WASHINGTON (AP) — In a pair of town houses less than 10 blocks from where the Supreme Court gave his group a place in legal history, David Bossie is making movies and cutting a path for a new art form: the nonpolitical political ad.
Bossie is the president of Citizens United, a conservative group whose anti-Hillary Clinton movie in 2008 led to a landmark ruling this year. The Supreme Court threw out parts of a 63-year-old law prohibiting corporations and unions from paying to air ads for or against political candidates.
The decision has contributed to an explosion in political advertising by outside groups, so far most of them allied with the Republican Party, that have flocked to raise big money from individuals and companies and flooded into some of the most competitive races across the country.
Bossie, however, is sticking with his movies — conservative documentaries that are critical of President Barack Obama and the Democratic Congress or that champion conservative icons and causes.
Over the next week, Bossie says he plans to spend “a couple hundred thousand dollars” on 30-second ads on national cable television promoting four of his new films, available on DVD. The amount is modest compared to the millions being spent by other outside groups, but the political message in the ads is clear — Obama‘s and the Democrats’ policies are wrong and conservatives need to assert themselves.
“Getting people activated, getting motivated is clearly part of our goal,” he said, sitting in his office two floors above Pennsylvania Avenue and next door to his film studio.
“The stakes on Nov. 2 are just unbelievably important,” former Democratic strategist-turned-conservative commentator Dick Morris says in one ad. Images of Obama appear, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid behind him. “He has no understanding of how to be president,” Morris adds. “Elections have consequences.”
But the ads, according to the Federal Election Commission, do not amount to electioneering.
In June, the FEC concluded that Citizens United was entitled to a “media exemption” extended to news stories or commentary by broadcast, cable or satellite television or radio stations that aren’t owned by a party, political committee or a candidate.
As a result, Citizens United doesn‘t have to include a disclaimer that identifies who paid for the ad or assert that it is not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee, like other political groups must do.
The ads will promote DVD movies such as “Battle for America,” the one featuring Morris; “America at Risk,” calling for a new commitment to fighting terrorism; “Generation Zero,” about the financial meltdown, and “Fire for the Heartland,” a salute to conservative women.
Bossie, a top Republican congressional investigator who led inquiries into President Bill Clinton’s Whitewater land deal and his fundraising, said he takes his inspiration from director Michael Moore, the provocative left-wing documentary maker who directed “Fahrenheit 911,” which accused President George W. Bush of using the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks as a pretext to go to war in Iraq.
“A lot more people saw the ads than saw the movie,“ he said of ”Fahrenheit 911.” ”It permeated the culture.”
Still, the Supreme Court decision prompted by his anti-Hillary Clinton movie has done far more to expand the reach of political advertising for other outside groups than it has for Citizens United.
“It was always a custom designed test case,” said Trevor Potter, a campaign finance lawyer who worked on John McCain’s Republican presidential campaign and is a critic of the ruling. “The beneficiaries were always going to be other players.”
Obama, who took the unusual step of denouncing the court‘s decision during this year’s State of the Union address, has made the case a staple of his current stump speech and has criticized it twice during his Saturday morning radio and Internet addresses.
“I want you to understand right now all over this country special interests are planning and running millions of dollars of attack ads against Democratic candidates,” Obama said at a Democratic fundraiser in New York on Wednesday. “Because of last year’s Supreme Court decision in Citizens United, they are now allowed to spend as much as they want, unlimited amounts of money, and they don’t have to reveal who is paying for these ads.”
Obama’s chief political adviser, David Axelrod, continued that line of criticism Sunday, complaining that Republicans had blocked legislation to require groups that air political ads to reveal their donors.
“You know, there’s an old saying that if you want to keep things secret, you have something to hide,” Axelrod said on ABC’s “This Week.”
Bossie takes delight in the attention.
“You can see by the actions of the White House and the Congress, this Citizens United ruling has gotten under the skin of the liberal establishment, the leadership of the House and Senate and the White House,” he said. “They are completely emotional.”
___
Online:
http://tinyb.it/552AA846356C9
http://www.battleforamericamovie.com
http://www.citizensunited.org/
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Comments (58)
SilentReader
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 3:02pmThank you, David Bossie.
