The Citizen's United Decision and the Way Forward

Can you imagine being the receptionist at the office of Bob Perry, the Texas billionaire of Swift Boat fame on the day that the Supreme Court issued it's decision on the Citizen's United case. In addition to underwriting the costs of the Swift Boat campaign against John Kerry, Perry has been one of the largest funders of GOP candidates, and not just in Texas. Every conservative interest group in the country must have hit the speed dial number for Perry's office. After all the decision came with only ten months left before the next major federal election and the flood gates just opened. I hope she got hazard pay.

Contrast that to the typical Dem response, which understandably ran to the melancholy and angry side. As a result of the decision corporations, unions and other special interests can now spend unlimited money at any time to directly oppose a candidate they don't like. Dems believing that Corporate America prefers the let 'em eat cake GOPers immediately promised to do all in their power to get the genie back in the bottle. As bad as the decision was, and I do think it was bad, I think the Dem's response was totally counter productive and if it drags on too long will put them behind the eight ball.

First of all, the genie's not going back. No matter what legislation gets introduced, the ruling is not going to be reversed. Second most Dems dream of the day when there will be widespread public funding of campaigns (Obama's skipping public funding not withstanding). But, that's not going to happen unless the Dem's beat the GOPers at their own game. Tossing in the towel before the match has even begun only makes Dems appear to the independent voters like they are incapable of competing. How can you beat 'em when you won't take them on? Unless the GOPers get their heads handed to them during the game they'll never agree to widespread public funding. (Sorry for all the sports analogies).

Initially, my response to the Dems response was to post a video of John Belushi's great speech in Animal House on my Facebook page and ask, "What would Senator Blutarsky Do?" Certainly, he wouldn't have quit. Well, It was kind of funny and it fit the situation.

Okay, so what's this got to do with investigation? Opp-research is investigation and it works! I know this first hand from my own race for the state house in 2004 and the over 100 races in which I have provided research to campaigns and interest groups. Except for first time voters, voters vote for the lesser of two evils. Opp-research makes it clear just who is the greater evil.

The problem for Dems tends to be that Opp-research is left to the rookies as an after thought. Young people are so good with the Internet after all, whereas GOPers like Bob Perry use the pros. So the question for the Dem interest groups is this, "Do you think your policies will be implemented if the GOPers win?" If so, then leave the investigation work to amateurs. But if not, it's time rethink the approach. There's less than 9 months til the election. Time to focus.

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