CCP
“Outsiders” or “Insiders”?
By Luke Wachob
CPI refers to the RGA and DGA as “outside” spenders because most of their spending occurs independently of candidate campaigns. Instead of giving money to their preferred candidate, they fund their own speech supporting their preferred gubernatorial candidate or opposing other candidates. Both groups are 527s, and as a result disclose all of their significant donors and spending. Scary stuff, I know.
We at CCP prefer to call this kind of spending “independent” because that’s what it is: spending that is independent of any candidate’s campaign. But we notice that those who advocate for greater restrictions on the political process seem to prefer the “outside” term and its “you don’t belong here” connotation.
Independent Groups
The Hill: Pro-Hillary super-PAC denied takedown order
By Julian Hattem
On Wednesday, the company told Minnesota activist Dan McCall that it would continue to sell products featuring “I’m Ready for Oligarchy” in the super-PAC’s style, despite the complaint that its copyright was being infringed.
Activities of political criticism and parody, CafePress senior corporate counsel Marian Cochran said in an email, “are given the highest level of First Amendment protection.
“Further, speech conveyed through the use of messages on T-shirts and related items such as the bumper sticker about which Ready for Hillary has complained has long been held to be protected speech under the First Amendment,” she added, noting that “applicable law falls firmly in favor” of the activist.
Breitbart: The Campaign Finance Monster That Refuses to Die
By Steve Simpson
Amending the Constitution is a long shot, and this effort will almost definitely fail. But the Supreme Court’s five conservative justices won’t be around forever, and the many people who despise the Court’s recent cases defending political speech are not going to give up. If we really want to kill off the campaign finance monster, we need to drive a stake through the wrong-headed view of free speech at its heart. This view holds freedom of speech not as an inalienable individual right—a right to say what you wish regardless of what others think—but as a kind of privilege that we exercise at the sufferance of “the public,” “society,” or “the people.”
Candidates, Politicians, Campaigns, and Parties
Politico: Eric Cantor’s legacy
By Darren Samuelsohn
Eric Cantor will leave behind a modest legislative record when he departs Congress at the end of this year.
But that’s largely thanks to the Washington dysfunction he played a big role in creating.
NY Times: How Eric Cantor’s Defeat Could Hurt Republican Fund-Raising
By Derek Willis
Mr. Cantor’s leadership PAC, which he uses to dole out campaign money to his House colleagues and to Republican candidates, has raised more money since the beginning of 2013 than any other run by a member of Congress. It brought in more than $3.5 million from last year until April 30. (Figures for May will be available by June 20). Even as he raised millions for his own race, Mr. Cantor pushed hundreds of thousands of dollars to his colleagues and to his local party.
Part of his fund-raising success is due to his position as majority leader, and his successor will have similar sway. But Mr. Cantor has also shown an ability to raise money from donors some Republicans struggle to attract — and that will be harder for the party to replace.
NY Times: A Chicago Homecoming for Hillary Clinton on Her Book Tour
By Amy Chozick
“Welcome home to Chicago,” Mr. Emanuel said to Mrs. Clinton, who discussed “Hard Choices,” a memoir about her time as secretary of state that was released on Tuesday.
Mrs. Clinton grew up in the close-in suburb of Park Ridge and first met Mr. Emanuel when she was the first lady of Arkansas. Mr. Emanuel worked on Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign, and went on to serve as a top White House adviser to Mr. Clinton before starting his own political career as a member of Congress.
State and Local
Connecticut –– AP: Court denies DGA’s challenge of Connecticut law
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A U.S. District court judge has denied a request by the Democratic Governors Association to prohibit state elections officials from enforcing a Connecticut campaign finance law placing restrictions on independent expenditures made to political campaigns.
U.S. District Court Judge Janet C. Hall on Wednesday denied the DGA’s motion for a preliminary injunction, determining the political fundraising organization lacked standing to pursue the claim further.
