MattFallon

HeatherManzo
EnglishIICPEPeriod3
3/17/2016

TableofContents:
1. Thesis:Throughboth2010sCitizensUnitedSupremeCourtdecisionandthisyears
presidentialelection,ithasbecomeobviousthatDemocratsarecommittedto
acknowledgingandreversingthepoliticalfinancingsystem,whileRepublicans
advocateforupholdingthecurrentprocessduetoitsapparentconstitutionality.
2. Definition/HistoricalBackground/CurrentEvents
3. RepublicanPosition
4. DemocraticPosition
5. DemocraticResolution
6. RepublicanResolution

ContrastingViewsonthePoliticalProcessEffectonIndividualsRights

BehindthestageofAmericatheGreatliesacomplicatedpoliticalsystem,inwhich
thepowerofthepeopleversusthatoflargebusinessesandinsidersstandsinconstant
debate.Withafloodofdifferentopinionssurroundingthisdebacle,ithasbecomeclearthata
dividehasseparatedthepopulation.Withaportionofthiscountryadvocatingforstricter
guidelinesandacounterargumentcitingthefirstamendment,campaignreformhasbecome

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amainstayissueforthe2016presidentialrace.WhereasdetractorsofSuperPACsandother
anonymouscampaigncontributionshavecenteredthemselvesonthisyearscandidacies,
proponentsofsuchpoliticaltoolsspokeoutduringtheCitizensUnitedcourtcase.And,
whilebothofAmericasmajorpartiesareculpritsofthisfundingmethod,eachonehastaken
anincrediblypolarizedviewonthesituation.Throughboth2010sCitizensUnitedSupreme
Courtdecisionandthisyearspresidentialelection,ithasbecomeobviousthatDemocratsare
committedtoacknowledgingandreversingthepoliticalfinancingsystem,whileRepublicans
advocateforupholdingthecurrentprocessduetoitsapparentconstitutionality.

TheSupremeCourtsrecentactionsontheCitizensUnitedcaseisamajorcausefor
thisyearsdebateoncampaignfinancereform.Whenpresentedwithoppositionto
regulationsaimedatbarringgeneraltreasuriesoforganizationsandbusinessesfrom
contributingtopoliticalendeavors,theSupremeCourtsdecisionhashadresoundingimpacts.
Eventually,the2010rulingwouldbeunfavorablefortheFederalElectionCommission,the
institutionresponsibleformonitoringthefundingofcampaigns,astheSupremeCourtchose
touprootmanyoftheelectioncontrols(AbouttheFEC).Accordingtoglobalnewsanchor
KatieCouricsblog,
The[ruling]from[this][case]allowedcorporations,unions,and
individualstodonateunlimitedamountsofcashtoindependentexpenditureonly
committeesalsoknownassuperPACs(qtd.byFoley),indicatingthelastingeffectsofthe
decision,astheseSuperPACsremainthemajordriversofanonymouspoliticaldonations.A
downpourofnewfinancingopportunitiesarosefromtheSupremeCourtsoverruling,but
theseSuperPACshavehadanunparalleledimpactonthis2016election.Whereasindividual
citizensarelimitedtocontributing$2,700perpresidentialcandidate,theseSuperPACscreate
aloopholebyallowingfornearlyunlimitedfundingtoflowindirectlytoacandidateviaaPAC

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creatednotbythem,butinclearsupportofthemoroppositiontotheirrivals(Citizens
Guide).Thisalternatefinancingmethodhasbeencitedbymanyasanopportunityforthose
whoarewealthytodonatelargesumsofmoney,andoverwhelmthecontributioneffortsof
theindividualAmerican.Exemplifyingthisfundraisingprocedure,CBSnewsexplainsthat...a
superPACsupportingKasichreleasedanadmakingthecasethatKasich,notRubio,should
betheGOP'sstandardbearer(qtd.BySchultheis).Hence,asthe2016electionreachesa
pinnacle,SuperPACsandorganizedpoliticaldonationsallowedundertheCitizensUnited
casehavepropelledcandidateslikeJohnKasich,whileotherslikeBernieSandershave
craftedtheir
candidaciesaroundfierceoppositiontothem.Nonetheless,asthispolitical
seasonrageson,theeffectsofthe2010SupremeCourtdecisionarebecomingincreasingly
evident,andtherewillbenowaytoescapethemaelstromofdiscussionwithoutaddressing
theseverelypolarizedopiniononeachsideoftheideologicalspectrum.