It’s great that selected-not-elected-by-the-New Party-and-Joel Rogers Barack Obama is getting a taste of his own medicine. Still the candidate on the campaign trail touting his own magnificence, Barack Obama has the people under his skin.
Love it!
Report Post »JEANNIEMAC
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 2:58pmObama has paid almost two million dollars to keep secret his background documentation.
Report Post »““You know, there’s an old saying that if you want to keep things secret, you have something to hide,” Axelrod said on ABC’s “This Week.” Hah!
roninshaman
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 1:36pmBO refers to “unlimited amounts of money” when addressing other Democrats. No wonder we have the problems that we face today. He doesn’t understand that someone has to do something of value, either make a product of supply a service, for someone else in order to make money. But boy does he know how to spend it though. I guess he thinks that even with a crippled economy he still has access to “unlimited amounts of money”.
What a TOOL!
Report Post »mrmikejohnson
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 1:33pmAnything that “nudges” all the socialists back to hiding in the shadows is a good thing.
Report Post »chazman
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 1:21pmLiberal Marxist Lizard Brains! I blame Zsa Zsa Huffington!
Report Post »mzmaj7
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 12:12pm# of times “liberal” is mentioned: 1 (bottom of article, in a quote)
# of times “conservative” is mentioned: 7
Anyway, notice that the AP chose not to discuss any evidence behind this:
“The decision has contributed to an explosion in political advertising by outside groups, so far most of them allied with the Republican Party”
Report Post »firethecommunityorganizer
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 11:24amTranslation – It was OK as long as unions and Soros-funded front groups could spend boatloads of cash getting Marxist agendas advanced but now the Marxist pigs squeal when the opposition can now spend boatloads of cash to counter their regime.
Report Post »moelarrycurly
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 11:06amI am very proud to see activisim in the conservative crowd. I am deeply encouraged reading the comments on here. I am glad we have found an outlet to state our opinion and i no longer feel ‘alone’. I’m glad to see that common sense is much more common than I thought.
I think the American people should be more educated on the people they vote for-and we need to pay close attention to their back ground, education-especially who taught them.
Exposing the marxist educators in the public school system and higher education and continuing to shine the light on them will help greatly to preserve the ideals this country was founded on. Continuing to promote competition in education by having say so in where your tax dollars go (whether to charter schools or christian schools or other) is paramount. I know at least two very high performing teachers who take a pay cut to teach at a charter school-because of the failures they have witnessed in the public school system. Wingedwolf talked about her experience in public school. I believe these things as far as abuse and neglect happen far more often than we’d like to think.
And not just the public schools-shine the light on them everywhere. These people believe what they believe-but it is YOUR children. We need to continue to expose them at every turn and start teaching values again and quit allowing them to poison our country.
God Bless You.
Report Post »SPHEREBOUND
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 10:29am…….“I WANT you to understand RIGHT NOW” …. “uhhhhhh – I WANT to make myself ‘PERFECTLY CLEAR’ ” …. [ I.ME,MY] -a standard staple well entrenched in the ULTRAnarcissistic lexicon, and apparent mindset of Obummer. The only problem is that the “understanding” and “clarity” he claims to be forthcoming … NEVER SHOWS UP !!! (at least for his sheepeoplistic followers).
Other comments are “dead-on” concerning the tactics of … (SEIU, Black Panthers, ACORN) but let’s not omit his own BULLY PULPIT and the willing accomplices inside the beltway, those self-appointed ruling class elites like … ABC,NBC.CBS,CNN,CNBC.MSNBC, NYT, WASH. POST, just to tap a few. Then of course there’s HOLLYWOOD and the countless spheres of various outlets of mind-altering propagandizing dribble that is feed to the naive public EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK !!! Then maybe toss in PBS and Public radio, and the DEPT. of “EDUCATION” … how could these folks be bitchin’ ??
