Forget Grassroots: Shadowy Interest Groups Are Funding This Year’s Elections

by Glynnis MacNicol | 3:09 pm, October 4th, 2010

» 20 comments

In an election season dominated by stories about the so-called grassroots Tea Party movement and its candidates it is perhaps somewhat surprising to hear that the groups wielding the most influence on the upcoming midterms are shadowy interest groups. Okay, maybe it’s not that surprising, but what is surprising is the amount of money these groups are funneling into various elections. Particularly conservative groups. And equally troublesome is that it is being done anonymously From WaPo.

The $80 million spent so far by groups outside the Democratic and Republican parties dwarfs the $16 million spent at this point for the 2006 midterms. In that election, the vast majority of money – more than 90 percent – was disclosed along with donors’ identities. This year, that figure has fallen to less than half of the total, according to data analyzed by The Washington Post. The trends amount to a spending frenzy conducted largely in the shadows. The bulk of the money is being spent by conservatives, who have swamped their Democratic-aligned competition by 7 to 1 in recent weeks.

The DNC, mind you, has had a good month, though it’s a drop in the bucket compared to outside money. Meanwhile, if you’re wondering whether this is the fallout from the Supreme Court’s decision earlier this year to allow unlimited spending by corporations than the answer is yes. A big yes.

The Supreme Court cleared the way for unlimited spending by corporations, unions and other interest groups on election ads in its 5 to 4 decision this year in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. Many interest groups are organized as nonprofits, which are not required to disclose their financial backing, helping fuel the increase in secret donors.

Maybe Glenn Beck will take a break from using his blackboard to showcase all the communist and socialist groups funding rallies and infiltrating the government and instead follow the money.

Glenn Beck, Midterms 2010, SCOTUS, Tea Party

ModerateMan

The real Glynnis is back! Jesus. Conservatives are raising more money and a lot of it is anonymous! That sounds terrifying! Lets call it “Shadowy Interest Groups”….. cause… you know…. conservative people and their money are pure evil. I am done with this site.
http://gordonbloyershow.com gordonbloyershow

Looks like we will have Glynnis on suicide watch on Nov. 2nd. She has gone off the rails on this one. LOL.
The Real Royal King

This is a largely fact-based article, and I find no reason to critique it simply because it unmasks yet another Tea Party line.
The Real Royal King

lie
http://www.heartland.org/environmentandclimate-news.org/ClimateConference4 Just Tex

It’s odd, but I don’t recall Glynnis or any other Lefty ~reporter~ squalling like a smashed cat about “Shadowy Interest Groups” whenever Soros, Bing, and an entire cabal of elitist uber rich & all their union pals were dominating the political playing field with tens of millions of untraceable 527 cash?!

But to paraphrase:

I love the sound of high pitched wails of outright Leftist hypocrisy, during any election cycle. Because it sounds like common sense Constitutional Conservatism is on the verge of a huge political victory!
TruthLovinFreedomLover

Just Tex said:
It’s odd, but I don’t recall Glynnis or any other Lefty ~reporter~ squalling like a smashed cat about “Shadowy Interest Groups” whenever Soros, Bing, and an entire cabal of elitist uber rich & all their union pals were dominating the political playing field with tens of millions of untraceable 527 cash?!

But how is that possible? I thought anyone who had money was automatically Republican and the Democrat Party was composed only of illegal immigrant welfare queens?
RichS

The Real Royal King said:
lie

The Real Racist King kindly saves his own and our time by condensing all of his posts here into one word.
writer

King already had it boiled down to two main themes: I hate white people. I hate Fox. Now he’s condensed it even further. Congrats, Robert.
jk76

Did it bother you when Obama got half a billion dollars for his campaign? Glenn Beck isn’t a journalist, it isn’t a responsibility of his to investigate what you feel is important. The Citizens’ United outcome slogan is so simplistic, it almost nullifies the arguements, decisions, and depth of the case. Maybe that’s something you can look into and perhaps not be so bitter about.

I’m suprised you don’t consider this redistribution of wealth, or an investment in our economy. Didn’t the unions use $10mil in a primary for Senate in Arkansas? hmmm, damn those folks!! Show me where corporations are ruining things? let me gues ZOMG NEWZ CORPSE. get a grip, you’re slippin
CosmosDan

I think the important thing to keep in mind from this article is the Supreme Court decision earlier this year that allows all those groups to pour in as much money as they want and to set up groups with innocuous sounding names so that the public has no way of knowing who is buying your candidate. It’s a very serious threat top the democratic process, and something both liberals and conservatives ought to be concerned about. We need serious campaign fiance reform ASAP.
http://www.heartland.org/environmentandclimate-news.org/ClimateConference4 Just Tex

TruthLovinFreedomLover said:
I thought anyone who had money was automatically Republican

Nope.

