[EL] Check out Study shows who breaks campaign laws - ThePuebloChieftai...

Thu Aug 11 12:46:21 PDT 2011

Ah, that explains why CLC has no political influence.

Seriously, it's really an important point I would make. Political influence is exercised in so many ways, and most of those are restricted to a relatively small elite, to which most of us on this list belong, even if we may be near the bottom of that elite. It would be ridiculous to say that CLC has no influence on public policy, simply because it eschews direct electoral politics, or that the Foundations that fund it don't wish to influence public policy.

Trevor says PACs are a satisfactory alternative for most small donors, but most of the time that's just not true. The burdensome PAC regulation and reporting requirements, the corresponding need for counsel, the difficulties of getting PACs off the ground and raising substantial enough funds to compete with large organizations and wealthy individuals who can exercise influence in a host of ways, prevent a great deal of speech. After I agreed to serve as counsel to Liberty Advertising in 2007, which did the Ron Paul Blimp http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=3965657&page=1, I was beseiged with calls from eager Ron Paul fans brimming with ideas for political activities to help their candidate. Once I described the regulatory system, and the burden of forming a PAC, virtually all dropped the idea - some because the regulation and potential liability was too much, some because they knew that they couldn't raise the necessary funds in small contributions, and some from a combination of both. (Sadly, this was pre-SpeechNow.org and the advent of "superPACs.") The PACs most likely to be able to get around these problems were and are those connected to large businesses and labor unions, largely defeating Trevor's arguments that PACs are the avenue for "the little guy."

I don't think you have to assume bad faith in the reformers to note that few, if any, proposals to regulate reduce the political influence of those making the proposals. Trevor's influence, for example, benefits from a system in which participating in campaigns is relatively complex, and spending unaccountable 501(c)(3) money to influence policy is relatively easy. Not coincidentally, he advocates a system in which participating in campaigns is relatively complex, but spending unaccountable 501(c)(3) money is relatively esy. It's not that's he's more evil or machiavellian than the rest of us, it's just human nature to see your own sources of influence as legitimate in ways that "the other guy's" are not.

Bradley A. Smith
Josiah H. Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault Designated Professor of Law
Capital University Law School
303 E. Broad St.
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 236-6317
http://www.law.capital.edu/Faculty/Bios/bsmith.asp

________________________________

From: law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu on behalf of Trevor Potter
Sent: Thu 8/11/2011 3:17 PM
To: JBoppjr at aol.com
Cc: law-election at uci.edu
Subject: Re: [EL] Check out Study shows who breaks campaign laws - ThePuebloChieftai...

I hate to puncture all this air with facts, but donors (publicly disclosed too,  of course)  to the Campaign Legal Center are 99 percent 501 c 3 foundations, prohibited from intervening in campaigns.....
As to the point of my post, though--that small donors have been able to pool their contributions together through PACs to be heard for many years, and CU and WRTL simply chose not to use this vehicle available to their "Little Bo Peeps" --Jim has not a word to say in response, except to attempt to change the subject....

Sent from my iPad

On Aug 11, 2011, at 2:55 PM, "JBoppjr at aol.com" <JBoppjr at aol.com> wrote:

	    What Trevor (always) forgets is that the fatcats who fund his CLC can always spend their own money, both before Citizens United and after. So before Citizens United, Daddy Warbucks could spend his money to influence elections and, after CU, he can spend his money to influence elections. The only change is that, before CU, Soros had to do so in his own name and after he can give to a group who does it. I acknowledge that this is a change, but it has no effect on the fact that either way, he is spending his money to influence elections.

	    But what about Little Bo Peep? Well before CU, she didn't have enough money to spend to make a difference and when she gave some to CU, to pool her resources with others of average means, CU could not spend it to influence elections.  CU was prohibited.  But after CU, now they can.