Oh yeah … It’s NEVER ENOUGH !!! MORE – “Stimulus/Bailouts/Welfare/Foodstamps/“Education”/
Report Post »Private Sector Takeover/”Free-this … Free-that”/MORE-MORE-MORE BIG BIG BIG GOVERNMENT
all-the-while eroding the Liberty and Freedom embedded within the Declaration and US Constitution that IS REQUIRED to BREAK the bonding chains of DEPENDENCY in our Republic which offers such opportunity to ALL its citizens that yearn for it. Why YEARN or EARN when you eventually get PUNISHED for your achievement and REWARDED for your apathetic and lethargical mindset and eventual lifestyle.
TruthDarts
Posted on September 28, 2010 at 10:42amSPHEREBOUND…Hit the nail on the head multiple times!!&!
This group of SHEEPEOPLE that you spoke of is referred to as: “OBAMA CHOIR” in Dinesh D‘Souza’s “ROOTS OF OBAMA’S RAGE” (due out Oct. 4, 2010).
The “Obama Choir” has been losing some members…as seen by the lady at Obama’s townhall last week and elsewhere.
Obama VOTER REMORSE has definitely been an awakening by those that took off their
Rose-Colored-Glasses OR took their head out of the sand…and some have actually uttered:
“THIS IS HIS HOPE & CHANGE? NOT WHAT I VOTED FOR!”.
Let us smile that Obama Choir members have found their reasoning abilities!
Report Post »mtnclimberjim
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 10:18amThe revolution begins. They will most likely be voted out, or taken out and tried for treason. I would prefer the latter. Ammo is more valuable than gold, be it bullets or information.
Report Post »DrammyCoke
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 10:18amGotta love it!!
Report Post »tankchaser
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 10:14amThe special interests that support the progressive liberal agenda hates the competition being on even ground with them, so it is only natural they are going to whine and cry about it. Freedom of speech is just that and if people want to invest their money on add campaigns its their business. If corporations want to invest in a campaign I see nothing wrong with it, the unions do, PACs do also. All I personally would ask is that the information be factual and if I so choose verifiable, but really lets keep the mud slinging to a minimum. The progressives just don’t like having their failures exposed. The surge in the conservative ranks is because people are waking up, not just because of an add campaign.
Report Post »Zombee
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 10:08amMr. Obama bought the presidency with $750 million dollars with huge sums bundled from overseas, the Unions and the Socialist Democrats . Now he’s complaining about conservative corporate campaign donations. What a hypocrite! They fear for their survival because of his progressive anti-business policies ? The Obama Regime has spent the last 18 months destroying the economy and its time to put a stop to it.
Report Post »bhelmet
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 9:53amAdd your comments
Report Post »bhelmet
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 9:49amHello pot, this is kettle – black!
Report Post »adifftake
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 9:35amPersonak opinion: TOO LITTLE / TOO LATE
Report Post »nevadapat
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 9:28amRemember Obama’s pledge of transparency in government? I see right through him and his policies……all you have to do is be informed and open your eyes.
Report Post »veritas51322
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 9:03amI know of many conservative positions that elderly Democrats would most likely endorse if they didn’t know they were Republican or had not been instructed by Democrat leaders to oppose them, On the other hand there are absolutely ludicrous ideas that I have heard them endorse simply because they come from the mouths of Democrats. I would welcome some party blind principle based ads on TV.
Report Post »Stupid Windmill
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 9:09amRiver Flows both ways and then some.
Report Post »weopine.com
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 9:34amThere’s a great video clip from an old Bob Hope move located here: http://weopine.tumblr.com/ posted September 27, 2010 that addresses the issue of blind party loyalty. It’s a hoot. Give it a look see.
Report Post »Stupid Windmill
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 9:01amI find it hilarious that people keep thinking that “Conservatives don’t have a voice!” OF COURSE THEY DON’T! If there was an actual “conservative” on the air she would be saying things that would melt your confused tea bagging minds. Such as .. provisions protecting the environment!? THE HORROR THE HORROR!!!
Report Post »ToledoTea
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 9:09amWhat?????
Report Post »Contrarianthinker
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 10:13amStupid, I’m a NeoLibetarian, not a conservative, especially the NeoCon variety like Ginrich and Palen.
