47-584: Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow (better known as the Colbert Super PAC ) was a United States political action committee (PAC) established by Stephen Colbert , who portrayed a character of the same name who was a mock- conservative political pundit on Comedy Central 's satirical television series The Colbert Report . As a super PAC the organization could raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions and other groups, as well as wealthy individuals. Speaking in character, Colbert said
94-407: A Peabody Award for his show's series of parody reporting about his super PAC as an "innovative means of teaching American viewers about the landmark court decision". On November 12, 2012, Colbert announced his intention to dissolve Colbert Super PAC, citing the death of his fictional advisor Ham Rove . On December 13, 2012, Colbert announced that he was not required to say where the entire balance of
141-537: A Peabody Award was bestowed upon Stephen Colbert for his Super PAC parody as an "innovative means of teaching American viewers about the landmark court decision". In June 2014, the Annenberg Public Policy Center reported that the Colbert Super PAC segments increased viewers' knowledge of PAC and 501(c)(4) campaign finance regulation more successfully than other types of news media. Additionally,
188-520: A 2012 election interview ascertained that viewing The Colbert Report increased knowledge and perception of super PACs and "501(c)(4) groups." It showed an increase in knowledge of campaign finance regulation regarding independent expenditure groups. Their findings emphasize how the political satirist was successful in informing his viewers, even more than alternative types of news and media. Observing The Colbert Report affected how viewers perceived money in politics. Political action committee In
235-514: A 501(c)(4) shell corporation to which donations can be given anonymously without limit and used for political purposes, similar to American Crossroads . It was initially named the "Anonymous Shell Corporation", but according to the Delaware Secretary of State's Office the official name was changed to "Colbert Super PAC SHH Institute" on the same day. Donations made to the shell corporation could be funneled to ColbertPAC without disclosure of
282-678: A Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow". As you know, when we began Colbert Super PAC, we had a simple dream; to use the Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling to fashion a massive money cannon that would make all those who seek the White House quake with fear and beg our allegiance ... in strict accordance with federal election law. And you've responded generously; giving your (or, possibly, your parents') hard-earned money in record numbers. And although we value those donations, we were somewhat surprised to note that none of them ended in " -illion ". That
329-542: A PAC according to the state's election laws . Contributions to PACs from corporate or labor union treasuries are illegal, though these entities may sponsor a PAC and provide financial support for its administration and fundraising. Union-affiliated PACs may solicit contributions only from union members. Independent PACs may solicit contributions from the general public and must pay their own costs from those funds. Federal multi-candidate PACs may contribute to candidates as follows: In its 2010 case Citizens United v. FEC ,
376-461: A Pawlenty advertisement, Colbert chose to end his ad with a card saying " ColbertPAC ", mocking Pawlenty's PAC. In response, an executive from Comedy Central asked Colbert if he was serious about founding a PAC, because it could create "trouble" for the network. Colbert saw the value in creating a PAC to showcase the impact of the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision, in which
423-456: A candidate may talk to his super PAC through the media and the Super PAC can listen, just like everybody else. In a press release, the new PAC president, Jon Stewart, denied that he and Colbert would secretly coordinate their efforts: "Stephen and I have in no way have worked out a series of Morse-code blinks to convey information with each other on our respective shows." During the run-up to
470-522: A candidate or candidate committee. The political action committee emerged from the labor movement of 1943. The first PAC was the CIO-PAC , formed in July 1943 under CIO president Philip Murray and headed by Sidney Hillman . It was established after the U.S. Congress prohibited unions from giving direct contributions to political candidates. This restriction was initially imposed in 1907 on corporations through
517-601: A central committee maintained by said PAC. Furthermore, it required PACs to file regular reports with the Federal Election Commission(FEC) disclosing anyone who has donated at least $ 200. The Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional limits imposed on PACs by the legislature under First Amendment grounds in many cases, starting with Buckley v. Valeo . Throughout the past 30 years, campaign donations from PACs have been increasingly growing, with $ 333 million being raised in 1990 to $ 482 million in 2022. Even with
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#1732858233899564-572: A letter denying him permission to establish a PAC, but Colbert had Potter back on the show, who explained to Colbert and his audience that as a result of the Citizens United decision, Super PACs can be formed, which are less restrictive than regular PACs. Colbert filed a request with the FEC asking for a media exemption for coverage of his then-prospective Super PAC on a May 2011 episode of The Colbert Report . The FEC voted 5–1 to grant The Colbert Report
