Dark Money in Politics: How a campaign in Florida might have cost the Democratic Incumbent his Senator's seat.

[ObsidianJones]

A dark money mystery in the Sunshine State

A dark money mystery in Florida centers on the campaign of a spoiler candidate who helped a Republican win by 32 votes.

www.cnn.com

A month before Election Day in Florida a mysterious company called Proclivity, Inc. contributed $550,000 to a pair of newly formed political action committees in the state.
Two days later, the money flowed from the PACs to an Orlando-area print and advertising firm.
Shortly thereafter, came a torrent of nearly identical political fliers seemingly intended to siphon away support from Democratic candidates by tricking voters into casting their ballots for purported spoiler candidates who demonstrated no real interest in getting elected. None, for example, engaged in typical campaigning activities or raised significant funds.

Among the key questions: What exactly is Proclivity and what was the purpose and desired effect behind its generous contributions to the two fledging PACs? And, why did those PACs support unknown candidates with no party affiliations and no real chance of winning?
CNN has learned that Proclivity was created in Delaware in 2019. Its president is listed in its corporate filings as Richard Alexander. Attempts to reach Alexander were unsuccessful; a phone number for the company is no longer working and its listed address is a UPS store in Atlanta. Staff at the store confirmed that Proclivity had a mailbox, but declined to provide any additional information, citing client confidentiality.

The two Florida PACs that received the Proclivity contributions were both registered on the same date and time --- October 2 at 11:34 am, according to Florida Division of Elections documents.
One day later, one of the PACs -- Our Florida PC -- got $370,000 from Proclivity; the other -- The Truth PC -- got $180,000.
The PACS are each chaired by women in their mid-20s who appear to be newcomers to the political scene. Neither woman responded to multiple messages left for them at the phone numbers listed for the PACs. Attempts to reach them through various other means were unsuccessful.

Some of the fliers paid for by Our Florida PC and The Truth PC contained identical language referencing typically Democratic themes such as fixing health care, fighting climate change and speaking truth to power. They were circulated in at least three state Senate races in which a non-party affiliated candidate was running in addition to a Democrat and Republican.
In the South Florida race featuring the Latinas for Trump candidate, the purported spoiler candidate had the same last name -- Rodriguez -- as Democratic incumbent Jose Javier Rodriguez.

Jose Javier Rodriguez, the incumbent state senator who lost by 32 votes, has called for a probe into Alex Rodriguez's candidacy and who is behind it.
"Democracy requires transparency," he said in a video shared with the media, "and in order to achieve that I believe this election warrants a full investigation."
Ileana Garcia, the newly elected Republican state senator, side stepped questions from CNN about her involvement -- if any -- in the other Rodriguez's campaign.
"I will not allow this temper tantrum to distract from the important work ahead," Garcia said, in part, in a statement.

The Miami Herald, citing "sources with knowledge," reported last week that Miami-Dade prosecutors have launched an inquiry into Alex Rodriguez's candidacy. A spokesperson for the office declined to confirm or deny the existence of an investigation to CNN.
Ben Wilcox, research director of the nonpartisan watchdog group Integrity Florida, said he has no doubt that someone running a dark money campaign impacted at least one state senate seat.
"Florida is so loosely regulated when it comes to financing of campaigns that it's probably legal, but it really shouldn't be," Wilcox said. "It's a disservice to voters and it calls into question the integrity of our elections."

So, one has to wonder how many more of these stories are going to creep up after the dust of this election finally settles. It has struck me odd that more Democrats have came out in force in this election than ever before, but somehow Republicans could pick up seats. But hey, that's been the trend of late

And funny. It seems like Republicans are only concerned about counting, recounting, and making sure the Truth of the Democratic Process stays pure... when they lose. When they win, they don't have time for that stuff any more.

Land of the Free, Home of the Brave.

 

[deleted20220709]

DELETED

 

[Agema]

Land of the Free, Home of the Brave.

Fundamentally, I think politics needs transparency. In my view, the PAC system in the USA is absurd and broken. The idea that huge funds can slosh into campaigns in extremely dubious ways without much oversight and people to clearly hold responsible for it is an invitation for corruption, dirty dealing and dishonesty.