LIBETARIANS have great free market programs for protecting the environment. The Progressive MSM won’t even discuss them and allow dialogue. Why? Because they are for BIG GOVERNMENT and essentially think the free market stinks… needs to be fundamentally transformed.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 10:14amHence the name.. STUPID windmill
Report Post »jcatlanta
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 10:29amQuit taking the mind-altering drugs and come up with cohesive thought, then write it down on paper, read it, wait 3 days and then post it.
Report Post »CoFX
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 1:28pmPut the crack pipe down for a bit Stupid. Its interferring with your ability to make decipherable insults. Your better off sticking with calling us racists and blaming Bush.
Report Post »TruthDarts
Posted on September 28, 2010 at 10:53amENVIRONMENT Windy…Really, Really?
That’s the best you got?
Liberal definition of making a comeback point:
WHEN FACED WITH UNDENIABLE TRUTH…CHANGE THE SUBJECT?
BTW, do your ENVIRONMENT homework…
Report Post »Who is the person previously in Congress, that has a degree and taught classes
as a professor on ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING?
TruthDarts
Posted on September 28, 2010 at 11:01amNEWT GINGRICH
Stick that in your mill, windy.
Report Post »wingedwolf
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 9:00amAxelrod has a lot of nerve talking about about people wanting to keep secrets. What about the shadow government his boss is setting up right under our noses that they;re all working so hard to keep secret. Read Ken Blackwell and Ken Klukowski’s book “The Blueprint: Obama’s plan to subvert the Constitution and build an Imperial Presidency.” He’s well on his way to making congress and elections absolutely moot.
Report Post »Stupid Windmill
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 9:06amOr maybe you should read his other book “Hahah, I just wrote this to cash on the the Obama hating fad”
Report Post »TruthDarts
Posted on September 28, 2010 at 10:25amHey Windy…
tea baggers, Constitutionalist, Patriots, etc of the Conservative THINKERS don’t hate Obama, we dislike & disagree with his policies, and directions he wants to drag the country to.
Those who glob us into category of “Obama Haters” is only a desperate & futile attempt to dismiss the vast majority of the USA citizens…..the N.S.S.A.M.
Report Post »(the: NOT-SO-SILENT-ANYMORE-MAJORITY)
WestOfThePecos
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 8:57am“You know, there’s an old saying that if you want to keep things secret, you have something to hide,” Axelrod said on ABC’s “This Week.”
… and what is President Obama hiding?
Report Post »Contrarianthinker
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 10:09amHis birth certicate, his medical records, his employment records (agent of CIA), and his education records. The better question is what has he made transparent other than his father and entire youth was surrounded by practicing Marxists.
Report Post »Flannie
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 2:49pmI noticed that quote from Axelrod myself. Amazing that he could say that with a straight face, considering the things that have been hidden about Obama.
Report Post »dressseller
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 8:53am“I want you to understand right now all over this country special interests are planning and running millions of dollars of attack ads against Democratic candidates,” Obama said at a Democratic fundraiser in New York on Wednesday. “Because of last year’s Supreme Court decision in Citizens United, they are now allowed to spend as much as they want, unlimited amounts of money, and they don’t have to reveal who is paying for these ads.”
This is Laugh Out Loud stuff. This is Obama having a temper tantrum because conservatives get to run legitimate ads to expose liberal corruption. We all know that Obama much prefers to skip the legitimate methods of campaigning and go right to the strong arm tactics of SEIU, Black Panthers, et al. Acorn and company and all the voter fraud you can muster through these liberal organizations is OK with Obama. Bottom Line: The left wants to utilize all corrupt methods of winning the vote that they can get by with. No problem with that. But the right must be shut down from having a voice to expose them.
Report Post »Mrdon5091
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 11:01amAbsolutly Right!!!!!!!!
Report Post »TruthDarts
Posted on September 28, 2010 at 5:09amDoes anyone remember how Lyndon Johnson got elected in Texas first time?
Story goes…he won narrowly when a whole pile of absentee voting ballots were found like in a closet…and not only did all ballots vote for Johnson…but miracle of miracles…they all voted ALPHABETICALLY.
