Add this to middle-class woes: Two Super PACs that have vacuumed millions from billionaires and corporations are outspending political parties, unions, trade associations and political action committees, according to an analysis by Pro Publica.
The Koch brothers' Americans for Prosperity and Karl Rove's Crossroads GPS have already spent $60 million on attack ads. The electorate has no way of knowing which corporations and billionaires are contributing to this tsunami of deceptive anti-middle-class propaganda.
Reports Kim Baker at Pro Publica:
Campaign-finance reform advocates say the spending by the two organizations highlights the role anonymous money is playing in this election, which will be the most expensive in history.
"First of all, it shows how much desire there is for secrecy among huge donors who want to be able to spend money to influence this election without leaving any fingerprints," said Fred Wertheimer, who runs Democracy 21, a watchdog group. "Secondly, it shows that so far, there is an enormous advantage being played in this election by just two groups that are exercising undue influence in the elections..."
After the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision in January 2010, which paved the way for unlimited corporate and union spending on federal elections, many predicted that super PACs would become the biggest vehicle for outside spending. Hundreds of super PACs soon sprang up, some of which paired up with c4s.
But it's the sidekicks, the c4s, that have proved more muscular. Rove's super PAC, American Crossroads, has spent an estimated $6.6 million on broadcast TV ads mentioning a candidate for president, CMAG data shows. Crossroads GPS has spent more than six times as much.
