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October 04, 2011

Will Outside Groups Crush Dems? Melanie Sloan Responds

By Melanie Sloan

Campaign Finance Reform, Corporate, News, Karl Rove, Melanie Sloan, President Barack Obama

Citizens United Logo

Note: Cross-posted at Politico's The Arena in respone to the question "Will outside groups give Republicans a big advantage in 2012? And is Obama right to consider himself an “underdog?"

Whether President Obama and fellow Democrats will be able to match the likes of Karl Rove’s American Crossroads and other shadowy groups remains to be seen. Yet no matter who wins the political horse race next fall, the American people are getting the short end of the stick. As a result of the disastrous Citizens United decision, billions of dollars of largely secret money will be funneled into the 2012 election, forcing voters to make incredibly important decisions, without knowing who’s pulling the strings.

More than 4 billion dollars was spent on the 2010 election, including hundreds of millions by shadowy outside groups who don’t have to disclose their donors. Left leaning groups were outspent 2 to 1; that will probably look like chicken feed by the time 2012 is in the books. Folks at American Crossroads say they hope to raise three times as much this time around, and they won’t be alone. President Obama’s self-deprecating humor notwithstanding, it does highlight the sorry reality that in order to compete with the Republicans in the current system, Democrats are going to have to get their hands dirty and play the same game.

Athletes around the world wear company logos on their uniforms, so the public knows who’s paying their bills. Wouldn’t it be nice if political candidates did the same?

Welcome to a post Citizens United world, where everyone is for sale, corporations are people too, and American voters are bombarded with attack ad upon attack ad, without knowing all the facts.