Dark Money In Political Campaigns
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School
California Polytechnic State University, Pomona *
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Course
4233
Subject
Political Science
Date
Jan 9, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
2
Uploaded by karinaaza
1. Describe what is happening in the state of Montana in terms of the influence of dark money.
Corporations were funding candidates through dark money organizations and influencing them to run things how they wanted it to be. One corporation wanted to take control of everything and made sure that the right candidates were guaranteed to win by creating ads and commercials that had false information about the other people that were running. 2.
Describe what is happening in the state of Wisconsin in terms of the influence of dark money.
Walker was recalled, but there was a plan to make sure that he was elected and a complete set of steps that would make this happen. People were being bribed, and dark money groups were telling Walker what should be in ads. They were also supporting Supreme Court judges who were Walkers allies. They were taking control and running everything how they wanted it.
3. What is the Federal Election Commission? What is their function and purpose? Do they perform their job well?
The Federal Election Commission limits and oversees the public funding and enforces federal campaign finance laws. The purpose of the FEC is to see that the money is being used correctly and following state regulations. They do not seem to perform their job well; in the documentary Dark Money, Ann Ravel was hoping to enforce and change the corruption in campaign finances. She was not able to make a change and, unfortunately, resigned. 4. How has dark money influenced state courts? It shows that if someone has the money, they can manipulate people and get the outcome that they want. Art Wittich did this by hiring the best lawyers to defend him and help him achieve the goals he wanted. Wittich also is trying to promote himself as helping the people with less government and more freedom but he is just doing things that will benefit him. The documentary stated that he had an agenda
that planned out everything and how he was going to achieve each goal. 5. How has the Supreme Court's decisions affected the flow of dark money?
It allows dark money groups to keep sending the money the way that they have been. The court believed the money was the same as freedom of speech. People can do anything and say where they want their money to be spent.
6. What have been the difficulties of the investigative journalist covering the story of dark money?
The difficulties are that the journalist does not know who to talk to because they do not understand where the money is coming from and why they are spending their money this way. Also, most of the time, people hide the truth and shy away from answering specific questions.
7. What interested/surprised you most about the documentary?
It was interesting how Art Wittich had been involved in multiple companies that wanted to control which people were elected so he could control everything and get the outcome that he wanted. If people have money, they have a better chance of achieving their goals.
8. How does such a political system influenced by vast amounts of dark money help and/or hinder Politics in the United States?
It shows that people with money can deal with situations there way but can cover it, so no one knows that what they did was wrong. The fact that they have money also means they are more likely to win in elections. The people with less money now have to work harder, but the documentary Dark Money stated that Wittich would show ads with false information about other candidates 30 days before the election and lost because they did not have the money to defend themselves.
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