Update: FEC Approves Comedian Stephen Colbert’s Super PAC
- Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:02pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Election Commission said Thursday that comedian Stephen Colbert can use his TV show’s resources to boost his political action committee, but he must disclose some major expenses as in-kind contributions from the show’s corporate owners.
Colbert played it straight during his appearance before the commission, letting his attorney do most of the talking while saving his trademark quips for a crowd that gathered outside the commission building after the meeting.
“I don’t accept the status quo,” he told the crowd, brandishing a portable credit card processing machine. “I do accept Visa, Mastercard or American Express.”
Many in the crowd handed Colbert their credit cards or dollar bills as contributions.
Asked what point he was trying to make about corporate America, Colbert did not miss a beat.
“None,” he quipped. “I want their money.”
Colbert, who plays a conservative TV pundit on “The Colbert Report,” is forming Colbert Super PAC, a type of political action committee which will allow him to raise unlimited amounts of money from corporations, unions and individuals. The money will be used to support or oppose candidates in the 2012 elections through independent expenditures such as TV ads.
The FEC decision comes amid a broader erosion of campaign finance regulations in the wake of recent court rulings and with Republicans on the Federal Election Commission and elsewhere pushing for a rollback to give corporations and other wealthy donors stronger sway in financing campaigns.
Colbert had asked the commission for a so-called “media exemption” to allow him to use his show’s airtime, staff and other resources for his political action committee without having to publicly disclose them as in-kind contributions from Comedy Central’s parent company, Viacom Inc.
Colbert has said those undisclosed contributions could include the use of his show’s staff to create TV advertisements about candidates that would air as paid commercials on other shows and networks.
The commission ruled 5-1 that he would have to publicly disclose as in-kind contributions from Viacom any ads produced by the show for Colbert Super PAC that air on other shows or networks. He would also have to disclose administrative costs that his show covers for Colbert Super PAC.
The Colbert ruling eclipsed a lesser-noticed decision by the Federal Election Commission Thursday that could also have a significant impact on the 2012 elections.
The commission said that candidates and party officials may solicit contributions for super PACs, but those contributions could not exceed the $5,000 limit for donations that applies to traditional political action committees.
Some campaign watchdog groups had feared that the commission might permit candidates and party officials to solicit unlimited contributions, opening yet another door to big-ticket donations.
While Colbert delights in lampooning politicians on his Comedy Central show, he raised some serious issues about public disclosure of corporate campaign contributions before the Federal Election Commission.
“Stephen Colbert is a funny man, but he asked a legitimate question and received a serious answer,” said Federal Election Commission chair Cynthia Bauerly. “The opinion adopted today does not give him everything he asked for, but it appropriately applies the press exemption consistent with past Commission and court precedent. ”
Some campaign finance watchdog groups had warned that a favorable ruling for Colbert could spur many more undisclosed contributions to political figures who are TV hosts or commentators and who could opt to create their own super PACs to take advantage of any new loopholes.
The groups cited politicians such Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum who already have traditional political action committees and are either working now, or have worked, as TV hosts or commentators.
“The Colbert Report” has used satire to shine a light on campaign finance rules following the Citizens United ruling by the Supreme Court that helped pave the way for super PACs. Campaign finance reform advocates complained the ruling gave wealthy donors, particularly companies and unions, considerably more sway in politics.
Super PACs can accept unlimited contributions from corporations, labor unions or individuals, unlike candidates or traditional political action committees. Super PACs cannot contribute directly to candidates, however.
Colbert has said any ads for Colbert Super PAC would not be coordinated with any candidate or party.
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Comments (110)
angelcat
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 3:24pmI now expect 9dare I say ‘demand” that one of our conservative media figures also start a SuperPac and apply for approval. It will have to be given without the bias being too clear for even liberals to deny. Rush or Hannity would be my first choices, but I think there are others that would be good also. I’m afraid that too many companies would shy away from Beck, though I could be pleasantly surprised and completely wrong.
Report Post »Blipvert
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 9:03pmDoesn’t Palin have one already?
Report Post »tifosa
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 12:00amPalin does, Huckabee does.
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 3:20pmStupid. Send your money to a comedian. Be prepared though. He will have the last laugh.
Report Post »Grapesofwrath
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 3:08pmI am glad our founding fathers are not around to bear witness to this mockery of their political system.
Report Post »LiberalMarine
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 3:11pmThe idea of PACs and Super PACs are a mockery, not the person trying to show how insane it is.
Report Post »Canada_Goose
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 3:07pmDoesn’t Mr. Limbaugh often claim that he’s trying to illustrate absurdity with absurdity. Isn’t this just a brilliant example of that same strategy?
