Can the Democrats Catch Up in the Super-PAC Game?

[groovedaddy]

One day in April, Paul Begala, a former Bill Clinton political strategist and CNN analyst, placed a phone call to a wealthy and left-leaning 41-year-old Houston lawyer named Steve Mostyn. Begala is himself a Texan, albeit one who gives off the jittery vibe of a Catskills comedian, and the two men have a few friends in common. But Mostyn, a frequent giver to Democratic causes, quickly intuited that this wasn’t a social call. Begala reminded Mostyn that he was now working as a consultant for Priorities USA Action, a so-called super PAC run by Bill Burton and Sean Sweeney, former White House senior staff members, that was committed to Barack Obama’s re-election. He and Burton would be coming to Houston on Friday, April 13, Begala said. Could they arrange for a meeting?

“I’ll be in Fort Lauderdale that day on my boat,” Mostyn replied. “You’re welcome to join me there.”

The invitation was not thoroughly sincere, evidenced by the fact that Mostyn did not inform Begala where his boat would be docked. Nonetheless, at noon sharp on Friday the 13th, Begala (who is prone to seasickness) and Burton (who had taken a red-eye flight from San Francisco, where he spent the previous afternoon giving his pitch to wealthy progressives at the Telegraph Hill home of the Taco Bell heir Rob McKay), materialized at the correct Fort Lauderdale marina, each wearing jeans and bearing iPads.

For the uninitiated, “boat” is Texan for “yacht.” Burton and Begala climbed aboard the outsize Mostyn vessel, All or Nothing, and the attractive first mate handed them cans of Michelob Ultra. A four-hour conversation ensued. Mostyn and his wife, Amber (who is also an attorney), were congenial but blunt. They were not fans of super PACs — political action committees that can receive unlimited donations from individuals, corporations and unions, usually for the purpose of saturating the airwaves with attack ads — and were appalled by the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision in 2010, which made such entities possible. For that matter, the Mostyns weren’t entirely happy with Obama. The president had been far too accommodating to Republicans — “naïve,” as Amber Mostyn expressed it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/08/magazine/can-the-democrats-catch-up-in-the-super-pac-game.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20120708

[still_one]

1. nope, they cannot catch up in the money game thanks to citizens united. However, if there are more

of us then them, it shouldn't matter

[saltwn]

2. We proved

We proved (so far) people are better than money. The fact B. Obama is even President speaks to what individuals can do when motivated. They can only fix so many elections, and if we remain strong and get out the vote, I am convinced Citizens United not withstanding, the people will again win the Presidency.
As for the congressional seats people need to be made aware , when reminded to vote, of how important those seats are to the process. The impression needs to be made one-on-one that a vote in mid term is just as important as the general.
Yes, yes. Yes we can. If we will.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. Welcome to DU, saltwn!

I'm glad you found us...And I really agree with what you've said here.

[saltwn]

4. Thanks, Peg

Funny how it happened. A troll type conservative on another forum made a bet how long it would take him/her to get kicked off DU. Although I had heard of this place, I never browsed around here until then. I liked what I saw and..here I iz!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. Good for you!

I've been here 7 years, and this place is my electronic home.

Be sure to look around; there are a lot of groups where you can do other things besides politics. Click the Forums & Groups tab at the top of the page to see...