[EL] ELB News and Commentary 11/8/11

Tue Nov 8 11:22:38 PST 2011

If I were still an FEC Commissioner, based on what I know, I would find that the Colbert/Roemer ad was a coordinated communication containing express advocacy and thus could not be paid for by Colbert’s PAC.

Bradley A. Smith
Josiah H. Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault
  Designated Professor of Law
Capital University Law School
303 East Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 236-6317
bsmith at law.capital.edu<mailto:bsmith at law.capital.edu>
http://www.law.capital.edu/faculty/bios/bsmith.asp

From: law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu [mailto:law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu] On Behalf Of Rick Hasen
Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2011 11:22 AM
To: law-election at uci.edu
Subject: [EL] ELB News and Commentary 11/8/11

Must-Watch Colbert Segments on Super PACs and Coordination with Candidates<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25160>
Posted on November 8, 2011 9:10 am<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25160> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

It is not easy to make the complex world of campaign finance comprehensible, much less entertaining. One unanswered question in the current campaign finance world is whether Super PACs may feature candidates in their ads if they do so far enough out before the election.  For background on the issue, see this post<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=24164> linking to this NYT report<http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/13/us/politics/ben-nelsons-campaign-ads-may-break-new-ground.html?hp> on Ben Nelson and this <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=24143> WaPo report<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=24143> on American Crossroads seeking to emulate and expand on the Nelson strategy.  The American Crossroads request for an advisory opinion with the FEC is here<http://saos.nictusa.com/aodocs/1188794.pdf>.

Stephen Colbert took this issue on last night, with some help from Trevor Potter, and it was brilliant performance art.  Not only did Colbert feature a segment explaining<http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/401673/november-07-2011/colbert-super-pac---issue-ads> the issue.  He followed it up with a segment with <http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/401674/november-07-2011/colbert-super-pac---issue-ads---trevor-potter> Trevor Potter explaining that Colbert’s Super PAC is submitting comments on the American Crossroads AO request, and an actual ad<http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/401632/november-07-2011/colbert-super-pac-ad---undaunted-non-coordination> coordinated with presidential candidate Buddy Roemer (who not coincidentally has made campaign finance reform his signature issue).

I criticized Colbert for playing with fire <http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/08/11/pm-first-moves-from-colbert-super-pac/> with the “Rick Parry” issue, and maybe this is playing with fire too.  But he’s done more to educate the general public about the troublesome nature of super PACs than anyone else in the media or academia.

Below the fold I’ve reprinted the Colbert comment on the American Crossroads AO.

Continue reading →<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25160#more-25160>
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D25160&title=Must-Watch%20Colbert%20Segments%20on%20Super%20PACs%20and%20Coordination%20with%20Candidates&description=>
Posted in campaign finance<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>, election law "humor"<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=52> | Comments Off
“Fairfax County braces for election confusion after voter database glitches”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25157>
Posted on November 8, 2011 8:53 am<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25157> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

WaPo reports<http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/fairfax-county-braces-for-election-confusion-after-voter-database-glitches/2011/11/07/gIQAOCVlwM_story.html>.
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D25157&title=%E2%80%9CFairfax%20County%20braces%20for%20election%20confusion%20after%20voter%20database%20glitches%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in election administration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18> | Comments Off
“Lawmakers Struggling Through Pennsylvania Redraw”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25154>
Posted on November 8, 2011 8:49 am<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25154> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Roll Call reports<http://roll.cl/uWHKin>.
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D25154&title=%E2%80%9CLawmakers%20Struggling%20Through%20Pennsylvania%20Redraw%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in redistricting<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=6> | Comments Off
” Who can vote? Maine and Mississippi consider opposite directions”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25151>
Posted on November 8, 2011 8:46 am<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25151> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

The Christian Science Monitor reports<http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/2011/1108/Who-can-vote-Maine-and-Mississippi-consider-opposite-directions>.  TPM offers Maine GOP Ad: The Gays Are Trying To Impose Same Day Voter Registration<http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/11/maine_gop_ad_the_gays_are_trying_to_impose_same_day_voter_registration.php>.
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D25151&title=%E2%80%9D%20Who%20can%20vote%3F%20Maine%20and%20Mississippi%20consider%20opposite%20directions%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in election administration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60> | Comments Off
Colbert on OWS<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25148>
Posted on November 7, 2011 8:40 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25148> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Don’t miss Parts I<http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/401092/october-31-2011/colbert-super-pac---occupy-wall-street-co-optportunity---stephen-on-location> and II<http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/401261/november-01-2011/colbert-super-pac---stephen-colbert-occupies-occupy-wall-street-pt--2> (especially Part II discussing Citizens United and whether corporations are people).  Hilarious!

