Colbert Super PAC
Encyclopedia
Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow (also known as Colbert Super PAC) is a United States political action committee
(PAC) established by Stephen Colbert
, who portrays
a conservative political pundit on the television series The Colbert Report. As a so-called "super PAC," the organization can raise unlimited sums from corporations, unions and other groups, as well as wealthy individuals. Speaking in character, Colbert said the money will be raised not only for political ads, but also “normal administrative expenses, including but not limited to, luxury hotel stays, private jet travel, and PAC mementos from Saks Fifth Avenue
and Neiman Marcus
.”
(FEC) asking for a media exemption for coverage of his then-prospective super PAC on The Colbert Report.
In June 2011, during a public meeting, the FEC voted 5-1 to grant The Colbert Report a limited media exemption. Following the hearing, Colbert formally filed paperwork for the creation of his super PAC with the FEC secretary.
Colbert Super PAC's treasurer, Salvatore Purpura, resigned on August 11, 2011 to work as campaign treasurer for Rick Perry. Shauna Polk took over treasurer duties for Colbert's PAC.
On September 29, Colbert consulted his lawyer and they set up his own 501(c)(4) organization, similar to American Crossroads
. Colbert will serve as president, secretary, and treasurer of his new organization and its stated purpose will be to educate the public. However, the organization may legally donate to his Super PAC, lobby for legislation, and participate in political campaigns and elections, as long as campaigning is not the organization's primary purpose. Colbert's organization may legally accept unlimited funds which may be donated by anonymous donors. Since the Federal Election Commission
doesn't require full disclosure, Colbert likens his 501 (c)(4) to a "Campaign finance glory hole": "You stick your money in the hole, the other person accepts your donation, and because it's happening anonymously, no one feels dirty!" Colbert is currently looking for a sugar daddy.
The official name of the Delaware Corporation which is Colbert's 501(c)(4) was initially called "Anonymous Shell Corporation", however according to the Secretary of State's Office the official name was changed to "Colbert Super PAC SHH Institute" on the same day it was filed. According to experts, Colbert's actions are perfectly legal and shine a light on how the financing of elections has dramatically changed since the 2010 Supreme Court ruling that corporations have free-speech rights to spend unlimited amounts of money in political advertising to elect or defeat candidates for office.
, telling Iowans to write-in
"Rick Parry" instead of Rick Perry
at the Ames Straw Poll
. The following day the second ad, "Behind the Green Corn", was run. Two Iowa networks ran the ads, however WOI-TV
told Colbert that they would not run the ads because they considered them confusing to viewers.
In October 2011, the Super PAC released its third ad, titled "Foul Balls," concerning the 2011 NBA lockout
. It also released a fourth ad, also related to the NBA lockout, titled "Ball Gags."
Political action committee
In the United States, a political action committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group, regardless of size, organized to elect political candidates or to advance the outcome of a political issue or legislation. Legally, what constitutes a "PAC" for purposes of regulation is a...
(PAC) established by Stephen Colbert
Stephen Colbert
Stephen Tyrone Colbert is an American political satirist, writer, comedian, television host, and actor. He is the host of Comedy Central's The Colbert Report, a satirical news show in which Colbert portrays a caricatured version of conservative political pundits.Colbert originally studied to be an...
, who portrays
Stephen Colbert (character)
The Reverend / Sir / Dr. / Stephen T. Colbert, D.F.A., brain-child of Google, is the persona of political satirist Stephen Colbert, as portrayed on Comedy Central's The Colbert Report. Described as a "well-intentioned, poorly informed high-status idiot", the character is a self-obsessed right-wing...
a conservative political pundit on the television series The Colbert Report. As a so-called "super PAC," the organization can raise unlimited sums from corporations, unions and other groups, as well as wealthy individuals. Speaking in character, Colbert said the money will be raised not only for political ads, but also “normal administrative expenses, including but not limited to, luxury hotel stays, private jet travel, and PAC mementos from Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue is a luxury American specialty store owned and operated by Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises , a subsidiary of Saks Incorporated. It competes in the high-end specialty store market in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, i.e. 'the 3 B's' Bergdorf, Barneys, Bloomingdale's and Lord & Taylor...
and Neiman Marcus
Neiman Marcus
Neiman Marcus, formerly Neiman-Marcus, is a luxury specialty retail department store operated by the Neiman Marcus Group in the United States. The company is headquartered in the One Marcus Square building in Downtown Dallas, Texas, and competes with other department stores such as Saks Fifth...