At the top of that heap of sheep, are the unethical uber-rich, who use all their squads of ~useful idiots~ to just keep getting richer!

And the sheep who are rightly at the bottom of that morally challenged seething mass of smoldering outright stupidity, don’t have a clue they’re all being used like livestock going to slaughter, to achieve a multitude of totally nefarious political goals!

It would be funny if it weren’t so true, & so incredibly sad.
http://www.heartland.org/environmentandclimate-news.org/ClimateConference4 Just Tex

CosmosDan said:
I think the important thing to keep in mind from this article is the Supreme Court decision earlier this year that allows all those groups to pour in as much money as they want and to set up groups with innocuous sounding names so that the public has no way of knowing who is buying your candidate.

You mean, just like the Left has been doing for all these years, with all their 527′s, unions, associations, PACS & other types of front groups?

Gee, taint having a leveled playing field an absolute bitch?!
TruthLovinFreedomLover

Just Tex said:
Nope. At the top of that heap of sheep, are the unethical uber-rich, who use all their squads of ~useful idiots~ to just keep getting richer! And the sheep who are rightly at the bottom of that morally challenged seething mass of smoldering outright stupidity, don’t have a clue they’re all being used like livestock going to slaughter, to achieve a multitude of totally nefarious political goals! It would be funny if it weren’t so true, & so incredibly sad.

I disagree. I think the Tea Party is doing a wonderful service for our country.
http://www.heartland.org/environmentandclimate-news.org/ClimateConference4 Just Tex

TruthLovinFreedomLover said:
I think the Tea Party is doing a wonderful service for our country.

Agreed.

Just Tex said:
Nope.

At the top of that heap of Democrat party sheep, are the unethical uber-rich, who use all their squads of ~useful idiots~ to just keep getting richer!

And the sheep who are rightly at the bottom of that morally challenged seething mass of smoldering outright stupidity, don’t have a clue they’re all being used like livestock going to slaughter, to achieve a multitude of totally nefarious political goals!

It would be funny if it weren’t so true, & so incredibly sad.
CosmosDan

Just Tex said:
You mean, just like the Left has been doing for all these years, with all their 527’s, unions, associations, PACS & other types of front groups?

Gee, taint having a leveled playing field an absolute bitch?!

If you actually read my post you see it’s not about left or right. IMO DC is already to corrupt and new law only makes it worse for all citizens, left right or independent. I’m not accusing one side or the other. I’m saying the system is bad for all of us.
J Baustian

Quote: “The bulk of the money is being spent by conservatives, who have swamped their Democratic-aligned competition by 7 to 1 in recent weeks”

I remember 2008 very well… when the Democrats had all the enthusiasm and all the money. Even when you could see that it was just the same cabal of billionaires pouring money into a huge number of “committees” and “alliances”, there wasn’t anything we could do. There was just no sense that Obama was significantly worse than McCain. So the money poured into the Democrats’ treasure chest, not the Republicans’.

Now the worm has turned. The Democrats are whining because their advantage has disappeared, so they want to change the rules again.
http://none pyrope

The Real Royal King said:
This is a largely fact-based article, and I find no reason to critique it simply because it unmasks yet another Tea Party line.

The difference is this: The Tea Party are NOT a shadow group–they’re very much out front. Those who attended the “Advancing Communism Rally” were supported by every manner of shadow groups–some 400 of them, in fact.
http://none pyrope

J Baustian said:
The Democrats are whining because their advantage has disappeared, so they want to change the rules again.

Isn’t that always the case?
CosmosDan

pyrope said:
The difference is this: The Tea Party are NOT a shadow group–they’re very much out front. Those who attended the “Advancing Communism Rally” were supported by every manner of shadow groups–some 400 of them, in fact.

You mean the shadowy groups that were plainly listed on the web for anyone to read?

There’s way to much big money influence in the elections but if you think it’s one sided you are fooling yourself. And you seem to want to remain that way.

Liberals and conservatives ought to be working together to take the big money out of politics so the average citizen has a fair voice and can make a fair choice.
CosmosDan

J Baustian said:
Now the worm has turned. The Democrats are whining because their advantage has disappeared, so they want to change the rules again.

The rules changed for the worse for everybody due to a Supreme Court decision made just this year.
Get some historical context.
Republicans have historically had more money to spend and the change began when the Dems decided to play ball with more special interests in order to better compete financially. Now , due to a ruling earlier this year, things are worse than ever. Americans of all political persuasions need to work together and insist on some serious reform to take the huge money out of our elections for both parties, and to give independents a better chance.