611-544: A limited media exemption during a June 2011 public meeting. Following the hearing, Colbert formally filed paperwork for the creation of his super PAC with the FEC secretary. The FEC approved Colbert's bid to form a Super PAC on June 30, 2011. Troubled by the fact that large corporations were not donating to his SuperPAC, on September 29, 2011, Potter explained that corporations prefer to remain anonymous when supporting political causes. Therefore, he helped Colbert set up in Delaware
658-513: A massive donation from [NAME WITHHELD], a kind and [ADJECTIVE WITHHELD] person who only wants to [OBJECTIVE WITHHELD]. In a January 31, 2012, FEC filing, the Super PAC reported raising over $ 219,000, making a grand total of $ 1.02 million raised. The filing also listed donors who gave more than $ 200 to the Super PAC, including Lieutenant Governor of California Gavin Newsom ($ 500), actor Bradley Whitford ($ 250), and actress Laura San Giacomo ($ 250). In
705-507: A parody of Republican strategist Karl Rove . Colbert reported that the Super PAC still had nearly $ 800,000 in funds. Colbert's lawyer, Trevor Potter, advised Stephen that he could form a second anonymous 501(c)(4) , then make out a check with the remaining funds to his first 501(c)(4) along with an Agency Letter which instructed the original 501(c)(4) to pay those funds to the second 501(c)(4) and give dispersal instructions to that second 501(c)(4). In doing so, he could avoid telling anyone - even
752-457: A press release Colbert said, "We raised it on my show and used it to materially influence the elections — in full accordance with the law. It's the way our founding fathers would have wanted it, if they had founded corporations instead of just a country." Colbert Super PAC reported raising over $ 33,000 in February 2012, with approximately $ 780,000 cash on hand. In the final pre-election filing for
799-838: A way dominant parties can capture seats from other parties. A leadership PAC sponsored by an elected official cannot use funds to support that official's own campaign. However, it may fund travel, administrative expenses, consultants, polling, and other non-campaign expenses. In the 2018 election cycle, leadership PACs donated more than $ 67 million to federal candidates. Super PACs, officially known as "independent expenditure-only political action committees," are unlike traditional PACs in that they may raise unlimited amounts from individuals, corporations, unions, and other groups to spend on, for example, ads overtly advocating for or against political candidates. However, they are not allowed to either coordinate with or contribute directly to candidate campaigns or political parties. Super PACs are subject to
846-488: Is not the organization's primary purpose. Colbert's organization could legally accept unlimited funds which may be donated by anonymous donors. Since the FEC doesn't require full disclosure, Colbert likened his 501(c)(4) to a "Campaign finance glory hole ": "You stick your money in the hole, the other person accepts your donation, and because it's happening anonymously, no one feels dirty!" Colbert said in September 2011 that he
893-408: Is why I formed the Colbert Super PAC S.H.H., a 501(c)(4), to help lure the big donors. As anybody who thumbs through the tax code on the toilet knows, a 501(c)(4) organization is a nonprofit that can take unlimited donations and never has to report the donors. This should be especially helpful considering that establishing this new 501(c)(4) has quadrupled our parentheses budget. Already, we have gotten
940-455: The 2018 election , the top ten PACs donated a total of $ 29,349,895 (directly, and via their affiliates and subsidiaries) to federal candidates: In the 2020 election , the top ten PACs donated a total of $ 28,276,448 (directly, and via their affiliates and subsidiaries) to federal candidates: In the 2022 election , the top ten PACs donated a total of $ 28,051,395 (directly, and via their affiliates and subsidiaries) to federal candidates: In
987-455: The 2024 election , the top ten PACs donated a total of $ 25,995,526 (directly, and via their affiliates and subsidiaries) to federal candidates: Secretary of State of Delaware The Secretary of State of Delaware is the head of the Department of State of the U.S. state of Delaware . The Department is in charge of a wide variety of public and governmental services, and is divided into
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#17328582338991034-513: The Ames Straw Poll . The following day the second ad ("Behind the Green Corn") was run. Two Iowa television stations ran the ads; however, WOI-TV told Colbert that they would not run the ads because they considered them confusing to viewers. In October 2011, the Super PAC released its third ad, titled "Foul Balls", concerning the 2011 NBA lockout . It also released a fourth ad, also related to
1081-555: The South Carolina primary , the super PAC released an "over the top negative ad" attacking Mitt Romney ("If Mitt Romney really believes 'corporations are people, my friend' then Mitt Romney is a serial killer ") and another which first attacked Stephen Colbert and then attacked the Super PAC itself. Both urged South Carolinians to vote for Herman Cain (a former candidate who had suspended his campaign but whose name still appeared on
1128-512: The Supreme Court held that corporations have free-speech rights to spend unlimited amounts of money in political advertising to elect or defeat candidates for office. On March 30, Colbert hosted former Federal Election Commission (FEC) Chairman Trevor Potter on the program to help him fill out the paperwork for the PAC. On April 14, Colbert revealed that Viacom , which owns Comedy Central, sent him
