COMMENTARY | The current Republican presidential primary campaign has been hijacked by the Super PACs. Large amounts of money are spent by groups and individuals supporting a particular candidate are now tearing down any individual candidate’s platform while not offering an endorsement.
Super PAC Power Is Growing, While Difficult to Contain
The problems with the Super PAC is that there is little, if any, disclosure about the motives of these organizations. For instance, Winning Our Future has produced an anti-Mitt Romney ad while stating that Newt Gingrich is better than Barack Obama. The anti-Romney ad and the accompanying website, kingofbain.com only suggest that Mitt Romney is anti-capitalism.
Winning Our Future states it can accept any and all contributions from individuals and corporations. Reports state that casino mogul Sheldon Adelson donated $5 million to the Super PAC and has plans to possibly donate $20 million more. Donations such as a possible $25 million from Adelson will dictate the future of Winning Our Future and make a mockery of the campaign finance laws.
Why Should the Public Be Worried About These Super PAC’s
Campaigning for elective office is getting expensive. That is driven by the fracture of the electorate based on media preferences and channels. There is a tremendous amount of segmentation in voters’ abilities to access media and political advertising.
Super PAC’s can provide the funds that may allow misleading and deceptive information that will reach the most important of voters, the undecided voter in a swing state. The only way that these ideas will be challenged is spending from other Super PAC’s who can pool money from wealthy individuals and corporations and do not have to endorse or answer to a political candidate.
Whose Values Are Shared For What Best Interest?
As a voter, I am worried that an Internet video with unsubstantiated claims is produced and that voters will assume all of the statements are presented in a true and accurate fashion.
For instance, Sheldon Adelson, Chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands, is required to release pertinent information about his Las Vegas Sands business dealings involving the publicly-traded corporation, but these executives do not have to share their donations to these Super PAC’s. As an investor and shareholder, do I want to a corporation to spend money in political campaigns instead of reinvesting money to projects that will increase company value? All I care is that the stock price increases.
Super PAC’s Are Not Beneficial To The Public-At-Large
From what I can tell, these Super PAC’s exist to work as shadow organizations for political candidates, who will say and do almost anything to get a candidate elected, even if it is against a future ally’s best interests.