Leave it to the son of Harry Reid to come up with what the dean of the Nevada political press corps, Jon Ralston, calls the “one of the most brazen schemes in Nevada history.” For a state that includes Las Vegas that's a hell of a designation.
When you've grown up around a man willing to do whatever it takes to climb the rungs of power and hold on, you begin to see the world in a warped manner.
This warped vision of the world led Rory Reid's failed gubernatorial campaign to set up a collection of 90 political action committees (PACs) for the sole purpose of funneling money from them to the campaign.
Reid, who was fully aware of what was done, essentially received more than $750,000 from one PAC – 75 times the legal limit — after his team created dozens of smaller PACS that had no other purpose other than to serve as conduits from a larger entity that the candidate funded by asking large donors for money.
As political junkies we admire his chutzpah in trying to pull this off. As conservatives we think this just points out the complete idiocy of campaign finance laws.
The Secretary of State has become involved sending Reid's campaign a letter demanding more information. The response is due in about two weeks and Ralston surmises Reid has had his team preparing for this legal obstacle for a while now.
If the Democrats in Colorado helped prove that federal campaign laws were flexible, to say the least, then if this scheme does not put Reid and his team behind bars (which we doubt it will), they've proven campaign finance laws are worth less than the paper they are printed on.
Money will always find its way into politics. There is simply too much at stake in the formation and implementation of laws and regulations for companies and wealthy individuals to sit idly by, hoping for the best outcome.
We here at The Peak are realists and believe laws should be developed that recognize those realities.
So we say junk all the campaign finance laws and allow all donations, but demand they be published online within 24 hours of receipt.
This is just plain immoral. I’m glad this guy is getting in some hot water for this. The campaign finance laws are supposed to stop this kind of corruption, and it seems clear to me that it’s working.
If corporations and labor unions can spend unlimited amounts running TV ads to support a candidate, then why can’t a person give unlimited amounts to that candidate?
Do corporations and labor unions have more rights than individuals for free speech?
The guy has guts. You’re absolutely right, though. Campaign finance laws are more harmful than helpful. They just make the process less transparent and more convoluted.