Super PACs and Stephen Colbert

[Ed W]

Stephen Colbert is trying to start a Super PAC, appropriately intended to amplify the voice of the Colbert Nation through a "megaphone of cash."  His parent company, Viacom, would then be able to funnel as much cash as it liked through the PAC due to the Citizens United ruling.  He filed for a media exemption with the FEC in order to use his show to promote his PAC, something that is presently not permitted if I understand this right.  The FEC is supposed to rule on this in the next 60 days.

Politico reports that if the FEC rules that "any airtime Colbert devotes to promoting the PAC should be treated, and disclosed, as a so-called in-kind contribution from Viacom," the decision could "restrict the freedom of a handful of high-profile Republicans who serve as paid Fox News pundits and are affiliated with PACs, including Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee, Karl Rove and Dick Morris."


http://www.businessinsider.com/stephen-colbert-super-pac-sarah-palin-karl-rove-2011-5

[Teatownclown]

Colbert is a joke....a really good joke....

Thanks for posting this.

[Townsend]

Someone's trying to get him...


Colbert Report Suspends Production 'Due to Unforeseen Circumstances'


http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/02/16/colbert-report-suspends-production-due-to-unforeseen-circumstances/#ixzz1mZ8OAO2V

What's going on at the news desk of Comedy Central's faux-conservative host? Last night's episode of The Colbert Report wasn't supposed to be a rerun. As Mediaite and Third Beat noticed, instead of a new show, viewers were treated with an old episode. Audience members who were invited to the taping tweeted screenshots of an email from Colbert Nation saying that the taping was canceled "due to unforeseen circumstances."


As of now there doesn't appear to be any additional information for why the show isn't airing new episodes this week. A Comedy Central spokesperson emailed us this statement: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, the show will air repeat episodes on Wednesday, February 15 and Thursday, February 16."

We'll update when we hear more.

[patric]

Wall Street Journal cited an emergency in Cobert's family.

[Gaspar]

I hope all is well with him and his family.

BTW, didn't he start his own PAC and raise something like a million dollars as a joke for Herman Cain even though Cain has suspended his campaign?

Now, even though he was just trying to be funny, he did fill out all of the federal paperwork and accept donations.  He was very proud of this.  I love Colbert, and thought it was hilarious.

If I recall correctly, talk-shows, entertainment Shows, and the news are exempt from the FCC's Equal Time rules under section 47 USC, however, if one of these organizations were to say. . .form a Political Action Committee to raise money to support a campaign, they would no longer be exempt.

Since forming his PAC, he has broadcast perhaps hundreds of hours of the Colbert Report, and Comedy Central has not charged him a dime for that time.  On the contrary, they have paid him, under his contract, for that time.  So if say a candidate were to request "Equal Time," within "forty-five days preceding the date of a primary or primary runoff election" the network would be required to provide that time at the same rate, or in this case pay!

Imagine what would happen if angry Ol Newt were to give Casey Patterson, president of Comedy Central, a call?  I wonder what kind of stain that would leave in his underwear?  I'm sure they could come to some kind equatable agreement.

[cannon_fodder]

Yes, he did raise $1mil and has over $800k in cash on hand.  It was raised for "Stephen Colbert for President (of South Carolina).  The bit was and continues to be awesome - pointing out all kinds of insane rules.  Stephen cannot control the SPAC, so he gave control to John Stewart who renamed it something like "the in no way am I colaborating with Stephen Colbert Super-PAC for Stephen Colbert".  There is a loophole in the no collaboration thing... they can say whatever they want to each other so long as they are both on the phone with an attorney they both happen to employ. Obviously this was also made light of as it negates the rule entirely.

I suspect what is to come may be the best... when a superpac no longer has a purpose (Perry PAC, Bachman PAC, etc.) the proprietor of the PAC can essentially do whatever they want with the money.  They can donate it to another PAC, give it to a charity, give it to the candidate, or buy a yatch.  I have to imagine something funny is coming for $800k.

[Gaspar]

Yes, he did raise $1mil and has over $800k in cash on hand.  It was raised for "Stephen Colbert for President (of South Carolina).  The bit was and continues to be awesome - pointing out all kinds of insane rules.  Stephen cannot control the SPAC, so he gave control to John Stewart who renamed it something like "the in no way am I colaborating with Stephen Colbert Super-PAC for Stephen Colbert".  There is a loophole in the no collaboration thing... they can say whatever they want to each other so long as they are both on the phone with an attorney they both happen to employ. Obviously this was also made light of as it negates the rule entirely.

