You need to know about this: So called "social welfare groups"

[cali]

I've been vaguely aware of "social welfare groups", but didn't really understand them. I was reading this article about how the repukes are slamming Sherrod Brown:

Revealed: The Dark Money Group Attacking Sen. Sherrod Brown

<snip>

The Associated Press reported last month that outside groups have spent $15 million supporting Mandel compared to about $3 million on the Democratic side.

We still don't know who is putting up the money for the Government Integrity Fund's ads because the group is a non-profit "social welfare" group, which don't have to release donor information or register with the Federal Election Commission. Such groups are supposed to be "primarily" engaged in promoting social welfare but they have been flooding the airwaves with political ads in the wake of the Supreme Court's Citizens United case and decisions by regulatory decisions.

<snip>

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/07/sherrod-brown_n_1864667.html?utm_hp_ref=elections-2012

That article led me to this one:

<snip>

"Contributions to the RJC are not reported," Brooks told the people sitting around a horseshoe-shaped table. "We don't make our donors' names available. We can take corporate money, personal money, cash, shekels, whatever you got."

The Republican Jewish Coalition and similar organizations enjoy tax-exempt status in exchange for promoting social welfare. In this election, the most expensive in U.S. history, they also have emerged as the primary conduit for anonymous big-money contributions.

Forget super PACs, their much-hyped cousins, which can take unlimited contributions but must name their donors. More money is being spent on TV advertising in the presidential race by social welfare nonprofits, known as 501(c)(4)s for their section of the tax code, than by any other type of independent group.

As of Aug. 8, they had spent more than $71 million on ads mentioning a candidate for president, according to estimates by Kantar Media's Campaign Media Analysis Group, or CMAG. Super PACs have spent an estimated $56 million.

<snip>

http://www.propublica.org/article/how-nonprofits-spend-millions-on-elections-and-call-it-public-welfare

Needless to say, repuke money in this sleazeball arena far outpaces dem money.

[movonne]

1. this calls for boots on the ground....

[Cleita]

3. Yeah, but many here on DU think they are low class.

Maybe the masses affected by this should be having $1,000 a plate fund raisers instead. It's so much classier.

[cali]

4. oh bullshit. Cleita

you know better than that.

[Cleita]

7. Couldn't help it.

[Cleita]

2. Until we have real campaign finance reform,

stuff like this is going to keep happening in our system that is corrupting by the day. So what can we do?

One thing we can do is take to the streets to demand that the system change. Congress isn't going to do anything until the people make them take notice. But, the consensus here seems to be that protests are so low class.

[cali]

5. We can start by educating ourselves.

Knowledge is the first tool. Did you read the entire second article?

We can start demanding that these groups adhere to the "non-political mandate". We can start petitions demanding that the groups blatantly breaking the laws, be investigated. We can spread the information around.

[Cleita]

6. You know people have already been doing that for years now

and every time some Congressman or Senator introduces a bill, it doesn't really see the light of day. We have the big obstructionist Party making sure of it. If by some miracle, we vote those old goats out and get a majority liberal Congress then there is hope of working through the system. If not, and we get the same GOOPers in power, we have no choice but to take it to the next level. It's gone too far now especially with the Citizens United coup d' etat.