[EL] Push Polling

[David Adamany]

Although I tend to see issues differently than Brad Smith, I attentively read his posts because he almost always presents a point of view quite different from mine and one that I want my students to know about.  I'm not sure his proposed push poll is up to his usual standards, and I offer a rare proposal for revision of one of Brad's posts, which I have reprinted below:


I'm thinking of doing my own push poll on money in politics. It will go something like this:

- What would you think of the FEC if I told you it "regularly deadlocks" on many of the most important issues it faces.  [in fact, even at current record levels, it deadlocks relatively infrequently, and most "deadlocks" actually decide the issue involved)].

- Would you be more inclined to support new restrictions on campaign finance and new disclosure rules if I told you that the political system was being influenced by $350,000,000 of [swamped with] dark money? (In fact, "dark money" - no push nomenclature there - amounts to less than 5% of 2012 spending in federal races).

- What would you think if I told you that the FEC can't function because all of the commissioners' terms have expired and the commission regularly divides with three Democratic appointees voting on one side of issues and three Republican appointees voting on the other side.? (in fact, commissioners can remain and retain full powers after the expiration of their terms).

- Would you be more likely to support SEC mandating disclosure of corporate trade association dues if I told you that a minority of shareholders strongly objected to using their share of corporate funds to support candidates they oppose or even detest?  [shareholders wanted such information]? (in fact, in 12 shareholder votes this proxy season, disclosure is 0-12, with an average vote less than 20%.).

- Do you support sham political advocacy?

- Would you be more or less inclined to support more disclosure laws if I told you that the use of "shell" corporations who spend large amounts of money to influence elections and do not disclose the money they receive from wealthy individuals and from corporations who contribute to those  corporations to conceal their identities?  [to hide the sources of political funding was now a common tactic? (in fact, there is no evidence it is a common tactic)].


With all due respect.





David Adamany
Laura Carnell Professor of Law
and Political Science, and
Chancellor
1810 Liacouras Walk, Ste 330
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA 19122
(215) 204-9278

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