SuperPAC Mad Lib Formula for Winning Political Campaigns

Hilarious SuperPAC Mad Lib formula for the ubiquitous negative campaign ad, created by the very talented Mark Fiore.

Thanks also to comic genius Stephen Colbert whose “Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow” PAC deftly highlights the inherent absurdities of SuperPACs, which were first allowed in the US by the 2009 Supreme Court decision Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. The Court ruled that corporations and unions could spend unlimited amounts of money in elections:

Political spending is a form of protected speech under the First Amendment, and the government may not keep corporations or unions from spending money to support or denounce individual candidates in elections. While corporations or unions may not give money directly to campaigns, they may seek to persuade the voting public through other means, including ads, especially where these ads were not broadcast.

that essentially they had the same free speech rights as individuals. In practice that means they have the right to drown out the speech of individuals.

SuperPACs have already raised over $130 million this election cycle, and we’re really just getting started. OpenSecrets.org lists the causes these SuperPACs serve. Buyer beware!

Votes still matter more than money, but money, let’s face it, buys votes because of the ability to dominate and overwhelm in any media market. I’ve written before that Americans own the media airwaves, but sadly, because they don’t understand the policies that bear on broadcasting in politics and don’t demand better, it’s capitalism on parade as the profits from paid political advertising is staggering. Our democracy suffers for it.

Debate-by-soundbite is a poor way to lead a country. And money-might does not make right. Money is not speech, however it’s the only thing that those in power will listen to, the only thing many people respect, unfortunately. That being the case for now, women must understand why improving their own economic power and status in the marketplace is the only way to effect long-term change for their rights. Women must build their own power infrastructure. But sisters, we must try not to lose our souls along the way.