Big-Donor Money Has Not Worked in the 2016 Campaign. Yet.

3/1/16

Unit 3: Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/01/opinion/big-donor-money-has-not-worked-in-the-2016-campaign-yet.html?_r=0

This presidential election has been very unusual in many different cases. People with large amounts and small amounts campaign finances have both dropped out of the race. Jeb Bush used up to hundred thousand dollars and has little to show for it, dropping out recently from the republican primary. Many campaigns with little money dropped early such as Scott walker who had little impact on the campaign. Bernie Sanders though has done surprisingly well for being funded by no PACs. The problem with the PACs is that it causes lots of private business influence in the elections and not as much influence of the people. Some congressmen are trying to pass a bill that allows the people to donate more to the candidates directly so that PACs will have less power and money over the future leader of our government. One of the big hindrances to this bill is that most congressmen are elected through this PAC-funded election system so getting them to vote against their means of re-election will be tough.

This large power that the PACs and super PACs have in the election create large dependence on them. This leads to PACs practically shaping the election process through their money. While campaigning and using mass media correctly is large part of winning the PACs are the ones who finance most of this and in essence win lots of the support. The lobbyist behind the PACS are made of interest groups who push their ideals in the election so that while the people may be the ones actually voting, the interest groups are supplying the choice the people have to choose from. This influence is found in both the general election and the primary, some larger donators haven't even come out yet to finance, waiting for their time in the general election. Although this new bill could go against Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act and allow the people to have more say. This bill may take a certain occasion of lame ducks to help pass it as it would have to be voted by many who believe in it but wont be re-elected or believe they could still win with the new law.