Report Post »DimmuBorgir
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 3:38pmyeah, except rush’s audience understands satire
colbert’s audience is already writting checks
Report Post »Canada_Goose
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 3:55pmAre you suggesting Mr. Colbert’s audience doesn’t understand satire and the fact they actually contribute to his SuperaPac is proof of that?
So does that imply that they actually believe he is an ultraconservative TV pundit and they think the money will go to support Tea Party causes and Michelle Bachman’s run for president?
Actually just the opposite is true. Anyone actually giving Mr. Colbert money gets the joke and I suspect knows exactly what they’re doing. You can’t fake a political contribution.
Report Post »Spqr1
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 5:30pmLimbaugh only claims absurdity when called on the carpet for his hate-fueled bloviating. Just another cowardly Right-Winger who won’t stand up for his own words. That‘s why he’s not funny, and never will be.
Report Post »Scrubpuppy
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 3:05pmNow, I don’t usually go against the flow with other Blazers but I have always like Steven Solbert and I think his show was pretty funny and clever. That was before I got rid of cable because lets face it, nothing good was ever on, but I think he’s found a good niche in entertainment and is probably a lot more honest than most politicians. Everyone on here is just assuming he’ll do nothing but attack Conservatives, which anyone who knows him or has watched any of his shows can say that he treats all politics as a terget rich humor environment.
Report Post »I think perhaps everyone should take a step back and not attack him just because he knows Jon Stewart. Lets see where this goes before we judge too harshly. I’m appealing to reasonable people, here right?
Scrubpuppy
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 3:11pm*Colbert
Blaze needs an edit button so I can fix my spelling mistakes.
Report Post »Therightsofbilly
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 3:54pmNope, no reasonable people here.
Just ask THELONIOUS.
Report Post »SpontaneousVomit
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 3:01pmRome is burning … & the circus is just getting started.
Report Post »liberalsarealiens
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:58pmOK, We MUST FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE! Ya hear that hannaty, beck, sarah, let’s get it organized! God I hate liberals.
Now Harvard says the 4th of July is a holiday only for the right! I get it, the left’s holiday will be April 15th!
Report Post »brntout
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 3:42pmAnd Earth Day,Green Day, and Arbor Day to name a few.
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:55pmDamn.
Report Post »You go to lunch for an hour, turn on the Blaze…and you lose even more faith in the government (and there’s not much left in the cupboard).
nomercy63
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:51pmWhy is this guy important he is not even funny????
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:58pmBecause he can get brain dead college kids who think on a 3rd grade level that find him funny to give their parents hard earned money to him so he can use it to shorten their parents lives, enslave their parents and eventually enslave them.
Report Post »Godfather.1
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 7:46pm@SWAMPY
Actually, polls show viewers of the Daily Show and the Colbert Report to be more informed than viewers of Fox.
Report Post »TeaPartyPatriot
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:51pmIs there anybody who thought the socialist regime would NOT give one of their socialist buffoons everything he wants ?
Report Post »Beer Me Up
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:51pmGuy has a funny book. TV Show is pretty funny too…..
Glenn, build a better mouse trap…..er..rat trap? Whatever you get it….
Report Post »mrsmileyface
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:45pmWhos taking this serious? I want names so that I can put them on the ICE list for being morons.
Report Post »Berbel73
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:42pmUnfriggin’ believable, we truely are doomed. Everything is a GD joke anymore. Our freedoms, values, and way of life are balancing on the edge of a knife, and people are more interested in the Casey Anthony trial and know more about it than what our elected representatives are doing to this country. Play on Nero, play on!
Report Post »eat-more-bacon-USA
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:41pmHow many more decades is Stephen Colbert going to drag out this lame faux-conservative act? It is really quite tiresome and well past its expiration date. Time for a new schtick, Stevie Baby.
Report Post »godhead
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 4:20pmYou wish it were so, but alas, he and Stewart just keep growing in audience and influence. Beware their Indecision 2012. No Republican will be safe from their rapier wit and skewering analysis. But hey, you got Greta van Somethin, so things oughtta be even.
Report Post »Godfather.1
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 7:44pm@EAT-MORE-BACON-USA
Unlike Glenn Beck, he still has a TV show and in case you forgot, more people showed up to his and Jon Stewart‘s rally than your savior’s. The fact is, Jon Stewart and Colbert do have a wide audience whether you like it or not.
Report Post »PatriotLady63
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:40pmTo PRAISE!:
“who” are saying supports abortion and welfare?
Report Post »Praise!
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 3:51pmStephen Colbert
Report Post »Nancy Pelosi
All Kennedys
http://www.catholicdemocrats.org
http://www.catholicdemocratsforobama.org
http://www.catholicdemPAC.org
PatriotLady63
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 5:51pm@PRAISE!
