The Washington Post editorial board is freaking out about the Super PAC’s that are doing the lion’s share of negative advertising this cycle. The write today:
…
Candidate-specific super PACs tend to be run by former staff of the candidate. Their money comes from the candidate’s top supporters. With anodyne names and no candidate fingerprints, the PACs can do the dirty work without the candidate having to take responsibility. Thus casino magnate Sheldon Adelson has written a $5 million check to Newt Gingrich — oops, make that “Winning Our Future,” the super PAC backing Mr. Gingrich — to run attacks in South Carolina on Mr. Romney’s record at Bain Capital.
The rationale for limits on campaign contributions is that huge contributions such as this run the risk of corruption or the appearance of corruption. The Supreme Court’s shaky rationale in Citizens United was that independent expenditures do not pose such a risk. Mr. Adelson’s check underscores the foolishness of that assessment. Would a President Gingrich consider himself indebted to Mr. Adelson? Would Americans perceive him as such? The risk of corruption in candidate-specific super PACs is as great as the size of supporters’ checkbooks.
One can think up some trouble a nefarious Super PAC might cause, but the real world example The Post cites undermines their own case.
Newt Gingrich’s new Super PAC is not anonymous. Everybody, including The Post, knows the money is coming from Sheldon Adelson. And everyone knows that Adelson’s money is not buying anything from Newt. Adelson is a long-time supporter of Israel. So is Newt. That is why Adelson is supporting him.
Is The Post suggesting that Adleson bought Gingrich’s support for Israel? Is The Post arguing that anyone on the planet possibly believes that?
If The Post knows of any campaign spending, to Super PACs or otherwise, that is buying votes, than they should report that fact so authorities can prosecute the offenders.
Otherwise they should just admit that the entire “appearance of corruption” rationale is unworkable under the First Amendment and is destined for the dustbin of history.