[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D25148&title=Colbert%20on%20OWS&description=>
Posted in election law "humor"<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=52> | Comments Off
“Mitt Romney Winning Fundraising Contest For Bush, McCain Bundlers”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25145>
Posted on November 7, 2011 4:15 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25145> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

HuffPo reports<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/07/mitt-romney-fundraising-bush-mccain-bundlers_n_1080245.html?ref=politics>.
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D25145&title=%E2%80%9CMitt%20Romney%20Winning%20Fundraising%20Contest%20For%20Bush%2C%20McCain%20Bundlers%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in campaign finance<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> | Comments Off
“iPad Voting Rolls Out For Some Oregonians”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25142>
Posted on November 7, 2011 4:09 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25142> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Helping voters with disabilities<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/07/ipad-voting-oregon_n_1080691.html?ref=technology> (not Internet voting).
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D25142&title=%E2%80%9CiPad%20Voting%20Rolls%20Out%20For%20Some%20Oregonians%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in election administration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18> | Comments Off
“Voter Fraud: Does It Happen?”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25139>
Posted on November 7, 2011 3:42 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25139> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Andrew Rosenthal blogs <http://loyalopposition.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/07/voter-fraud-does-it-happen/?src=tp> at the NYT oped page’s “Loyal Opposition” blog.
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D25139&title=%E2%80%9CVoter%20Fraud%3A%20Does%20It%20Happen%3F%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in election administration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>, voter id<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=9> | Comments Off
Raskin and Richie on Gerrymandering in Maryland and Beyond<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25136>
Posted on November 7, 2011 2:55 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25136> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Here<http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bs-ed-voting-districts-20111107,0,3418353.story>, in the Baltimore Sun.
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D25136&title=Raskin%20and%20Richie%20on%20Gerrymandering%20in%20Maryland%20and%20Beyond&description=>
Posted in redistricting<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=6> | Comments Off
“As Political Groups Push Envelope, FEC Gridlock Gives ‘De Facto Green Light’”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25134>
Posted on November 7, 2011 2:54 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25134> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

ProPublica reports<http://www.propublica.org/article/as-political-donors-push-envelope-fec-gridlock-gives-de-facto-green-light>. As I’ve written in @Slate, the FEC is as good as dead.<http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2011/01/the_fec_is_as_good_as_dead.html>
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D25134&title=%E2%80%9CAs%20Political%20Groups%20Push%20Envelope%2C%20FEC%20Gridlock%20Gives%20%E2%80%98De%20Facto%20Green%20Light%E2%80%99%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in Uncategorized<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=1> | Comments Off
Watch the Jack Abramoff Interview on “60 Minutes”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25131>
Posted on November 7, 2011 12:40 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25131> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Here<http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7387331n&tag=contentMain;cbsCarousel>.
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D25131&title=Watch%20the%20Jack%20Abramoff%20Interview%20on%20%E2%80%9C60%20Minutes%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in chicanery<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=12>, legislation and legislatures<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=27>, lobbying<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=28> | Comments Off
26 Recalls on Ballot Tomorrow<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25128>
Posted on November 7, 2011 10:25 am<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25128> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Wow<http://recallelections.blogspot.com/2011/11/26-recalls-on-tuesday-recall-elections.html>.
[Share]<http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D25128&title=26%20Recalls%20on%20Ballot%20Tomorrow&description=>
Posted in recall elections<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=11> | Comments Off
--
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
rhasen at law.uci.edu<mailto:rhasen at law.uci.edu>
http://law.uci.edu/faculty/page1_r_hasen.html
http://electionlawblog.org
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://webshare.law.ucla.edu/Listservs/law-election/attachments/20111108/31ae66cf/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.png
Type: image/png
Size: 1520 bytes
Desc: image001.png
URL: <http://webshare.law.ucla.edu/Listservs/law-election/attachments/20111108/31ae66cf/attachment.png>