1175-691: The Supreme Court of the United States overturned sections of the Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (also known as the McCain–Feingold Act) that had prohibited corporate and union political independent expenditures in political campaigns. Citizens United declared it was unconstitutional to prohibit corporations and unions from spending from their general treasuries to promote candidates or from contributing to PACs. It left intact these laws' prohibitions on corporations or unions contributing directly to
1222-540: The Tillman Act . The Smith–Connally Act extended its coverage to labor unions in 1943. A series of campaign reform laws enacted during the 1970s facilitated the growth of PACs after these laws allowed corporations, trade associations, and labor unions to form PACs. In 1971 the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) created rules for disclosure, which made it so all donations received by PACs must go through
1269-665: The Yellow Ribbon Fund . The remaining money was split between the Campaign Legal Center and OpenSecrets , which both focus on campaign finance reform in the United States . As part of the acceptance of the "Ham Rove Memorial Fund" donation, the Campaign Legal Center agreed to name their meeting space "The Ham Rove Memorial Conference Room". Additionally, OpenSecrets agreed to name its conference room "The Colbert Super Pac Memorial Conference Room". In April 2012,
1316-510: The "Cain/Colbert" combo received over 6,000 votes, a fifth-place finish. Colbert announced that the Colbert Super PAC would come to college campuses, with the first college chapter of Colbert Super PAC recognized at the University of Texas at Austin . To facilitate this expansion, kits were available for purchase on the Super PAC website that contained instructions on how to start a Super PAC and several other seemingly unrelated items. Also included
1363-593: The 2012 general election, Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow reported $ 776,731 still on hand, with total contributions for the election cycle of $ 1,231,916. Colbert Super PAC had more donors in the state of Texas than Restore Our Future , the super PAC supporting Mitt Romney 's 2012 presidential campaign . On August 10, 2011, the first ad by the Super PAC, titled " Episode IV: A New Hope " ran in Iowa , telling Iowans to write-in "Rick Parry" ("With an 'A' for America -- With an 'A' for IowA") instead of Rick Perry at
1410-840: The 4,600 active, registered PACs, named "connected PACs", sometimes also called "corporate PACs", are established by businesses, non-profits, labor unions, trade groups, or health organizations. These PACs receive and raise money from a "restricted class", generally consisting of managers and shareholders in the case of a corporation or members in the case of a non-profit organization, labor union or other interest group. As of January 2009, there were 1,598 registered corporate PACs, 272 related to labor unions and 995 to trade organizations. Groups with an ideological mission, single-issue groups, and members of Congress and other political leaders may form "non-connected PACs". These organizations may accept funds from any individual, connected PAC, or organization. As of January 2009, there were 1,594 non-connected PACs,
1457-547: The IRS - where the money went. On December 13, 2012, Colbert reported that a nonprofit called the "Ham Rove Memorial Foundation", which Colbert was "surprised" he was on the board of, received a donation of $ 773,704.83, which was the amount that was left over from the Super PAC according to termination reports filed with the FEC. This money was distributed in $ 125,000 increments equally to four charities: DonorsChoose Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund, Team Rubicon , Habitat for Humanity , and
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1504-604: The NBA lockout, titled "Ball Gags". During the January 12, 2012 episode of The Colbert Report , Colbert announced his plans to run for "President of the United States of South Carolina". Colbert's lawyer, Trevor Potter, made it clear that it is illegal for Colbert to run for president while active in his Super PAC (though it would be perfectly legal for him to "volunteer" on its behalf). Colbert then signed over control of his Super PAC to Jon Stewart as president pro tempore , and announced that
1551-427: The Super PAC's funds ($ 773,704.83) had gone. Immediately following this, however he stated that a group called "The Ham Rove Memorial Foundation" had received an anonymous donation of $ 773,704.83, which it will use to support various charities. On March 10, 2011, during a segment on 2012 presidential contender Tim Pawlenty 's political action committee (PAC), Colbert announced the formation of his own PAC. Parodying
1598-614: The U.S. federal level, an organization becomes a PAC when it receives or spends more than $ 1,000 for the purpose of influencing a federal election, and registers with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), according to the Federal Election Campaign Act as amended by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (also known as the McCain–Feingold Act). At the state level, an organization becomes
1645-493: The United States, a political action committee ( PAC ) is a tax-exempt 527 organization that pools campaign contributions from members and donates those funds to campaigns for or against candidates, ballot initiatives , or legislation . The legal term PAC was created in pursuit of campaign finance reform in the United States . Democracies of other countries use different terms for the units of campaign spending or spending on political competition (see political finance ). At
1692-588: The campaigns—or often be a step ahead of them. His understanding of the possibilities inherent in the legal confusion was keen enough to discover and exploit absurd legalities before it became clear that actual candidates and political activists were doing the same thing. Potter called Colbert's ability to not only quickly understand complicated financial and legal concepts but to also make them funny "pure genius". In an October 2011 email to his supporters Colbert explained how his 501(c)(4) could be used to legally launder anonymous donations to his Super PAC, "Americans for