WithsuchseemingdependenceontheaforementionedSuperPACsandCitizens
Unitedcourtcase,therepublicanpartyscandidateshavedevelopedasupportforthe
currentcampaignfundingsystem.WhetherfromaneedforSuperPACsandotherunpopular
donorsources,oraconstitutionalbelieve,thelackofcaredevotedtothisissueisevident.
And,inaddressingthis,SenatorandpresidentialhopefulTedCruzofTexasrecentlytolda
smallcrewofsupportersthathe,...[believes]infreespeech[and]Campaignfinance
reformisoneofthemostmisunderstoodissuesinAmericanpolitics(qtd.ByHook),
underscoringhisunenthusedattitudetowardsdisallowingunlimitedcampaigndonations.In
theopinionofCruzandmanyotherrepublicans,reinstitutingregulationssurroundinghow
muchandhowoftenorganizationscancontributetopoliticalcampaignsisaninfringementon
freedomofspeech.JustasCruzhasdone,2010sCitizensUnitedcourtcasewaseventually

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decidedfavorablyforSuperPACsandorganizedpoliticaldonationduetorepublicanswho
tendedtodrawthefirstamendmentoftheconstitutiontotheirdefense.Manyconservatives
tookthebattletothesupremecourt,wherethe,...decision[hinged]onthe...notionthat
moneyisspeech[and]corporationsarepeople(GetBigMoneyOutofPoliticsandRestore
Democracy).Clearly,thesameideologyfocusingonassociatingpolitical
donationswithfree
speech,andtransitivelycontrolsplacedonsuchdonationsasagainstthefirstamendment,is
beingdisplayedduringthisyearselection.TedCruzsremarksdemonstratesuchthinking,
butevenconservativecandidateswhohavenotspokenaboutthemattercanbelooselytied
toasimilaropinion.Theprimecandidateguiltyofsuchunspokensupportisonetime
republicanfrontrunnerJebBush,whohassincewithdrawnhimselffromtherace.Bushhad,
...raised$124.1million[from]alliedsuperPACsandotherindependentgroups(How
MuchMoneyisBehindEachCampaign?),mostofwhichwasfromarelativelysmallsetof
organizations,andajarring90.7milliondollarsmorethanthanhissupportershad
contributedthroughtraditionalmeans.Thus,whileotherpartymembershaveetchedout
obviousopinions,BushsindependentSuperPACsexhaustivefundraisingsubtlyillustratehis
ownviewoncampaignreform.TakingBushasanexample,hisundercuttingindividual
supportersinfavorofaselectbunchoflargecorporationsdemonstratesanobviously
unsupportivestanceoncampaignfundingreinvention,ashisbidwasmajorlyrelianton
methodsthatwouldmostlikelybeabolishedthroughrebuildingthepoliticalpaymentprocess.
Furthermore,hadhehopedtoincludesuchreformsinhisplatform,JebBushwouldnever
haveacceptedsuchabundantcontributionsfromanonymoussources,asbothhispolitical
agendaandmoralconsciencewouldhaveadvisedagainstit.Andalthoughtheseviewsare
moststrikinglyobservedinJebBush,almosteveryotherconservativecandidaterangingfrom
thewithdrawnMarcoRubiotothesemipopularJohnKasichareresponsibleforaccepting

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theseexpensiveSuperPACcontributions,(HowMuchMoneyIsbehindEachCampaign?).
Therefore,therepublicancandidatesseemtohavenodesiretosupportanupheavalofthe
CitizensUniteddecision.SomelikeTedCruzviewitasanattackonfreespeechrights,
whileothersrelyonthepoliticaltoolsallowedundertheruling,andappeartoinadvertently
supportitduetohowfrequentlytheytakeadvantageofSuperPACsandotheranonymous
contributionmethods.

Incontrast,2016stwomajordemocraticcandidateshavebothformedstrong
opinionsagainstthecurrentcampaignfundingsystem,recognizingitsbelittlingeffectson
individuals.Whiletherepublicancandidatesevidentlysupporttheprevailingpoliticalfunding
process,albeitthespecificitiesoftheirviewsslightlyshrouded,thisyear'sreigningdemocrats
havespokenquiteoftenandpassionatelyabouttheintricaciesoftheirsentiments.
Exemplifyingthesewelldefinedviewpoints,formerSecretaryofStateandcurrentdemocratic
frontrunner,HillaryClintonhasurgedonherwebsitethatthepublicandgovernment
togethermust,...endthefloodofsecret,unaccountablemoneythatis
distorting...elections...anddrowningoutthevoicesoftoomanyeverydayAmericans(Hillary
ClintononCampaignFinanceReform).Asopposedtotheconservativepopularopinionwhich
tendstosupportwhatClintonreferstoasunaccountablemoneybeingpresentinthe
electionprocess,thedemocraticcandidateacknowledgesthenegativeeffectsitmayhave.
Moreover,shealsobelievesthatitspresencediscreditsthevoicesofaverageindividuals
hopingtobeincludedinthepoliticalprocess.Yet,althoughClintonhasanobviousdisdainfor
thepostCitizensUnitedcampaignfundingsystem,manyclaimthatthisissueisoneon
whichshefocusesbecauseofhermajorintrapartyrivalBernieSandersabilitytopopularize
it.ConsideringthatitislongtimeVermontsenator,BernieSanderswhoenteredcampaign

