SuperPAC Video-Watching Assignment!!
I really wish we could watch these together because it's always funnier when we're together, but there isn't enough time. You are required to watch these in order. It will take you about an hour. "Boo hoo, we have to watch Videos for 60 minutes." Cry me a river.
This sequence (which I curated on your behalf, TOTY FTW!), explains the entire process and the loopholes and the best way to hide money. And Mr. Colbert will win an actual Peabody Award for his troubles. (Look it up--the most prestigious broadcast award on the planet).
Watch this and be ready to discuss it all Wednesday. Watch it twice if necessary. You'll laugh a lot. This is perhaps the greatest piece of persuasive performance art of a political nature ever mounted. Colbert showed how easy it is for money to flow into the political process by actually causing money to flow into the political process. He didn't just report or comment on how PACs work, he actually made a PAC.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN WATCHING, YOU SHOULD READ THE SECTION CALLED "REGULATIONS ON INDEPENDENT POLITICAL EXPENDITURES" STARTING ON PAGE 304 OF THE TEXTBOOK.
Take Notes On What You Watch!
Things to know before watching for better understanding. Put this in your notes!
--The Peabody Awards are given out by the University of Georgia. Started in 1940. Given out to approximately 30 programs out of 1000 who submit. If you only watched the shows listed at their website, you would have seen all the best ones. These are way better than Emmys.
--Newt Gingrich, Republican from Georgia. Former Speaker Of The House when Clinton was President. He made it to May before dropping out.
--Michelle Bachmann, Republican from Minnesota. Tea Party founder. Batshit crazy. Got 6th place in the Iowa Caucus in 2012 and dropped out.
--Karl Rove. Republican. Strategist. Worked closely with Bush (shrub) on policy. An absolute political (evil) genius.
--Stephen Colbert is playing a character on the Colbert Report. He's playing an "almost Bill O'Reilly". A right-wing, pompous, more-patriotic-than-you political pundit. His show on late night CBS now is just him being himself, but on The Colbert Report, he was in character the whole time. (Though some dim-witted conservatives didn't realize this for years.)
--Jon Stewart was the executive producer of The Colbert Report and therefore, Stephen's boss. Stephen started on The Daily Show, and then spun off The Colbert Report.
--The Daily Show and The Colbert Report are owned by Comedy Central. Comedy Central (and MTV and Spike and BET) is owned by Viacom. Viacom is run by billionaire Sumner Redstone. It is the 6th largest broadcast conglomerate on the planet.
Remember, a PAC or SuperPAC is a Political Action Committee. It mostly means a collection of money, usually from a special interest group. Using maneuvering and not saying some exact words like "vote for" or "vote against", these organizations can try to persuade the public about who to vote for or against. Also, they can be tax-exempt. Also, as we shall learn, they can be completely anonymous.
Americans For A Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow. (aka Colbert SuperPAC).
Remember what an "Invisible Primary" is. In January of 2011, we are 23 months away from Election Day, but already probable candidates have jockeyed for position. They all must publicly not commit, while privately trying to raise money and endorsements. Obama will run for re-election unopposed by Democrats, but Republicans will line up to run against him.
Sometime in early 2011, Tim Pawlenty put out an advertisement that looked like a campaign ad, but only mentioned a book he had just written. We watched it in class on Friday. Go ahead, watch it again.
That file is here.
On March 10, 2011, Stephen Colbert announced the formation of his own PAC at the end of an ad for former 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate Tim Pawlenty. It said "paid for by..." and no one knew if it was a joke or not. Maybe Colbert didn't even know if it was a joke or not. (Your ad-blocking software may cause trouble--I just got a bunch of Arby's ads.)
http://www.cc.com/video-clips/hagj8b/the-colbert-report-colbert-pac-ad
(6:17)
Then on March 30, 2011, Colbert laments his lack of power in setting the political agenda--but how will he become a Washington Power Player?
