David Brooks defends Chamber, Rove: Don’t Follow the Money

[ProSense]

Don’t Follow the Money

By DAVID BROOKS

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I can see why media consultants would believe money is vitally important: the more money there is the more they make. I can see why partisans would want to believe money is important: they tend to blame their party’s defeats on the nefarious spending of the other side. But I can’t see why the rest of us should believe this. The evidence to support it is so slight.

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According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Democrats in the most competitive House races have raised an average of 47 percent more than Republicans. They have spent 66 percent more, and have about 53 percent more in their war chests. According to the Wesleyan Media Project, between Sept. 1 and Oct. 7, Democrats running for the House and the Senate spent $1.50 on advertising for every $1 spent by Republicans.

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The most alarmed coverage concerns the skyrocketing spending of independent groups. It is true that Republicans have an edge when it comes to outside expenditures. This year, for example, the United States Chamber of Commerce is spending $22 million for Republicans, while the Service Employees International Union is spending about $14 million for Democrats.

But independent spending is about only a tenth of spending by candidates and parties. Democrats have a healthy fear of Karl Rove, born out of experience, but there is no way the $13 million he influences through the group American Crossroads is going to reshape an election in which the two parties are spending something like $1.4 billion collectively.

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Brooks' own paper contradicts him in an editorial.

Brooks uses the tired media distortion of comparing secret money being spent by Rove and the Chamber to that being spent by unions.

PACs and unions are required to disclose their donors:

Gillespie, a former Republican Party chairman, intimately familiar with the rules, knows political-action committees have to disclose contributors; and unlike in the case of Crossroads GPS, voters know the identity and general purpose of money spent by a labor union.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce spent more than $3.2 million against Boxer, plans another $1.25 million

Sharron Angle Spent $12 Million to Raise $14 Million in 3rd Quarter

Sunlight Foundation

The Sunlight Foundation via TPM







edited typo

[bemildred]

1. Brooks is a tool. nt

[Vinnie From Indy]

2. And, he is also a naked fraud

In America today, as long as you are willing to carry water for your overlords, your job is secure in the MSM. Brooks is the perfect example of this phenomena. Brooks lies and distorts for a living and he has made peace with trading his integrity for money.

[bemildred]

3. Don't stop for me, keep going. nt