.”
Founding
In May 2011, Colbert filed a request with the Federal Election CommissionFederal Election Commission
The Federal Election Commission is an independent regulatory agency that was founded in 1975 by the United States Congress to regulate the campaign finance legislation in the United States. It was created in a provision of the 1975 amendment to the Federal Election Campaign Act...
(FEC) asking for a media exemption for coverage of his then-prospective super PAC on The Colbert Report.
In June 2011, during a public meeting, the FEC voted 5-1 to grant The Colbert Report a limited media exemption. Following the hearing, Colbert formally filed paperwork for the creation of his super PAC with the FEC secretary.
Colbert Super PAC's treasurer, Salvatore Purpura, resigned on August 11, 2011 to work as campaign treasurer for Rick Perry. Shauna Polk took over treasurer duties for Colbert's PAC.
On September 29, Colbert consulted his lawyer and they set up his own 501(c)(4) organization, similar to American Crossroads
American Crossroads
American Crossroads is a 527 organization that has raised and spent tens of millions of dollars to defend and elect Republican candidates to federal office, and was very active in the 2010 U.S. midterm elections. Its president is Steven J. Law, a former United States Deputy Secretary of Labor for...
. Colbert will serve as president, secretary, and treasurer of his new organization and its stated purpose will be to educate the public. However, the organization may legally donate to his Super PAC, lobby for legislation, and participate in political campaigns and elections, as long as campaigning is not the organization's primary purpose. Colbert's organization may legally accept unlimited funds which may be donated by anonymous donors. Since the Federal Election Commission
Federal Election Commission
The Federal Election Commission is an independent regulatory agency that was founded in 1975 by the United States Congress to regulate the campaign finance legislation in the United States. It was created in a provision of the 1975 amendment to the Federal Election Campaign Act...
doesn't require full disclosure, Colbert likens his 501 (c)(4) to a "Campaign finance glory hole": "You stick your money in the hole, the other person accepts your donation, and because it's happening anonymously, no one feels dirty!" Colbert is currently looking for a sugar daddy.
The official name of the Delaware Corporation which is Colbert's 501(c)(4) was initially called "Anonymous Shell Corporation", however according to the Secretary of State's Office the official name was changed to "Colbert Super PAC SHH Institute" on the same day it was filed. According to experts, Colbert's actions are perfectly legal and shine a light on how the financing of elections has dramatically changed since the 2010 Supreme Court ruling that corporations have free-speech rights to spend unlimited amounts of money in political advertising to elect or defeat candidates for office.
Ad campaigns
On August 10, the first ad by the Super PAC, titled "Episode IV: A New Hope", ran in IowaIowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, telling Iowans to write-in
Write-in candidate
A write-in candidate is a candidate in an election whose name does not appear on the ballot, but for whom voters may vote nonetheless by writing in the person's name. Some states and local jurisdictions allow a voter to affix a sticker with a write-in candidate's name on it to the ballot in lieu...
"Rick Parry" instead of Rick Perry
Rick Perry
James Richard "Rick" Perry is the 47th and current Governor of Texas. A Republican, Perry was elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas in 1998 and assumed the governorship in December 2000 when then-governor George W. Bush resigned to become President of the United States. Perry was elected to full...
at the Ames Straw Poll
Ames Straw Poll
The Ames Straw Poll is a presidential straw poll taken by Iowa Republicans. It occurs in Ames, Iowa on the campus of Iowa State University, on a Saturday in August of years in an election cycle in which the Republican presidential nomination seems to be undecided...
. The following day the second ad, "Behind the Green Corn", was run. Two Iowa networks ran the ads, however WOI-TV
WOI-TV
WOI-DT, channel 5, is the ABC-affiliated television station licensed to Ames, and serving the Des Moines, Iowa market. Its studios are in West Des Moines...
told Colbert that they would not run the ads because they considered them confusing to viewers.
In October 2011, the Super PAC released its third ad, titled "Foul Balls," concerning the 2011 NBA lockout
2011 NBA lockout
The 2011 NBA lockout is the fourth lockout in the history of the National Basketball Association . The owners began the work stoppage at 12:01 am EDT on July 1, 2011. The main issues dividing the owners and the players are revenue sharing and the structure of the salary cap...
. It also released a fourth ad, also related to the NBA lockout, titled "Ball Gags."
External links
- www.colbertsuperpac.com,Colbert Super Pac official website