Bye-bye democracy: The oligarchs at play
Influence Industry: In Wisconsin recall effort, the side with most money won big
By Dan Eggen, WashPost, Published: June 6
If the Wisconsin recall battle was a test of the power of political spending, the big money won big.
Republican Gov. Scott Walker, who survived an effort by the state’s Democrats to unseat him in a special election on Tuesday, outspent his opponent by more than 7 to 1 and easily overcame massive get-out-the-vote efforts by Democrats. The recall contest ranks as the most expensive race in Wisconsin history, with the candidates and interest groups spending more than $63 million combined.
Walker was bolstered by wealthy out-of-state donors who gave as much as $500,000 each under state rules that allow incumbents to ignore contribution limits in a recall election. He raised $30.5 million, while his Democratic challenger, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, raised $3.9 million, according to data compiled by the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.
The big spending was made possible in part by the landmark Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission , which allowed corporations and unions to spend unlimited amounts on elections and made it easier for wealthy individuals to bankroll such efforts. Wisconsin is among a number of states that previously banned direct election spending by corporations and labor groups.
As a result, many Democrats and campaign watchdog groups see the Badger State matchup as a test run of sorts for November, when super PACs and other interest groups could spend $1 billion or more on political ads and organizing efforts in races for the White House and Congress. The outcome also has prompted hand-wringing on the left over whether pro-Democratic groups, which traditionally focus on ground-game organizing rather than advertising, will need to rethink their strategy
(More here.)
If the Wisconsin recall battle was a test of the power of political spending, the big money won big.
Republican Gov. Scott Walker, who survived an effort by the state’s Democrats to unseat him in a special election on Tuesday, outspent his opponent by more than 7 to 1 and easily overcame massive get-out-the-vote efforts by Democrats. The recall contest ranks as the most expensive race in Wisconsin history, with the candidates and interest groups spending more than $63 million combined.
Walker was bolstered by wealthy out-of-state donors who gave as much as $500,000 each under state rules that allow incumbents to ignore contribution limits in a recall election. He raised $30.5 million, while his Democratic challenger, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, raised $3.9 million, according to data compiled by the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.
The big spending was made possible in part by the landmark Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission , which allowed corporations and unions to spend unlimited amounts on elections and made it easier for wealthy individuals to bankroll such efforts. Wisconsin is among a number of states that previously banned direct election spending by corporations and labor groups.
As a result, many Democrats and campaign watchdog groups see the Badger State matchup as a test run of sorts for November, when super PACs and other interest groups could spend $1 billion or more on political ads and organizing efforts in races for the White House and Congress. The outcome also has prompted hand-wringing on the left over whether pro-Democratic groups, which traditionally focus on ground-game organizing rather than advertising, will need to rethink their strategy
(More here.)
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1 Comments:
False. Absolutely false. There was plenty of soft money spent on Barrett's campaign which is not counted. My neighbors in my area where my family owns a lake cabin in Burnett County reported to me union representatives with iPads out soliciting GOTV door to door in the last few weeks. The money involved in these efforts is not counted towards Barrett, but you can damn well assure there was plenty of money for union field reps to have iPad technology with mobile phone capabilities built in.
Beyond that, people are tired of big government. People want solutions to problems that are the result of simply too much government. Government regulation run amok even in Wisconsin where the DNR can tell me as a lake shore property owner what type of treated wood I can and can't use for my dock. That's just one of hundreds of thousands of examples of government run amok and most people in Wisconsin - and the election verifies this - don't believe that policy differences are a reason to recall a governor. People are just weary of more and more and more and more and more and more and more government.
The lesson Obama better take from Wisconsin is that he better start talking about ratcheting back the constant and never-ending intrustion of government in our day-to-day lives. People have had it with relentless government and they are not going to stand for it any longer.
That is why Walker won.
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