Don’t judge every Catholic based on the actions of those who are Catholic “in name only.” Colbert, Pelosi and the Kennedy’s don’t/didn’t follow Catholic teachings; they live/d by their own rules. I’m a Catholic-Christian, against abortion, and against the current “messy” welfare system in our country.
Like SARANDA said, you have no idea of what you speak, and your condemnations are divisive. As conservatives we’re all fighting for the same thing, and you’d do well not to shoot your fellow comrades. United we stand, divided we fall.
Report Post »Its Gonna Getcha
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:37pmWhen Colbert first talked about this he seemed insane. He can be really surreal
Report Post »Log Cabin for WEST!
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 3:40pmIt seems like a bad dream to have a clown getting real people politicized. It is very grass roots stupid.
Report Post »MBA
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:34pmLiberals apparently have way too much money if they want to donate to colbert’s pac.
Report Post »I SPY
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:22pmWashington is officially… A JOKE.
Report Post »Shiroi Raion
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 4:09pmI‘m willing to donate a fake vomit but not one penny to Colbert’s Stupid PAC.
Report Post »AZBOB
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:20pmNow there is a guy that I really want to give my money too. Typical liberal, aka “clown”.
Report Post »orkydorky
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 3:30pmI think I’ll start a PAC………….hhmmm, let me see if everyone just sent one dollar, hhmmm, yes that would be a lot of money. Yep, I could tell them I’m a comedian and……………………….
Report Post »Rugnuts
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:17pmend campaign laws
Report Post »free market for campaigning
SouthSideLib
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 4:02pmThat would allow people to buy politicians. (More than they already do)
Report Post »Love_Small_Dogs
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:12pmHe makes you wonder. This gentleman is obviously trying to tell us something but i am not sure what to think. He is brave and he is a devout Catholic (like me). Some people think he really cares about America.
Report Post »Praise!
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:23pmBeing a devout Catholic, means nothing to a true Christian. They support abortion and welfare.
Report Post »Mandors
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:30pm@Praise
Abortion?
Report Post »saranda
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 3:13pm@PRAISE! – atta boy. Keep that division between the faiths. BTW, you have no idea of what you speak, but that has never stopped the likes of you.
Report Post »Log Cabin for WEST!
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 3:38pmI live in the bay Area, child. There is no question that Nancy Pelosi is a Catholic who even knows the Pope, and she is super pro-choice, and also I know for a fact she is in support of gay marriage.
Report Post »Mandors
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 3:51pm@ Log
Thanks for proving she isn’t a “devout” Catholic. Vatican III is coming, and Nancy isn’t going to like it.
Report Post »PrfctlyFrank
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 4:34pmNancy pelosi is as devout a Catholic, as harry reid is a practicing Mormon.. How bout not at all.. Pelosi is an agent of slavery.. She wants power, and power only.. Look at her, if you can.. Vanity, pride, narcissistic power lust, none of which is tempered by even a hint of honesty if it’s not required.. You want to call that hag a devout Catholic go ahead but please include, “devout Catholic that denies and excoriates some of the basic tenets of the Catholic faith..” There were/are mob bosses that would take time off from killing people to go to church, donate a lot of money, and be, “devout.” Seems the Mormons and the Catholics have some housecleaning to do.. Some rot to cut out..
Report Post »jado1981
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 5:21pmWeren’t the members of the mobs also devout “catholics”? This means nothing to many Bible believing Christians.
Report Post »BSdetector
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 7:16amHe really cares about what all liberal elitists care about, and nothing else. It’s about $$$ and nothing else. He’ll pay himself a huge salary as president(or whatever the title is) of his PAC and pretend to care about whatever makes him the most money.
Report Post »No different than what he does now, except he gets to write his own paycheck.
Pt.barnum
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:11pmWhat about the British International Monetary System, that bought and payed for Obama to become president !
“get our country back now” http://larouchepac.com/
Report Post »Sjah
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:10pmuh huh ok what ever. System is really screwed up.
Report Post »Mandors
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:09pmDid someone set off a Kafka bomb?
Report Post »Praise!
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:19pmJust because you can legally do something, does not mean you should! Colbert makes me cringe the way he does that “American Freedom” thing! He should leave the Super PAC to experts like Karl Rove and stay out of the big kitchen. He may have the “right” to be there but he has no “business” there.
Report Post »thelonious
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 4:06pmYou gotta be kidding me. “Experts like Karl Rove”? You’d probably also defend the Citizens United ruling and bow to our plutocratic overlords. Colbert is a genius.
Report Post »godhead
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 4:16pmThelonius . . . Amen, brother. Praise the lord! Colbert rules!
Report Post »Michael61
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:09pmGlenn Beck, it is your turn now. Make a Super PAC, give them hell.
