. It was the first sentence.
“Clear Choice Action, a Democrat-aligned super PAC aiming to hinder third-party presidential candidates, filed a lawsuit Thursday to keep Robert F. Kennedy Jr. off the ballot in the battleground state of Pennsylvania,” CBS News reported.
Woah.
I can start a group where me and my rich buddies can pool our money through corporations, unions or individual donations to “hinder third-party presidential candidates”? Why didn’t I get involved with this sooner? Oh, right. I’m too poor for that.
The bigger question is how is hindering third-party candidates allowed as an organization mission statement? It’s definitely not American. Scratch that. It’s very American since our country’s shift to serve corporations rather than her people. What’s most crazy is how “hinder third-party candidates” is written so casually. Worse, all the articles written about Clear Choice Action include that descriptor, “hinder third party presidential candidates.” You know what the articles don’t include? A journalist challenging the purpose of Clear Choice Action or at the very least rambling on about candidate suppression.
A bunch of rich people trying to hinder a third-party candidate from winning an election seems like using money to stack the deck in one’s favor. What if Clesr Choice Action develops ads they are lies? Doesn’t matter. By hindering potential alternatives to mainstream political parties hurts democracy. At the very least, it limits the voice of the people.
What is a Super PAC?
Before we dive into the evil corrupt cespool that is American politics, it’s important to understand what Super PACs are. A Super PAC (Political Action Committee) was conjured after the 2010 Supreme Court decision Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission and another ruling by the D.C. Circuit Court in SpeechNow.org v. FEC., which allowed for unlimited corporate and union spending in elections to advocate for or against political candidates, as long as they do not coordinate directly with the candidates or their campaigns.
That makes my head spin.
First of all, what kind of lawyer ninja'd that out of the First Amendment and won? An expensive one, for sure. Second, unlimited corporate spending? When has that ever gone wrong except for every single time? Third, yeah I’m sure there’s no backroom secret conversations going on between campaigns and Super PAC donors. Eye roll. It’s 2024, we all know about burner phones, VPNs, and What’s App.
Function of a Super PAC
What does Clear Choice Action do anyway? It files lawsuits, creates advertisements, and develops social media content to hinder people running for President who aren’t under a Democratic or Republican banner. That’s rich coming from Democrats, who constantly complain about voter suppression. How is hindering a third-party candidate any different than voter suppression? Using rich donors to fund a sham organization, I mean political action committee, that attacks anyone not in the status quo isn’t very American. If the argument is Clear Choice Action weeds out bad candidates, I’d say there’s currently two candidates that would be perfect for hindrance.
Who’s funding Super PACs?
Since the bone-headed court decision that unleashed Super PACs on American politics. they have spent over $9 billion in elections. Republican-aligned Super PACs have spent $4.9 billion, while Democratic-aligned Super PACs have spent $4.1 billion. Independent/Other Super PACs account for around $300 million spent. As you might suspect, Super PACs are mostly funded by wealthy individuals, corporations, unions, and interest groups. The largest contributors have given tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars to Super PACs over multiple elections. Sure, that money would definitely be better spent on American workers’ salaries or our country’s debt, but instead a few rich white dudes are attempting to pull a 1896.
In 1895, John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, and J.P. Morgan basically bought the presidency for William McKinley. These men pulled together about $3.5 to $16 million (adjusted for inflation) and “donated” it to the future President’s campaign manager. These famous Americans owned monopolies wanted to keep them intact, so they needed a supporter of their big business style in the White House. That money went a long way once McKinley was elected.
Today, companies like Comcast, Chevron Corporation make contributions to Super PACs. Why give that money to employees instead of political action committees? I find it weird that the company providing my internet is influencing my politics. Oddly, some individuals and corporations donate to both Democratic and Republican Super PACs. Like AT&T. Why would someone do that? To support both beliefs? Yeah, okay. I have a ketchup popsicle you might enjoy. These double donors have no spine. It’s a let’s throw money to buy influence regardless who wins. Makes me want to puke.
Anyone is free to donate to a Super PAC. Even if you don’t live in America. With no receipts, who says are enemies can’t use money to influence an American election?
What about middle and lower class Americans donating to Super PACs? We aren’t. So, who exactly does a Super PAC aid, regular, everyday Americans or the interests of those who can afford to participate?
The Evils of Super PACs - Dark Money
Super PACs are required to expose their donors, but there’s a work around. Dark money. I shit you not. That’s the term. No creative spin. How it works is "dark money" groups, which don’t have to disclose donors, send money into Super PACs.
Dark money groups are often social welfare organizations (501(c)(4) ) or trade associations, (501(c)(6)). These groups can donate to Super PACs, which then only report the donation as coming from the dark money group, not the original donors.
Patriot Majority USA, League of Conservation Voters, Majority Forward are a few of these groups. They sound bad ass, but what do these dark money groups actually do besides burrow someone deeper down the rabbit hole.
Super PACS Good or Bad?
Some argue that Super PACs help fund non-established candidates reach a national stage. Voices like RFK Jr. The very thing sucking up RFK Jr’s time and resources is also funding his candidacy. Politics are truly a vicious cycle.
American Values 2024, a Super PAC that supports RFK, Jr. has raised approximately $16 million. Timothy Mellon, a GOP megadonor has given $25 million to the Super PAC. Mellon has also sent $15 million to a Super PAC supporting Donald Trump. Why is he injecting Trump and RFK Jr. Super PACs with a yacht full of cash and not a Republican and Democratic focused one?
Democrats believe that third-party candidates cost them the 2016 election, specifically in Pennsylvania. Hillary Clinton lost by just 44,292 votes. In Pennsylvania, third-party candidates received more than 142,000 votes. If one of the other candidates was “hindered” Trump may have never won in 2016.
Republicans are funneling money into Super PACs that support RFK Jr. to help Republicans win the election. The thought process is third-party candidates steal more votes from Democrats than Republicans. Hence Mellon’s spreading of his wealth.
Politics sure are a head scratcher, but Super PACs make it messier. The best ideas should win, not the candidate with the biggest bankroll. If we can’t ban Super PACs, at the very least individuals, unions, and corporations shouldn’t be allowed to donate to both sides. Pick a side and behave like the rest of us cretins.