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kpete

(71,984 posts)
Thu Feb 2, 2012, 01:29 PM Feb 2012

PACs Americana - A dispatch from the future, where PACs have absorbed America

"This is the first time any of us have been in the same room together."

Grover Norquist, who took shelter behind a potted plant at the first sign of trouble, stood up and cleared his throat. "But we were barred by law, kid. Sure, the leaders of PACs can talk, but what use is it if we can't coordinate with the campaigns?"

Karl unfolded the chair and sat down, his mind turning. "What if..." Karl squinted, shined an apple on his shirt, and took a bite. "What if there are no campaigns to coordinate with?"

Soon after, Crossroads GPS merged with the remnants of the pro-Romney "Restore our Future" super PAC, and absorbed other smaller organizations as well. With unlimited resources and few disclosure requirements, this new entity, TruePAC, had the funds to hire away talented staffers and operatives from the national party and campaigns. TruePAC enlisted polling firms, direct mail distributors, and other mainstays of traditional political operations. And Rove traveled the country delivering what became known as the PACs Americana Speech to convince bundlers and major donors to eschew traditional campaigns and parties to support his new organization.

His answer to a ban on coordination was to make coordination irrelevant. The PAC would be the campaign. The campaign would be the PAC. Because of the Supreme Court's ruling, campaigns really only existed to meet filing deadlines and conduct paperwork; beyond this, the real difference between an official campaign and a political action committee was a bunch of onerous rules and restrictions.

much more:
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/02/pacs-americana/252379/

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