Political money in the United States is often divided into two categories, "hard" money and "soft" money.
"Hard" money is contributed directly to a candidate of a political party. It is regulated by law in both source and amount, and monitored by the Federal Election Commission.
"Soft" money is contributed to the political party as a whole. Historically, "soft money" referred to contributions made to political parties for purposes of party building and other activities not directly related to the election of specific candidates.
We have all see how the GOP has marched lock step over the past two years in both houses of congress.
Now we are about to see the GOP saturate the airwaves with Presidential candidates - each one individually spending money garnering public attention and more importantly our BIG BROTHER - the corporate owned media.
There's no mistaking their corporate backed strategy and it's a direct product of the Supreme court ruling.
Corporations are "bank rolling" out different flavors and sizes and shapes of the same product much the same as they do when selling
anything to the public.
As a result we will be totally buried in GOP propaganda on our television sets from dawn to dusk.
Possibly even in 3-D!!!!!!!
The GOP is in the process of selling their brand at the state level using multiple primaries and multiple candidates.
AND they are doing this knowingly. It is a GOP strategy not a coincidence that we are about to have an onslaught of republican Presidential candidates - most of who don't have a payer in hell - AND KNOW IT!
I'm not sure how campaign financing laws apply for primary campaigns. What are the reporting requirements? Are their Federal or State requirements if there are any?
If there are no restrictions - then get ready for the mother of all propaganda rides this nation has ever seen.
The GOP is not shy when it comes to using dirty political tactics. They wrote the book! AND one might conclude they are both cornered and desperate at the moment despite the November blip on the radar; which had less to do with the GOP and more to do with America's predilection for a two party system.
So all these very low caliber Presidential hopefuls are going to collectively pull down their pants and panties and moon the American voter courtesy of the fortune 1000.
Will we find it entertaining and watch? Yes. It's what we've been trained to do 7/24/365 - watch paid commercials and reality TV shows.
Here is an excerpt for the Government site on campaign financing laws and regulations:
Primary Matching Payments
Eligible candidates in the Presidential primaries may receive public funds to match the private contributions they raise. While a candidate may raise money from many different sources, only contributions from individuals are matchable; contributions from PACs and party committees are not. Furthermore, while an individual may give up to $2,400 to a primary candidate, only the first $250 of that contribution is matchable.
To participate in the matching fund program, a candidate must demonstrate broad-based support by raising more than $5,000 in matchable contributions in each of 20 different states. Candidates must agree to use public funds only for campaign expenses, and they must comply with spending limits. Beginning with a $10 million base figure, the overall primary spending limit is adjusted each Presidential election year to reflect inflation. In 2008, the limit was $42.05 million.
What this illustrates is that there is no limit on the number of primary candidates and that the threshold for getting in is only 20 states times $5,000 each which is nothing to large corporate sponsors. That is why we are about to see the largest number of GOP primary candidates by far in the history of politcs in this Nation. Nothing more than a GOP ruse to garner attention with money and to game the primary system.
For the good of our nation the GOP should go down in 2012 - and using money, propaganda and the media is their only chance for survival. The primaries are a way for them to get a leg up. So get ready for the onslaught.
They have no principals or policies that inspire or give hope.
They represent the past in my opinion and OUR President represents the future.