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financereformontothenationalstage,hisvoiceonthematteristhoughtofassupremeto
some.Andwhetheritbebecausehersisaderivateorbecauseofpureagreement,Senator
SandersexpressionduringaCBSinterviewthat,...thepowerofmoneyoverthepolitical
processishorrendous[and]Americandemocracyisnotaboutbillionairesbuyingelectionsor
tryingtobuyelections(qtd.BySchieffer),indicatesasimilarthoughtonthetopicastheone
heldbyHillaryClinton.BothSandersandClintonhaveundoubtedlystrictviewsonreforming
thecampaignfundingsystem,anditisunambiguouslystatedbybothcandidatesthatthey
believeallowingforSuperPACsandlargeanonymousdonationstoholdthepoliticalreigns
hasdevastatingoutcomesfortheaverageindividual.Demonstratingtheirthinking,Bernie
arguedduringaFebruarydebateatMilwaukeethatsuchaspoilssystem,...allowsWall
Streetandbillionairestopourhugesumsofmoneyintothepoliticalprocesstoelectthe
candidatesoftheirchoice(qtd.In"Transcript:TheDemocraticDebateinMilwaukee,
Annotated),andthesecandidatesofchoicewillunmistakablybetheonesmostwillingto
passlegislaturehelpful,sometimessolely,tosuchdonors.SandersandClintonagreethat
whencorporationsareallowedtodonateindirectlytoacandidate,thosedonationswillcause
forthatsaidpoliticiantoreturnthefavorviapolicyorothermeans.Theimmenseamountsof
moneythesecorporationsareabletodonatevastlyoutweighsthecontributionsthatmost
individualsarecapableofproducing.Hence,theselargeorganizationstendtomonopolizethe
politicalsayso.Amongstsupportingachangetothecurrentsystem,andalsoacknowledging
whattheybelievetobethedestructionofpersonalpoliticalrepresentation,2016sdemocratic
presidentialcandidatescanbeseentohaveahighlycontrastingopiniontothatoftheir
republicancounterparts.Thesedifferencesareindisputable,yetHillaryClintonsummarizes
thedistinctionsmostaccuratelyduringthisyearsMilwaukeedebatewhenagreeingthatshe
andSenatorSanders,...bothhavealotofsmalldonors[and]thatsets[them]apartfroma

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lotofwhat'shappeningrightnowontheRepublicanside(qtd.In"Transcript:The
DemocraticDebateinMilwaukee,Annotated),emphasizingtherepublicansupportand
dependanceonSuperPACsascomparedtothedemocraticendorsementofindividual
contributions.

Justasdemocratshaveendorsedapoliticalsystemdrivenbyindividualdonations
ratherthanSuperPACsandanonymity,theypromisetooverhaulthesystemcurrentlyin
place,evenatthecostofaconstitutionalamendment.HillaryClintonhasproposedmajor
legislativechangesinordertoappealtofluctuatingdemandsinthedemocraticparty.Sucha
promiseshehasmadeincludes,
...[pushing]forlegislationtorequireoutsidegroupsto
publiclydisclosesignificantpoliticalspending...and[signing]anexecutiveorderrequiring
federalgovernmentcontractorstodothesame(
HillaryClintononCampaignFinance
Reform),
signalingthatsheiswillingtogotofarextentstoaccomplishhercampaignreform
goals.Whilesinginganexecutiveordertoensurethatherambitionsarereacheduntil
congresscandosoisafairmeasure,alatterdeclarationofhersoutlinesanongoingand
substantialplantofixwhatshedeemsabrokensystem.WhenfeaturedonMSNBCsTheEd
Show,Clintonconveyedherhopetorepairthe,...dysfunctional
politicalsystemandget
unaccountablemoneyoutofitonceandforall,evenifthattakesaconstitutional
amendment(qtd.BySchultz),puttingforthastrongandhistorychangingmethodfor
reversingthecurrentguidelines,orlackthereof,relatingtocampaignfunding.WhileHillary
hasaverypowerfulandcertainapproachtoresolvingtheissueofunfairnesswithinpolitical
funding,BernieSandersonceagainmeetsherresolutionswithstrikingparallels.Tooffer
furthersuggestion,SenatorSanderselaboratesonthepotentialofhispresidencytoinstill
changeinproposing,...apubliclyfinanced,transparentsystemofcampaignfinancingthat