Without informed decision-making the principle of free choice is impaired. Political activity that impairs informed decision making therefore damages democracy, and I think there are lot of funding and political tricks that are in my view damaging to elections.

 

[Schadrach]

Fundamentally, I think politics needs transparency. In my view, the PAC system in the USA is absurd and broken.

Agreed, but I'm not sure how you'd fix it without knock-on effects that are much worse. Like, the whole point of the PAC system is to exploit an obvious loophole - you aren't subject to campaign finance laws if you aren't technically part of the campaign and as private citizens it's illegal to suppress your speech - especially political speech. Therefore you can throw arbitrary amounts of money at advertising a candidate, so long as you aren't demonstrably in contact with that candidate or any part of his campaign.

 

[Dreiko]

Every time I hear "dark money" I cringe somewhere deep inside. That framing device is from people who don't want change to election financing, trying to make it seem as though the issue is only dark money, when in fact it's all money, period. But if you ban all money and just give a government stipend to people running then these people speaking all this noise about dark money will cease getting wined and dined and bribed in not so many words, and they hate such a prospect, so they will not support the only way to actually ending corruption. Also, more importantly, the people bribing them want to be able to continue to bribe them, so they allow them to come out against this evil dark money, which by contrast means the money THEY give is light money, making a connection between their donations and "goodness" in a broader sense, which makes it harder to convince enough people to pass election financing reforms.

 

[XsjadoBlayde]

Speaking in election terms, the best type of losers to see lose are the ones who cheat so rabidly while accusing their opponents of doing the same, and still lose.

 

[Agema]

as private citizens it's illegal to suppress your speech - especially political speech. Therefore you can throw arbitrary amounts of money at advertising a candidate, so long as you aren't demonstrably in contact with that candidate or any part of his campaign.

Free speech has limits where there is an important countervailing principle harmed by exercise of free speech.

 

[Trunkage]

Every time I hear "dark money" I cringe somewhere deep inside. That framing device is from people who don't want change to election financing, trying to make it seem as though the issue is only dark money, when in fact it's all money, period. But if you ban all money and just give a government stipend to people running then these people speaking all this noise about dark money will cease getting wined and dined and bribed in not so many words, and they hate such a prospect, so they will not support the only way to actually ending corruption. Also, more importantly, the people bribing them want to be able to continue to bribe them, so they allow them to come out against this evil dark money, which by contrast means the money THEY give is light money, making a connection between their donations and "goodness" in a broader sense, which makes it harder to convince enough people to pass election financing reforms.

I get ya. I cringe whenever I hear the term Intellectual Dark Web. Fortunately, it’s now defunct

 

[Dreiko]

I get ya. I cringe whenever I hear the term Intellectual Dark Web. Fortunately, it’s now defunct

Do you still hear of that though? I've not heard of that thing ever since Peterson got deathly sick like 2 years ago. I still hear "dark money" by people in power, often.

I think I only ever heard it past that from people who wished to criticize individuals, they'd bring up the group to criticize a less-strange member of that group by reminding everyone of their association with the stranger ones, even if the person they were criticizng at the moment wasn't actually being all that weird about whatever it was they were saying.



Also, I have to say, I do not understand why you'd deflect on this very serious policy issue that is at the center of corruption, which is at the center of every other issue, and start going on about cultural nonsense in a post-trump setting. Aren't we supposed to care for policy now that organge hitler is out? Is the cultural noise stuff still relevant somehow when the topic is bribery?

 

[Kwak]

What is PAC?

 

[Agema]

What is PAC?

Political Action Committee. Basically, an organisation performing political activities (campaigning, advertising, etc.) that is not directly tied to a politician, because politicians have spending caps on their official campaigns.

Although I think really we would all accept that there is co-ordination between some PACs and politicians' own campaigns, just done sufficiently under the radar that it would be impossible to effectively prosecute.

 

[Dreiko]

What is PAC?

Basically a bribery launderer organization where you can bribe people without it being recorded so that when they do the things you bribed them to do you have plausible deniability and no evidence of a conflict of interest on their part.

 

[ObsidianJones]

Also, I have to say, I do not understand why you'd deflect on this very serious policy issue that is at the center of corruption, which is at the center of every other issue, and start going on about cultural nonsense in a post-trump setting. Aren't we supposed to care for policy now that organge hitler is out? Is the cultural noise stuff still relevant somehow when the topic is bribery?

