Stephen Colbert's super PAC gets approval
USA Today reports: Stephen Colbert's bid to launch a super PAC is no laughing matter, especially now that the comedian has won approval to raise unlimited campaign cash to influence the 2012 elections.
The Federal Election Commission today voted 5-1 to approve Colbert's political action committee, giving him a shot at doing what political types such as Bush strategist Karl Rove and former Obama aide Bill Burton are already doing to finance TV ads ahead of next year's elections.
The ruling, however, narrowly interprets what the comedian and Viacom Inc., the parent company of Comedy Central, can do with the Colbert's super PAC.
Colbert sought a so-called media exemption that would allow him to use airtime, staff and other resources from The Colbert Report on campaign activities such as TV ads without having to disclose any of those expenses as in-kind contributions.
In an advisory opinion adopted by the commission today, the FEC said "some of Viacom's activities would fall within the press exemption, others would not."
Specifically, any ad produced for and shown on Colbert's program would fall within the exemption and the costs incurred don't have to be reported. But those Viacom-produced ads can't be shown on other shows or networks, unless their costs are disclosed.
The FEC also said that the parent company's administration and operation of the Colbert PAC would have to be reported "because these activities are not legitimate press functions."
While Colbert's super PAC started out as a parody of GOP presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty, it raised a real concern from watchdogs such as Democracy 21 and the Campaign Legal Center.
At issue is how corporations use their money for politics, stemming from a Supreme Court ruling last year that opened the floodgates to unlimited campaign funding by corporations, unions and wealthy individuals.
Democracy 21 and Campaign Legal Center argued Colbert's super PAC could lead to a "radical evisceration" of campaign finance rules and the blurring of lines between politics and media.
By the way, the slogan for Colbert's super PAC: "Making a better tomorrow, tomorrow." He tweeted that his appearance before the commission today would reveal that PAC stands for "Plastic And/Or Cash."
The Federal Election Commission today voted 5-1 to approve Colbert's political action committee, giving him a shot at doing what political types such as Bush strategist Karl Rove and former Obama aide Bill Burton are already doing to finance TV ads ahead of next year's elections.The ruling, however, narrowly interprets what the comedian and Viacom Inc., the parent company of Comedy Central, can do with the Colbert's super PAC.
Colbert sought a so-called media exemption that would allow him to use airtime, staff and other resources from The Colbert Report on campaign activities such as TV ads without having to disclose any of those expenses as in-kind contributions.
In an advisory opinion adopted by the commission today, the FEC said "some of Viacom's activities would fall within the press exemption, others would not."
Specifically, any ad produced for and shown on Colbert's program would fall within the exemption and the costs incurred don't have to be reported. But those Viacom-produced ads can't be shown on other shows or networks, unless their costs are disclosed.
The FEC also said that the parent company's administration and operation of the Colbert PAC would have to be reported "because these activities are not legitimate press functions."
While Colbert's super PAC started out as a parody of GOP presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty, it raised a real concern from watchdogs such as Democracy 21 and the Campaign Legal Center.
At issue is how corporations use their money for politics, stemming from a Supreme Court ruling last year that opened the floodgates to unlimited campaign funding by corporations, unions and wealthy individuals.
Democracy 21 and Campaign Legal Center argued Colbert's super PAC could lead to a "radical evisceration" of campaign finance rules and the blurring of lines between politics and media.
By the way, the slogan for Colbert's super PAC: "Making a better tomorrow, tomorrow." He tweeted that his appearance before the commission today would reveal that PAC stands for "Plastic And/Or Cash."
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