The Federal Election Commission gets it -- Stephen Colbert is punking them. But the FEC treated the Comedy Central host's request for an advisory opinion like anyone else, and on Thursday granted him the ability to form a "super PAC." Their ruling allows his parent company Viacom to pay for most of their "coverage" of Colbert Super PAC's activities under a press exemption without having to disclose such expenditures as in-kind donations. [...] Campaign finance reform groups opposed Colbert's motion because they said it would allow other media companies and politicians who have their own programs to promote their political action committees under the guise of a media exemption.
Their ruling allows his parent company Viacom to pay for most of their "coverage" of Colbert Super PAC's activities under a press exemption without having to disclose such expenditures as in-kind donations.
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Campaign finance reform groups opposed Colbert's motion because they said it would allow other media companies and politicians who have their own programs to promote their political action committees under the guise of a media exemption.
Colbert said he didn't know what he'd be doing with his unrestricted "super PAC" money, but said people should give him cash so they could find out. "I don't know about you, but I do not accept limits on my free speech," Colbert said. "I don't know about you, but I do not accept the status quo. But I do accept Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. $50 or less please, because then I don't have to keep a record of who gave it to me."
"I don't know about you, but I do not accept limits on my free speech," Colbert said. "I don't know about you, but I do not accept the status quo. But I do accept Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. $50 or less please, because then I don't have to keep a record of who gave it to me."
Turns out that Stephen Colbert's "Super PAC" won't be called "Colbert Super PAC" after all. Instead, according to paperwork Colbert filed in person with the Federal Election Commission in person yesterday, the "Super PAC" will go by "Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow." [...] Once supporters give their email to "Americans For A Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow," they get a follow-up email from Colbert addressing them as "{VALUE=FIRSTNAME} {VALUE=LASTNAME}" in which he writes he "wanted to take a moment to personally express my {VALUE=ADJECTIVE} thanks for signing up for Colbert Super PAC." [...] The paperwork indicates that the treasurer of the group is Sal Purpura, who according to an online bio serves as treasurer of Sen. John McCain's Country First PAC and previously served on McCain's 2008 presidential campaign and the 2004 Bush-Cheney campaign.
Instead, according to paperwork Colbert filed in person with the Federal Election Commission in person yesterday, the "Super PAC" will go by "Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow."
Once supporters give their email to "Americans For A Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow," they get a follow-up email from Colbert addressing them as "{VALUE=FIRSTNAME} {VALUE=LASTNAME}" in which he writes he "wanted to take a moment to personally express my {VALUE=ADJECTIVE} thanks for signing up for Colbert Super PAC."
The paperwork indicates that the treasurer of the group is Sal Purpura, who according to an online bio serves as treasurer of Sen. John McCain's Country First PAC and previously served on McCain's 2008 presidential campaign and the 2004 Bush-Cheney campaign.