It is fascinating that you would actually say that.

What in this world is possibly "Post" Trump? The Million Maga March*? The spate of Republicans who are wholly convinced that A.) Democrats are everywhere and B.) there's no way there could be enough votes for anyone but Trump? Qanon Representatives

The candidate who won was the co-founder of Latinas For Trump, for God's sakes.

Are people going to look at Trump transitioning power, suddenly wake up from their Fugue, and go "Well, that was something. Time to move on, stop all this conspiracy theory stuff, and do what I can for the betterment of America by means that are more aligned with the duly elected representatives."?

And move over, this is strictly Policy. This is loophole after scheme after plot to unseat a member of the Senate and that literally creates policy. Duplicitous means to siphon votes in order to make your side win equals more distrust in Government. And we do not need more of that. This CREATES culture. This doesn't happen in a vacuum. Are your thoughts that actual robbery and corruption will not strengthen a cultural divide? More feelings of distrust by a side who claims to be about fairness who are normally the people pulling off these maneuvers?

This isn't a mistake. This wasn't a fluke. This was a calucated effort to once again rob people are their say. And that brings about emotion. Emotion brings ire, and Ire brings the need for change. Which is the driving catalyst of most political movements, and therefore policy.

Legitimately, anyone who sees this and goes "Hmm. More Deception. Best not get my dander up" is a robot or needs their dosage dialed back.

*And I know this sidebar goes against character and it's not directed to you Dreiko, but this burns my damn blood. Fuck those assholes who dared coined Million Maga March. The first March on Washington was in 1963 and was about Civil Rights and Freedom for all Peoples. The Million Man March was to bring the spotlight on the plight on the Black Community after policy and politician widely ignored them.

Million Maga March was about losing an election. The one that only proof of wrong doing or subterfuge has been discovered came from their own party. A nearly Globally hated person lost an election and they can't believe it. It can only be due to trickery. Screw those people who aped actual political unrest and mistreatment because their feelings were hurt that they lost.

 

[XsjadoBlayde]

Dark money does have an official meaning and a considerably prominent application in real life, please can people at least look up these things before talking out bottom holes;

dark money

1. money from people or organizations whose names are not known or revealed…

dictionary.cambridge.org

 

[Dreiko]

It is fascinating that you would actually say that.

What in this world is possibly "Post" Trump? The Million Maga March*? The spate of Republicans who are wholly convinced that A.) Democrats are everywhere and B.) there's no way there could be enough votes for anyone but Trump? Qanon Representatives

The candidate who won was the co-founder of Latinas For Trump, for God's sakes.

Are people going to look at Trump transitioning power, suddenly wake up from their Fugue, and go "Well, that was something. Time to move on, stop all this conspiracy theory stuff, and do what I can for the betterment of America by means that are more aligned with the duly elected representatives."?

And move over, this is strictly Policy. This is loophole after scheme after plot to unseat a member of the Senate and that literally creates policy. Duplicitous means to siphon votes in order to make your side win equals more distrust in Government. And we do not need more of that. This CREATES culture. This doesn't happen in a vacuum. Are your thoughts that actual robbery and corruption will not strengthen a cultural divide? More feelings of distrust by a side who claims to be about fairness who are normally the people pulling off these maneuvers?

This isn't a mistake. This wasn't a fluke. This was a calucated effort to once again rob people are their say. And that brings about emotion. Emotion brings ire, and Ire brings the need for change. Which is the driving catalyst of most political movements, and therefore policy.

Legitimately, anyone who sees this and goes "Hmm. More Deception. Best not get my dander up" is a robot or needs their dosage dialed back.

*And I know this sidebar goes against character and it's not directed to you Dreiko, but this burns my damn blood. Fuck those assholes who dared coined Million Maga March. The first March on Washington was in 1963 and was about Civil Rights and Freedom for all Peoples. The Million Man March was to bring the spotlight on the plight on the Black Community after policy and politician widely ignored them.

Million Maga March was about losing an election. The one that only proof of wrong doing or subterfuge has been discovered came from their own party. A nearly Globally hated person lost an election and they can't believe it. It can only be due to trickery. Screw those people who aped actual political unrest and mistreatment because their feelings were hurt that they lost.