1739-571: The fastest-growing category. Elected officials and political parties cannot give more than the federal limit directly to candidates. However, they can set up a leadership PAC that makes independent expenditures . Provided the expenditure is not coordinated with the other candidate, this type of spending is not limited. Under the FEC (Federal Election Commission) rules, leadership PACs are non-connected PACs, and can accept donations from individuals and other PACs. Since current officeholders have an easier time attracting contributions, Leadership PACs are
1786-521: The following divisions: Some of the most important responsibilities of the Secretary of State involve registry of businesses and corporations , monitoring banks, and other commercial activities. However, unlike many other U.S. Secretaries of State , the Delaware Secretary of State is not in charge of administering elections in Delaware. The Delaware Department of Elections is a separate agency from
1833-423: The major growth, PAC contributions only made up 23% of the money raised by House candidates and only 10% for senate candidates, despite media coverage which tends to exaggerate contributions. Federal law formally allows for two types of PACs: connected and non-connected. Judicial decisions added a third classification, independent expenditure-only committees, which are colloquially known as "super PACs". Most of
1880-492: The money would be raised not only for political ads, but also "normal administrative expenses, including but not limited to, luxury hotel stays, private jet travel, and PAC mementos from Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus ." Colbert Super PAC reported raising over $ 1.22 million in their January 2012 filing with the Federal Election Commission . Colbert has been credited with increasing awareness of Super PACs through his late night television show. In April 2012, Colbert received
1927-418: The organization would now be referred to as " The Definitely Not Coordinating With Stephen Colbert Super PAC ". Immediately after this legal block was removed, Colbert announced his decision to form an exploratory committee for his run for "President of the United States of South Carolina". Super PACs are not allowed to coordinate directly with candidates or political parties since they are "independent"; however,
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1974-548: The potential Republican primary electorate in South Carolina were aware that Stephen Colbert was exploring a potential candidacy for president of the United States of South Carolina, while 48% were unaware or unsure. 21% of the potential Republican primary electorate reported they would be more likely to vote for former candidate Herman Cain if that vote served as encouragement for Colbert, while 62% would be less likely to cast their ballot for Cain, and 9% were unsure. On January 21,
2021-575: The primary ballot), whom Colbert was using as a proxy as it was too late to get on the ballot himself. A January 19 poll showed that if Colbert were to run for "president of the United States of South Carolina", 18% said they were at least "kinda somewhat likely" to cast their ballot for Colbert, including 4% who were very likely, 7% who were somewhat likely, and 7% who were "kinda somewhat likely". However, 13% reported they were not too likely, 56% say they were not likely at all, 8% didn't know enough about him, and 4% were unsure. Poll results showed that 52% of
2068-529: The same organizational, reporting, and public disclosure requirements of traditional PACs. A hybrid PAC (sometimes called a Carey Committee) is similar to a super PAC, but can give limited amounts of money directly to campaigns and committees, while still making independent expenditures in unlimited amounts. OpenSecrets maintains a list of the largest PACs by election cycle on its website OpenSecrets.org. Their list can be filtered by receipts or different types of expenses, political party, and type of PAC. In
2115-507: The ultimate source of the donation. When Colbert asked what the difference is between this and money laundering , Potter answered, "It's hard to say." Colbert was the sole board member of the shell corporation and initially served as president, secretary, and treasurer of his organization, whose stated purpose was to educate the public. However, the organization could legally donate to his Super PAC, lobby for legislation, and participate in political campaigns and elections, as long as campaigning
2162-430: Was a treasure map , which allowed students who started their own Super PAC to begin a scavenger hunt with a personal appearance by Colbert himself as the prize. On June 29, it was announced that a student from the University of Pittsburgh won the challenge and would receive the visit. On November 12, 2012, Colbert announced his intention to dissolve Colbert Super PAC, citing the death of his fictional advisor "Ham Rove",
2209-570: Was looking for a billionaire donor, or in the language of Colbert, a " sugar daddy ". According to experts, Colbert's actions were perfectly legal and shine a light on how the financing of elections has dramatically changed since the Citizens United ruling. Speaking in 2014, Trevor Potter said: [Colbert] was able to show America the loopholes (or "loop-chasms" as he called them) in the laws designed to regulate coordination between candidates and supposedly "independent" groups. By having his own Super PAC and 501(c)(4), Stephen could evolve right alongside
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