I suspect what is to come may be the best... when a superpac no longer has a purpose (Perry PAC, Bachman PAC, etc.) the proprietor of the PAC can essentially do whatever they want with the money.  They can donate it to another PAC, give it to a charity, give it to the candidate, or buy a yatch.  I have to imagine something funny is coming for $800k.

But since cain has not officially ended his candidacy (only suspended it), and since Cobert used his program to raise money for his PAC, can't another candidate request equal time at an equal rate?

[Ed W]

Gaspar, are you thinking of the Fairness Doctrine?  It was introduced in 1948, eliminated in 1987, and the language pertaining to it was removed last year:

The Fairness Doctrine had two basic elements: It required broadcasters to devote some of their airtime to discussing controversial matters of public interest, and to air contrasting views regarding those matters. Stations were given wide latitude as to how to provide contrasting views: It could be done through news segments, public affairs shows, or editorials. The doctrine did not require equal time for opposing views but required that contrasting viewpoints be presented.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairness_Doctrine

I think the Fairness Doctrine was a good idea and I'd like to see it return.  Unfortunately, it would probably put some 'news' broadcasters out of business.

[Gaspar]

Gaspar, are you thinking of the Fairness Doctrine?  It was introduced in 1948, eliminated in 1987, and the language pertaining to it was removed last year:

The Fairness Doctrine had two basic elements: It required broadcasters to devote some of their airtime to discussing controversial matters of public interest, and to air contrasting views regarding those matters. Stations were given wide latitude as to how to provide contrasting views: It could be done through news segments, public affairs shows, or editorials. The doctrine did not require equal time for opposing views but required that contrasting viewpoints be presented.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairness_Doctrine

I think the Fairness Doctrine was a good idea and I'd like to see it return.  Unfortunately, it would probably put some 'news' broadcasters out of business.

No.  I'm talking about Section 47 of the USC.  Equal opportunities requirement; censorship prohibition; allowance of station use; news appearances exception; public interest; public issues discussion opportunities

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/47/315

He transitioned from entertainment or news the moment he began to use his broadcast to openly raise money for a candidate.  This gives other candidates the ability to ask for equal time.

[JCnOwasso]

Gas, I am pretty sure that his Lawyer and Viacom's (Comedy Centrals parent company) lawyers have went to the depths of the law to ensure that he is not breaking it. 

The SuperPAC was not formed for the Stephen Colbert for President of the United States [of South Carolina]... It turned into that and he had to turn it over to Stewart.  The SuperPAC was started and is being used to show us that they [superPacs] are a joke and nothing more than a money funnel.  The candidates are claiming they have no influence on the SuperPAC and have no idea what the PACs are doing.  Colbert and Stewart are showing that there is virtually no separation of a candidate and a SuperPAC.  The discussions with the lawyer on the show on how far they can discuss things was amazing. 

As much as both shows are political satire, they are doing a big service to show how broken the campaign and campaign financing systems are. 

[nathanm]

No.  I'm talking about Section 47 of the USC.  Equal opportunities requirement; censorship prohibition; allowance of station use; news appearances exception; public interest; public issues discussion opportunities

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/47/315

He transitioned from entertainment or news the moment he began to use his broadcast to openly raise money for a candidate.  This gives other candidates the ability to ask for equal time.

You may want to read that citation you provided a little more closely, as it does not mean what you think it means. Be on the lookout for the megacorporation-sized loophole you missed before.

[Hoss]

You may want to read that citation you provided a little more closely, as it does not mean what you think it means. Be on the lookout for the megacorporation-sized loophole you missed before.

[RecycleMichael]

gaspar cracks me up.

The reason Colbert is gone is because his 91 year-old mother is very ill.

If the other candidates demanded equal time, Comedy Central would LOVE to have each of them appear on his show.

[Hoss]

gaspar cracks me up.

The reason Colbert is gone is because his 91 year-old mother is very ill.

If the other candidates demanded equal time, Comedy Central would LOVE to have each of them appear on his show.

Maybe Scott could ask Colbert if HE could appear on his show.

Now THAT would be entertainment!

[Townsend]

Colbert Super PAC Out-Fundraises Ron Paul

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/04/colbert-super-pac-out-fundraises-ron-paul/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter