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

Tue Nov 8 15:48:47 PST 2011

I feel ethically obligated to preface this message with the disclosure (and
confession) that I am not an authority on this to any extent (certainly
based on credentials).

I have a fairly strong disagreement with Brad and Rick, and it
seems plausible that this may not be because of difference in expertise or
difference of opinion but that they have not fully considered the unique
facts here.

These are the facts I find relevant, that make me think the ad should
probably be allowed:

>Colbert has clearly, for some time, been on an ongoing mission to educate
the public about the ways super pacs can be used to circumvent, and even
render meaningless, the intentions of popular long-lasting campaign finance
laws. This ad unequivocally seems genuinely consistent with that issue.

>The ad doesn't seem to promote Buddy Roemer's résumé or intentions, should
he become president, in any way. Of course, exposure can be very valuable
to a candidate (and I suppose allowing super pacs to provide something so
potentially valuable to candidates risks quid quo pro), but the focus of
the ad is clearly an issue and the ad doesn't go out of its way to offer
substantive facts about Buddy Roemer.

[An insanely-loud jackhammer outside my window has caused me to forget my
3rd reason/mitigating fact]

In my mind (which again is admittedly not an expert here), the main reason
to prohibit the ad would be if it just seemed necessary - perhaps to
prevent excessive arbitrary license in decisions that are highly prone to
bias - to draw a hard line  against candidates appearing in ads funded by
super pacs, notwithstanding any unique facts in the case.

*After writing all of the above, I'm starting to feel somewhat inclined to
change my position, and while that might normally cause me to abort the
email, I'm thinking that while I may have lost conviction in my original
feeling, the above could serve by playing devil's advocate. Here are my
(newer) thoughts that pull me the other way:*
*
*
1. I wonder if one of the points a commissioner made at Colbert's FEC
hearing is relevant here - that there's no real regulation on media satire
(specifically citing Saturday Night Live political skits), but that this is
different (if I understood correctly) because, instead of just doing it as
a satirist, Colbert was deliberately seeking an advisory opinion affecting,
generally, what super pacs may do, and how media exemptions may be used,
without the requisite of satire. In fact, the very point of having a
candidate in this ad seems to be satire. And perhaps, absent the goal of
satire, there would be no justification to have a candidate in the ad, and
therefore arguably no compelling reason to allow Colbert to run this ad
through a super pac.

2. "In general, are there bona fide needs to have candidates in issue ads
to not cut short the efficacy of issue advocates, or are such hypothetical
needs fictitious and is this just something that's too likely to be in bad
faith and too difficult to arbitrate objectively?" *On the other hand,* you
could say that free speech is so important, that that shouldn't matter.
Almost like "it's better to let 1000 guilty people go free than have 1
innocent person go to prison", you could argue it's better to let 1,000 bad
actors exploit a loophole, than to restrict 1 genuine actor's fundamental
right to issue advocacy (if jail time were on the table for a violation,
then I suppose it's even the same saying).

[I'm surrendering to the jack-hammer. I'm sure I have more thoughts, but
I'll end this email here, and possibly add them later.]

Thomas Cares
Tom at TomCares.com

2011/11/8 Rick Hasen <rhasen at law.uci.edu>

>  It is not every day that Brad Smith and I would vote the same way on an
> issue before the FEC.
>
> On 11/8/2011 11:22 AM, Smith, Brad wrote:
>
>  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*
>
> *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<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 tothis
> *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>****
>
> [image: 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>
> .****
>
> [image: 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>.****
>
> [image: 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>
> .****
>
> [image: 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>andII<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!****
>
>  ****
>
> [image: 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>
> .****
>
> [image: 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).
> ****
>
> [image: 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.****
>
> [image: 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*.****
>
> [image: 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>
> ****
>
> [image: 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>
> .****
>
> [image: 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>
> .****
>
> [image: 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
> http://law.uci.edu/faculty/page1_r_hasen.html
> http://electionlawblog.org****
>
>
> --
> 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
> http://law.uci.edu/faculty/page1_r_hasen.html
> http://electionlawblog.org
>
> _______________________________________________
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