The Obama Super PAC
President Obama's political team is trying to raise $50 million to transform his re-election campaign into a new national lobbying group: Organizing for Action. What this essentially means is that Obama is trying to create his own de facto super PAC, with donors being able to buy their way into government meetings and purchase a position on the national advisory board. This is despite the fact that Obama has repeatedly decried the link between corporate sponsorship and legislators. In his State of the Union address, just weeks ago, he criticized the Supreme Court's ruling on Citizen's United and how it contributes to the creation of non-transparent super PACs. Now, instead of working towards real, sustained campaign funding reform, he decides to create his own super PAC, allowing corporations to become the government's hearing aids.
Of course, the reason (or excuse, depending on how you see it) for this move is that deep-pocketed conservative lobbies, such as the NRA, have been able to influence legislators (both Democrats and Republicans; see the Rolling Stones article about the NRA, which is featured on this blog) to block reform legislation. Obama appears to have given up on taking the high road, and will instead slug it out with these Greed Hogs on their own turf, dollar for dollar. Undoubtedly, the Obama administration believes that the ends will justify the means. I just hope he has the courage to stand against corporate demand when the ones demanding are the ones who have his back. Money has always been linked to government, but from now on, it will become the deciding factor.
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