NOTHING inspires liberals/socialists to cheat & lie as when they are cornered….their montra’s after all are:
Report Post »–“THE ENDS JUSTIFIES THE MEANS”
–“REPEAT A LIE OFTEN ENOUGH UNTIL IT SEEMS TRUE”
–”WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS…DO PERSONAL ATTACKS”
and
–”WHEN YOU CAN’T FIGHT THE TRUTH…CHANGE THE SUBJECT” or
again “…DO PERSONAL ATTACKS” or
“…COMPARE WHAT YOU DID TO SOMEONE WHO IS ACTUALLY LIKED HISTORICALLY.”
TerriLPN
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 8:50amRamp It Up I have Loved Citizens United since the I took my Parents to see the Counter to the Michael Moore Movie Fahrenheit 9/11….. http://www.celsius4111.com/ I was a New Political Patriot.
Report Post »9/11 Changed Me….Freedom of Speech Wins Again!!
Stupid Windmill
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 9:03amIsn‘t Citizen’s United a Koch Brothers front group?
Report Post »Contrarianthinker
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 10:07amStuoid: I love the KOCH brothers. One of them raqn for VP on the LP 1980 ticket. They are principled Constitutionalits who walk the walk with their time and money.
Report Post »SGTTAZ67
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 2:18pmGeorge Soros probably paid the turbine to ask that.
Report Post »tepartyblog.info
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 8:40amI don’t understand the reasoning in letting people run adds without identifying them selves. On the other hand people shouldn’t be agreeing with an add just because it is made by their political party.
Report Post »Midwest Belle
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 10:25amI don’t understand why attack ads are allowed by ANYONE. Personally I hate attack ads, and would rather they just state their own reasons for wanting to be elected. To say “I can do better than XYZ” is one thing, but to say “XYZ is a loser because…..” is something else entirely.
Report Post »RightWrite
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 11:50amThis “Big-Brother” targets people and families, not policy and ideas. When the Regime sends thugs and IRS agents after you for your beliefs, privacy is tantamount to preserving freedom and safety. The Leftist is an evil envious disciple of Lucifer, whether he knows it or not. Their Bible is Saul Alinski’s Rules For Radicals, and they worship Cloward and Piven. This is a war — a war against evil.
Report Post »faktchekr
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 8:38amaw boo, hoo..conservatives now have a media outlet….thank God conservatives are fighting back and have an answer to the Hollywood set. It’s about time.
Report Post »Stupid Windmill
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 9:02amNeoliberals you mean.
Report Post »Freelancer
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 10:19amHey Stupid…. Welcome back! Did you have a hard time washing all of that latex paint off after you got tazed?
Report Post »Miami
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 10:33amNo that would be Neo-Socialist in the framework of their god ( Che Guevara ) most liberals don’t realize the meaning behind the Che shirts. Ignoring the fact that he was a psychotic mass murderer.
Report Post »RightWrite
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 12:04pmThese Leftists are like prison gangs — without our privacy, they use hate, violence and discrimination to rape and intimidate against Liberty and Constitutionalism. Their answer to our Constitutional values is not civil debate, it’s violence, Saul Alinsky, and Cloward/Piven.
Report Post »ron the veteran
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 12:55pmthey know they cant stand toe to toe with us in a fair fight. they dont like it when we play their games. i got news for you ********, you aint seen nothing yet. how that astro turf looking now nancy?
Report Post »realindependent
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 2:05pmDont you realize that the Citizens untied case works both ways? Its just way for giant corporations who still want they’re Off shore bank havens, Government tax breaks to ship our jobs over seas, and more and more lobyists in washington? Isnt the Tea party against lobyists and corruption in government. Thats what this case opens up. K street is smiling all the way to india with our jobs, and you morons make it a right left thing. Wake up people!!!!
Report Post »Awakened One
Posted on September 27, 2010 at 6:36pmIt just levels the playing field a little. The left already has multiple national TV networks doing the progressive’s bidding. Before this the Unions had free reign to spend all the money they wanted. When’s the last time you heard a hit piece on a conservative labeled “SEIU approved this message” ?
Report Post »briar t
Posted on September 28, 2010 at 10:07pmamen
Report Post »