Campaign Finance Reform: The Political Shell GameFor decades, campaign finance reform has been an on-going topic of discussion. In particular, the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA) was heralded as a major breakthrough in controlling the flow of money into campaigns. Almost immediately, political players found other ways to financially manipulate the new laws. Campaign Finance Reform: The Political Shell Game provides an in-depth look at the history of political campaign finance reform with special emphasis on legislative, FEC, and federal court actions from the 1970s to present. In particular, the authors examine the ways that campaigns and independent groups have sought to make end-runs around existing campaign finance rules. Oftentimes the loopholes they find make a significant impact on an election, sparking the next round of campaign finance reform. New rules are then enacted, and new loopholes are found. Like a big political shell game, the amount of money in politics never actually decreases, but instead gets moved around from one organization to another. |
Contents
| 1 | |
Political Parties and the Finance Law | 13 |
NCPAC and the Development of ThirdParty Expenditures | 29 |
A History of 527 Organizations | 45 |
Swift Boat Veterans vs MoveOnorg | 69 |
Analysis of 527 Ads in 2004 Election | 77 |
Silence Isnt Golden Responding to 527 Ads | 89 |
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2004 presidential 2004 presidential election 527 organizations activities American amount attack Barack Obama BCRA benefit bill Bipartisan Campaign Reform broadcast Buckley bundlers Bush Campaign Finance Law Campaign Finance Reform Campaign Reform Act candidate’s Center challenge Congress Congressional contribution limits corporations Corrado CPAC CPAC’s Democratic donations donors effect elec federal campaign Federal Election Commission finance first flowing fundraising incumbent independent expenditures independent groups individuals influence issue ads John Kerry John McCain Journal Kerry campaign Kerry’s Larry Powell legislation McCain McCain-Feingold messages million Money and Politics MoveOn MoveOn.org national parties NCPAC negative ads Negative Advertising negative campaign Obama office official opponent percent political campaigns political parties President presidential campaign presidential election raised regulations Republican response ruling Section 527 Senate soft money specific spending limits spent strategy Supreme Court Swift Boat Veterans Swift Boat Vets television tion Valeo Veterans for Truth vote York young John Kerry