Those I see as the death throes of the trump people. It's their version of the clinton fanatics crying russia for 4 years. Par for the course. It didn't mean that the clintons were in charge just because they were making noise about their conspiracy theories, same thing here with the trump people who think the election was stolen somehow.

Trump has a base with the anti communist latino folks because they're so traumatized from their countries of origin that they will vote for the devil himself if he pretends to not be for socialism. Completely not surprising.


Ultimately my point here is that, instead of focusing on the culture war stuff like the "intellectual dark web" it's more useful to focus on money in politics. So I was actually supporting emphasis being placed on what you're talking about in your latter half of this post over such dumb issues since Trump lost already.

Respecting the significance of the 1963 march is nice, not really important or significant, but nice. Focusing on nice things and how offensive it is not to respect nice things in a talk about serious political issues that are foundational in nature is decadent and just distracted in nature.

 

[Worgen]

Those I see as the death throes of the trump people. It's their version of the clinton fanatics crying russia for 4 years. Par for the course. It didn't mean that the clintons were in charge just because they were making noise about their conspiracy theories, same thing here with the trump people who think the election was stolen somehow.

Except its not. This is trumps horde literally talking about a stolen election and fraud. The Russia thing was about the Trump campaign colluding with a foreign power to take down a political rival, not directly changing votes. And we have good evidence that he did indeed collude with them, but it doesn't matter since he's popular and is/was in power, it might matter more now that he's about to be out of power. But my point is that the two are not synonymous.

 

[Dreiko]

Except its not. This is trumps horde literally talking about a stolen election and fraud. The Russia thing was about the Trump campaign colluding with a foreign power to take down a political rival, not directly changing votes. And we have good evidence that he did indeed collude with them, but it doesn't matter since he's popular and is/was in power, it might matter more now that he's about to be out of power. But my point is that the two are not synonymous.

The russia thing had a million tentacles to it, some more tame like what you describe, some around the middle like what I was describing, some even crazier like that one segment about how Russia could somehow hack our heating in the winter and make us freeze to death.

In its entirety it's just as divorced from reality, sanity, anything logical or rational.

 

[Worgen]

The russia thing had a million tentacles to it, some more tame like what you describe, some around the middle like what I was describing, some even crazier like that one segment about how Russia could somehow hack our heating in the winter and make us freeze to death.

In its entirety it's just as divorced from reality, sanity, anything logical or rational.

Except hacking like that does happen.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/checkpoint-washington/post/foreign-hackers-broke-into-illinois-water-plant-control-system-industry-expert-says/2011/11/18/gIQAgmTZYN_blog.html

A hack doesn't have to be this big dramatic thing, it can just by messing up some of the little parts that keep everything running.

 

[Cheetodust]

Speaking in election terms, the best type of losers to see lose are the ones who cheat so rabidly while accusing their opponents of doing the same, and still lose.

Yeah well everyone thought lance Armstrong was clean but how did they think he was beating all those roided up lunatics if he wasn't on juice himself? If reps are cheating and dems beat them then dems must just be cheating more....

That's gonna become an actual Conservative talking point isn't it?

 

[Dreiko]

Except hacking like that does happen.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/checkpoint-washington/post/foreign-hackers-broke-into-illinois-water-plant-control-system-industry-expert-says/2011/11/18/gIQAgmTZYN_blog.html

A hack doesn't have to be this big dramatic thing, it can just by messing up some of the little parts that keep everything running.

Yes and stealing elections through rigged voting machines or corrupt vote counters also happens. Who was it that won with 99% of the vote, Sadam Hussein? Someone was literally trying to claim such a result was legitimate.

Still doesn't mean the million maga marchers have a point though. And when you try to make it seem like the insane russia hysteria has some validity you lend them that same credibility.


The issue here is that some people are using the possibility for something being possible as a fact of it being actual. And since you can't prove the negative that such a thing didn't happen because logic doesn't work like that, you get idiots in denial denying reality and coming up with dumb or insane excuses of varying degrees of idiocy.

The only way out is to call that kinda thing out when either side does it. To be consistent about doing that.