http://www.cc.com/video-clips/8stgre/the-colbert-report-colbert-pac
(3:30)
He'll obviously need to form his own Political Action Committee. But he'll need a lawyer, so he hires former Federal Election Commission Chairman Trevor Potter and asks him to help fill out the paperwork to form his own PAC. He asks all the questions that you're thinking and Potter gave him all the answers he wanted. This video is great if you need clarification on exactly what a PAC can do.
http://www.cc.com/video-clips/dtl1ew/the-colbert-report-colbert-pac---trevor-potter
(4:38)
April 14, 2011. In two short weeks, more than 65,000 people have signed up in support. However, Colbert's bosses at Viacom sent him a cease and desist letter forbidding him from forming a PAC. He says goodbye to his dream....
http://www.cc.com/video-clips/pfzzi1/the-colbert-report-viacom-ruins-stephen-s-pac-dream
(3:22)
But Potter came back on the show to explain that corporations don't like to use PACs. He then tells him that a SuperPAC is less restrictive than a regular PAC. Potter does a good job of explaining the difference.
http://www.cc.com/video-clips/yzb7q2/the-colbert-report-colbert-super-pac---trevor-potter
(4:51)
May 11, 2011. Why can't Stephen talk about his SuperPAC when other television pundits can talk about theirs?
http://www.cc.com/video-clips/1ssaiz/the-colbert-report-corp-constituency
(4:20)
May 12, 2011. Colbert needs your support!
http://www.cc.com/video-clips/sw8fy6/the-colbert-report-sign-off---stephen-s-super-pac-needs-support
(0:47)
On Friday May 13, 2011, Colbert filed his paperwork with the FEC for a SuperPAC.
http://www.cc.com/video-clips/epwg6t/the-colbert-report-stephen-files-super-pac-request
(7:24)
August 11, 2011. The SuperPAC's first political advertisement is called "Corn Porn".
(5:14)
NOTE: THIS ONE HAS BEEN CHANGED SINCE 2016. PERHAPS GEORGE LUCAS MADE THEM TAKE IT DOWN. NOW, IT'S THE SAME AD AS WE SAW IN THE PREVIOUS CLIP.
August 11, 2011. A second political advertisement. "Episode IV: A New Hope".
http://www.cc.com/video-clips/x1aodj/the-colbert-report-super-pac-ad---episode-iv--a-new-hope
(0:59)
On September 29, 2011, Colbert wondered how Karl Rove's AMERICAN CROSSROADS SuperPAC was doing with their fundraising:
http://www.cc.com/video-clips/ivvzeu/the-colbert-report-colbert-super-pac---ham-rove-s-secrets
(5:06)
When Colbert asked Potter why corporations weren't donating to his SuperPAC like they were to Rove's, Potter suggests starting a 501(c)(4) group. Because corporations love anonymity. He starts a 501(c)(4) group called "Colbert Super PAC SHH Institute"
(4:43)
September 29, 2011. Colbert's SuperPAC needs a billionaire to help fund it.
http://www.cc.com/video-clips/ujyuht/the-colbert-report-colbert-super-pac-shh----the-donating-game
(5:30)
10/7/11. During the NBA lockout, the SuperPAC airs this commercial. "Foul Balls"
http://www.cc.com/video-clips/0qyxlz/the-colbert-report-colbert-super-pac-ad---foul-balls
(1:00)
November 7, 2011. Is it okay to produce issue ads using a candidate without that candidate's permission?
(5:01)
January 12, 2012. What if Colbert decides to run for President himself? Could he still be in charge of his SuperPAC?
http://www.cc.com/video-clips/hrwtsb/the-colbert-report-colbert-super-pac---coordination-problem
(3:45)
January 12, 2012. Trevor Potter (all Hail!) might just have a solution.
(7:36)
January 16, 2012. Jon Stewart will have to decide on his own how to spend the SuperPAC money.
(6:41)
We will pick up from here Wednesday. Be caught up on this viewing, please. Stay in school, don't do drugs.