How quazi-political action committees run US politics

The Prometheus Institute ^ | 3/17/2008 | Justin Hartfield

[tang0r]

For example, the most famous of these 527s include last Presidential election's Swift Vets and POWs for Truth. The group's sole purpose was to expose presidential hopeful John Kerry's "phony war crimes charges, exaggerated claims about his [Kerry's] service in Vietnam, and his deliberate misrepresentation of the nature and effectiveness of Swift boat operations."

While the Swift Vets organization was later fined by the FEC for violating the Finance Reform Act, it still received $16.8m in funding and held a large influence on the 2004 presidential campaign.

Today, it's business as usual in Washington, and 527s are once again controlling D.C. politics. One recently formed group EMILY's List was created for the express purpose of "Supporting pro-choice Democratic women." Gee, I wonder who they're voting for this year.

[CharlesWayneCT]

One recently formed group EMILY's List was created for the express purpose of "Supporting pro-choice Democratic women." Gee, I wonder who they're voting for this year.

Emily's list was formed in 1985, so it's hardly a "recently formed" group.

[AuntB]

One good example is La Raza, who is always in the background forming immigration policy and funded with $25 million per year of your tax dollars, courtesy (R) Rick Renzi and the ‘hispanic’ caucus.

[hellbender]

The only surefire way to greatly curb the influence of interest groups and lobbyists is to pass a new act of Congress, one which prohibits elected officials from raising money or running for office while still on the job.

A much better way would be to force the Federal govt. back into the very limited role prescribed by the 10th Amendment. However, the author is right that term limits, or something like them, would greatly improve the situation.