Report Post »Love_Small_Dogs
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:14pmYes – Glenn should not be upstaged by an obvious entertainer, who tells everyone he is just a comedian. Glenn needs to prove he is as serious as Michele Bachmann.
Report Post »tifosa
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 1:24am♫ He’s only just begun… ♫ Welcome to some free Citizens United press ;) Do you recall FOXPAC? http://www.ajc.com/news/fox-donates-1-million-593985.html (Fox parent company gives $1M to elect the Repub Govs) The difference will be that Colbert handles this exposure like a pro.
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:17pmThe FEC just approve a left leaning propaganda TV Station in BO favor.
Report Post »Praise!
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:21pmIt is up to Glenn and other Serious players (Rush, Sean, Greta) to show that some geek TV star has NO business in USA politics.
Report Post »SavingtheRepublic.com
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:24pm^____^____^
What a joke this guy is and the mockery he makes out of this nation. How can they take him seriously? Oh and this is just in time for the coming ‘12 election…. man is it going to be the most vicious presidential race in US history.
Like I said ANYONE can beat BHO 1 on 1… the problem is the campaign, media, community organizing and special interest machine of the radical left behind him that will be hard to beat.
Report Post »http://tinyurl.com/3tg4s98
sWampy
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:25pmAll tax deductible political contributions should limited to one dollar per tax payer per election cycle. If you want to give more, it shouldn’t be deductible, this simple move would cut out most of the corruption.
Report Post »Eric_The_Red_State
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:27pmThe best way to convince a fool that he is wrong is to let him have his own way.
Report Post »pajamash
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:49pmYa just can’t make this stuff up folks!!!!!! : (
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:52pm@Michael61
If Glenn could do that legally and make it work – in a hearbeat I would send money to his Super PAC.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:55pmOne thing to understand people, do not underestimate this man; he may be a comedian indeed, yet he is also a success at selling himself to his audiences. It is the wild cards in the upcoming elections who may make the difference in each race, and the future control of the nation for all of us.
Remember, no one expected Mr Obama to win in the beginning.
Also, when his funds start coming in, someone needs to see if Soros has his foot in the mess as well.
Report Post »pajamash
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:57pmAmerica literally becoming a joke!
Report Post »Firebrand
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:57pm@saving
I just checked out your link. Found the story about China buying more treasuries than they are supposed to. I’ll add the link to the original sources here.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/30/us-usa-china-treasuries-idUSTRE75T2MI20110630
http://graphics.thomsonreuters.com/11/01/WikileaksChinaTreasury.pdf
This may be no surprise, but the new leader of the CIC in China will most likely be Li Keping. He is a true communist not a state capitalist.
Report Post »fastfacts
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:57pmAS SAID BEFORE, HE IS A LIBERAL JOKE AND WILL SIMPLY FUND MORE LIBERAL CAUSES
But then again, more power to him because that is the American way and we conservatives are ready for attacks, such as the Karl Rove Crossroad’s group who sent out this ad against Obama: http://tiny.cc/xuye8.
They also attacked the new DNC Chair ‘Airhead’ Debbie Wasserman Schultz and her attacks: http://tiny.cc/scp9l
Report Post »fastfacts
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 2:59pmOh and the Dem Super PAC responded to Crossroads with this ad: http://tiny.cc/p5572
Report Post »Pujols
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 3:45pmThis Fool is an ASS-CLOWN. Some people really think He does News. The same with John Stewart. Stewart is wrose than this Ass-Clown. I can‘t say what He is because The Blaze won’t print words like *&$%# %#*%^&^$ *$%&# %^&$%^$.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 4:07pm@Firebrand
@SavingTheRepublic
Thanks for both the links and the articles on China and the Treasuries. Will pass this on to others.
Report Post »godhead
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 4:15pmLove Small Dogs . . . Better a PAC for a rodeo clown, yes?
Report Post »chazman
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 4:32pmNot only Glenn, but Rush Sean Hannity and Mark Levin should all get in on this!!
Report Post »HUGGINGMYBABIES
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 4:38pmGlenn…..you have a calling and Steven just opened the door for you!!
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 5:03pmTit for tat. We will just have to beat him at his own game. As for the media, we have the internet and word of mouth. We will have to beat them somehow. More people now, then before, are opening their eyes to Obama. There will be that 30% who will vote for O, we will have to win over the other 70%.
Report Post »tifosa
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 11:38pm♫ He’s only just begun… ♫ Welcome to some free Citizens United press ;) Do you recall FOXPAC? http://www.ajc.com/news/fox-donates-1-million-593985.html (Fox parent company gives $1M to elect the Repub Govs) The difference will be that Colbert handles this exposure like a pro.
Report Post »