	    So Trevor is mad about CU -- because now people of average means can now compete with Trevor's wealthy benefactors.  About time, I would say.  Jim Bopp

	    So the difference, before and after CU, the Sugar Daddies can spend their money to influence elections, but only after CU could people of average means by pooling their recourses in CU.

	In a message dated 8/10/2011 3:17:24 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, tpotter at capdale.com writes:

		For many years people of average means pooled their funds and contributed "small" sums (in the greater scheme of things) to political parties and political committees-PACS. Those parties and PACS pooled the funds and amplified the voices of average citizens. Wisconsin Right to Life and Citizens United had that option too, but they served as  stalking horses for other interests, so they instead demanded the courts recognize a  constitutional right to limitless participation in the political process through their treasury funds, and corporate funds they received.

		So, thanks to Mr. Bopp and others, we now have a world in which the big players-the corporations and billionaires-- have the same ability to influence the system that the "citizens of average means" had before-but with far less accountability and disclosure. A victory for the "average citizen"? Seems Alice in Wonderland to me...

		Trevor Potter

		From: law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu [mailto:law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu] On Behalf Of JBoppjr at aol.com
		Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2011 2:45 PM
		To: rhasen at law.uci.edu
		Cc: law-election at uci.edu
		Subject: Re: [EL] Check out Study shows who breaks campaign laws - ThePueblo Chieftai...

		While I don't know what "reformers" whisper in Rick's ear, "reformers" have been quite open and candid that there is a great big list of people they want to shut up -- foreigners, the Wylie Brothers, all corporations, "outside interests," Citizens United, Wisconsin Right to Life, "special interests," etc etc etc. Most, but not all, of these are people of average means or made up of people of average means. They have never said that that bothers them one whit.  Jim Bopp

		In a message dated 8/10/2011 1:26:00 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, rhasen at law.uci.edu writes:

			Jim,

			Do you really believe reformers' goals are "to drive citizens of average means out of our political system?"  That certainly does not match up with my experience in talking to people who are strongly in favor of regulation.  Usually they express to me concerns about large money corrupting the system, concerns about inequality/lack of a level playing field, or concerns about the high costs of campaigns.  I cannot recall a single conversation over many years of speaking with reform-minded individuals who ever--publicly or privately--expressed a desire to drive citizens of average means out of our political system.

			That's not to say that complex laws cannot have this effect.  I believe they can, and that to the extent that campaign finance laws do so, they need to be changed.  But you suggest a motive for such laws which seems so off from reality that I'm not sure if you are serious.

			Rick

			On 8/10/2011 10:19 AM, <mailto:JBoppjr at aol.com> JBoppjr at aol.com wrote: 

			Click here: Study shows who breaks campaign laws - The Pueblo Chieftain: Local <http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/study-shows-who-breaks-campaign-laws/article_9cf187fc-c185-11e0-baff-001cc4c002e0.html?mode=story>  

			 "Our office did a study and looked at who pays campaign finance fines, who doesn't, who violates the law a lot, things like that," said Secretary of State Scott Gessler. "And the bottom line is this: Volunteers and grass-roots groups are far more likely to run afoul of the law because the law is so complex. Large, big-money groups are able to hire attorneys and accountants and pay very, very few fines."

			But this is the purpose of campaign finance laws -- to drive citizens of average means out of our political system. Nice to see it is working. The "reformers" will be very pleased, I am sure.  Jim Bopp

			-- 
			Rick Hasen
			Professor of Law and Political Science
			UC Irvine School of Law
			401 E. Peltason Dr., Suite 1000
			Irvine, CA 92697-8000
			949.824.3072 - office
			949.824.0495 - fax
			<mailto:rhasen at law.uci.edu> rhasen at law.uci.edu
			<http://law.uci.edu/faculty/page1_r_hasen.html> http://law.uci.edu/faculty/page1_r_hasen.html
			<http://electionlawblog.org/> http://electionlawblog.org <http://electionlawblog.org/> 

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