| Position Reversals |
February 17, 2012 |
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Charles Grassley, R-IA
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"Here, though, he has made more than a 180-degree turn. He has gone beyond simply asking donors to give to super PACs that independently support his candidacy. Under the new policy, even White House staffers and Cabinet Secretaries can attend super PAC events."
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| Citizens United |
February 2, 2012 |
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Richard Durbin, D-IL
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"Mr. President, this year’s political campaigns are different than just 2 years ago. There is a dramatic infusion of money from so-called super PACs. Now we are starting to learn the identity of those who were behind it. Just yesterday there were disclosures about some of the contributors. Many of the names are familiar—the same very wealthy people who have, time and again, been engaged in our political process. The new approach, of course, is that there is no limitation in what they can spend. In addition, there is little disclosure on a timely basis."
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| Citizens United Anniversary |
January 26, 2012 |
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Al Franken, D-MN
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"My colleagues may have heard a lot about PACs. “PAC” is short for political action committee, and it is an entity that is separate from a campaign that can run political ads on issues or support or oppose a candidate. They can also give a limited amount of money directly to campaigns. The idea behind them is that if a number of citizens share views on issues, say, the environment, they can pool their resources, make their views known, and influence an election. They can run ads to call for the election of a candidate who supports those shared beliefs. But a PAC cannot coordinate with that candidate’s campaign. It is not supposed to be an extension of that campaign."
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| Citizens United |
January 26, 2012 |
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Dianne Feinstein, D-CA
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"Four years ago in 2008, at this same point in the presidential election cycle, $12.9 million was spent by super PACs in support of candidates."
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| A Golden Opportunity For A Collective Vision In Rebuilding America |
January 18, 2012 |
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Earl Blumenauer, D-OR
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"We begin the new year on the same sour note with which we concluded 2011—an appalling year, full of fabricated crises that didn’t need to happen but which produced real-life consequences, the debt ceiling debacle being but one example. The Republican nomination of a Presidential candidate is showing the dark side of this new era of Super PACs and what happens when a party is captive to ideological extremists."
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