Dark Money, Super PACs, and the 2012 Election
Larry Powell author Melissa M Smith author
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Lexington Books
Published:13th Nov '15
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
More than two billion dollars. That’s how much money was spent in the 2012 presidential campaign—the most expensive campaign in history. Each party raised and spent more than one billion dollars as the traditional boundaries of campaign financing were ignored. Both parties could do so because they were playing in a game with new rules—rules that largely developed after the 2010 Supreme Court ruling known as Citizens United. That case removed many restrictions on donation limits, particularly for corporations and unions. The result was the development of a new set of political players called “Super PACs” that were allowed to enter the political arena and spend an unlimited amount of money on behalf of clients. This book looks at how Super PACs raised and spent money and influenced the 2012 election. It provides an insightful look at how both right- and left-leaning groups approached the election and impacted the political process.
The Supreme Court's 2010 decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission dramatically restructured how American elections are funded by gutting restrictions on corporations' ability to give money to political candidates. One of the most impactful resultant changes was the rise of the super PAC, a new kind of political action committee that could raise exponentially larger sums than its predecessors by channeling corporate donations. Although the full significance of super PACs will not be known for several election cycles, this study is a fine initial exploration of how they have altered the American electoral landscape. Smith and Powell compartmentalize their approach by detailing and analyzing the role that super PACs played in the Republican presidential primaries, in President Obama's preparations for his reelection bid, and in the general election for president. . . .In addition, the authors separately scrutinize candidate-affiliated super PACs and independent ones. While many of the accounts in this slim monograph are brief, they are highly informative and readable, and can serve as an excellent introduction to the subject for students and scholars alike. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Undergraduate collections all levels and above. * CHOICE *
Big money, or Super PACs, was more influential in the 2012 American presidential campaign than in any prior campaign. This book provides a thorough, interesting explanation of how and why Super PACs were founded. More importantly, the authors examine specific consequences of big money in the 2012 primaries and the general election. Readers will acquire a keen understanding of how individuals and large corporations can use money to influence American political campaigns. -- John Allen Hendricks, Stephen F. Austin State University
Smith and Powell have done excellent work building on their 2010 volume on campaign finance reform. No study of political communication and elections can be complete without understanding how the money flows, and this text provides an excellent foundation for understanding that. -- William F. Harlow, University of Texas of the Permian Basin
ISBN: 9781498532150
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
126 pages