Billionaires give big to new 'super PACS'

[TomCADem]

Source: Associated Press

When you're raising political cash these days, it helps to have a few billionaires in your corner.

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American Crossroads, the super PAC spearheaded by Karl Rove, is vowing a massive attack ad campaign aimed at defeating President Barack Obama next year. The group reported it had raised $3.8 million during the first six months of 2011.

* * *

More than 90 percent of its money this year came from just three billionaire donors: Jerry Perenchio, the former Hollywood talent agent and ex-chairman of the Spanish language television network Univision, whose trust contributed $2 million; Dallas area hotel magnate Robert Rowling, who gave $1 million; and Texas homebuilder Bob Perry, who donated $500,000.

All three have given generously to Republican and conservative causes in the past. Perry, who bankrolled tort reform efforts to limit lawsuits, was American Crossroads' biggest single donor last year, giving the group $7 million.


Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43541131/ns/politics-decision_2012/

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How will Democrats, Labor Unions, Progressives and the Left compete in 2012?

[boppers]

1. If the top 2% hold 80% of the wealth...

Well, uhm....

Shit.

I'm guessing we have to repeat 2008, *and* make numbers count more than dollars.

[No Elephants]

3. ? Obama raised three quarters of a billion in 2008, more than McCain.

And that was not counting "soft" money.

[boppers]

10. McCain's collection was limited by campaign laws, as was Obama's.

That got changed by Citizen's United vs. FEC.

[OKNancy]

2. They have a huge problem though

Their list of possible candidates suck. Any of the ones who could possibly win the "big middle" where most of the votes are won't get the nomination. I suppose Romney comes the closest, but he has a lot of negatives as well.

[Roy Rolling]

4. you get what you pay for

Perhaps they will relize that paying for candidtates who have failing and unpopular ideas is a waste of money and will stop the practice of trying to buy govenment. That being said, I hope it sends them into bankruptcy and unemployment spending their company's money on losing political campaigns. A boycott of Koch brothers products should also be part of the strategy to fight the "money can buy government" strategy. Lists of products are available at numerous websites.

[librechik]

6. hey, those are THEIR ideas you're talking about!

how dare you suggest those ideas are wrong and failing? They will spend every last dime of their mioney and their children's money for generation after generation fighting this fight whether anybody wants it or not.

And they will fight any boycott that happens, or any action any organization or citizens group takes to stop them with their bottomless and generational cash. It's why Fox viewers are misinformed. Those billions aren't spent to tell people the truth or help them have a democracy. Those billions are spent to sell the billionaire's deadly agenda as true patriotism, and to make all their enemies look like traitors. And they will never go broke.

[sulphurdunn]

5. All of that money

is targeted to the "I haven't decided who I'm voting for until after I step into the voting both" swing voter aka least informed voter in America. Combine that vote with the easily misinformed, goosestepping simpleton vote, and you can pull to within vote rigging distance.

[truthisfreedom]

8. You can also annoy the f*** out of potential voters by over-advertising and overwhelming.

I've watched the last couple of election cycle ads spiraling out of control and felt the nausea. There's only so much negative advertising you can do before you start looking like a complete schmuck.

[sulphurdunn]

9. That's a mystery to me.

The polls say the people overwhelmingly dislike negative campaign adds, but the parties keep spending vast sums on them. Maybe the social scientists and shrinks know whats going on. The PR boys and big money contributors should since they buy them.

[Uncle Joe]

7. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, TomCADem.

[John Paul Jones]

11. Well, I suppose it's a good thing that there are only 413 of them.