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amplifiessmalldonations,alongthelinesoftheFairElectionsNowActthat[he][has]been
pleasedtocosponsor(
"GetBigMoneyOutofPoliticsandRestoreDemocracy)
,
demonstratingamorespecificplanforprogresswhichincludesportionsofanacthehas
alreadyproposedwhileinsenate.Whereashehasexpressedotherplansforrepairingthe
brokenfundingsystemifelected,SandersmajorseparationfromClintonishisproposalof
includingtheFairElectionsNowActinfightingtheCitizensUnitederaofcampaign
financing.Elsewhereintheirresolutions,bothcallfortotaltransparency,executiveorders,
andevenaconstitutionalamendmenttoultimatelysolvetheissuepressingthem.Therefore,
astheybothpossesssimilaropinionsonthematter,HillaryClintonandBernieSanders
proposeresolvingcampaignfinancingcorruptionviacomparablemethods,withthestandout
differencebeingBernieSandersinclusionofanactwhichhehadalreadyhelpedtocreate.

WhileRepublicanshaveendorsedapoliticalsystemdrivenbySuperPACsandother
largedonations,theirplanstoresolvethedebatefollowthesametrend,inthattheyare
mostlysupportiveofthecurrentprocess.Whilemajorlyencouragingofthesystemledby
largeorganizationsandtheirdonations,manyrepublicancandidateshavemadestatements
thatmuddytheconservativeresolutionasawhole.Amongsttheseoutcastcommentersare
JohnKasich,andmostnotablythefrontrunnerDonaldTrump.Whilethebusinessmanturned
politicianhasbeenuntalkativeregardingaclearcutviewpointoncampaignreform,duringa
recentdebatehewasabletomusterwhatmaybeinterpretedasasolution.Regarding
campaignfinancereform,Trumphasstatedthatheis,...selffunding[his]campaign[and]
notgettingmillionsofdollarsfromallofthesespecialinterests...Thatsnotgoingtohappen
(qtd.ByGlorioso),implyingthathissolutionconsistsofrunningacampaignwithoutthe
encroachmentoflargerorganizationsandlobbyists.Eventhoughitisfarfromthesolutions

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offeredbybothClintonandSanders,DonaldTrumpsproposedresolutionfallsmoreinline
withtheliberalnormthanitdoestheconservative.Whilstcertainlynotanunpopularstep,
Trumpsuncommonproposalamongstthefieldoftherepublicansmakesidentifyingtheir
stanceasagroupsubstantiallymoredifficult.OhiogovernorJohnKasichsstatementshave
additionallygreyedtheconservativeopinion,astheyalsodisrupttheflowofrepublican
tendencies.WhilebeinginterviewedbyCNNinSeptemberoflastyear,Kasichrespondedtoa
questionofhisthoughtsonincreasingordecreasingthegovernmentbyreassuringthathe
knows,
...
howtomovepower,moneyandinfluenceoutofWashington,howtobringabout
thereformsweneed(qtd.In"JohnKasichonGovernmentReform),givingaresponse
whichispartiallypertinenttopoliticalfunding.AlthoughKasichdidnotrevealdetailsofhis
knowledge,insteadonlyinsistingthatsuchskillsexisted,hisstatementdidincludementionof
drawingoutsideinfluenceoutofpoliticsviareform.And,consideringthatexternalinfluence
preysonWashingtonthroughlargesumsofpoliticalcontributions,Kasichappearstobe
transitivelystatingthatheknowshowtohandlethereformsnecessarytoproperlyregulate
campaigndonations,andwillenactsuchreformsifelected.But,asidefromJohnKasichand
DonaldTrump,theonlyevidenceofcampaignfinancereformproposalscanbefoundthrough
assumingthoseinthesenatewouldconformtotheirpartysstandards.Althoughthisisnot
alwaysthecase,withoutotherspokenordocumentedproofofresolutionsuchhypotheses
mustbecrafted.Followingtheseguidelines,itwouldappearbothTedCruzandformer
presidentialcandidateSenatorMarcoRubiowouldagreewiththecurrentsystem,aswhen
SenatorTomUdall,...ledtheSenateinrallyinghistoricsupportforaconstitutional
amendmentoncampaignfinance...Theamendment...won...amajorityoftheSenate,but
failedtoreachthe60votesneededtoovercometheRepublicanfilibuster(Good),illustrating
thattherepublicanshadbeenstronglysupportiveoftheCitizensUniteddecision,asthey

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votedtoupholdit.Ifsomeofthecandidatessupporteditatthattime,asdidtheirparty,it
mustbeassumedthatsuchanopinionofresolutionwouldremainsimilar.Therefore,it
appearsthatthemajorityoftherepublicancandidates,mostofwhomhassincewithdrawn
fromthepresidentialrace,proposenoresolutionasidefromdefendingthesystemalreadyin
place.Whilethedemocraticresolutionsweregenerallyenthusiasticandwellplannedout,
suchcertaintyisnotseenintheproposalsforaconservativesolution.BothKasichandTrump
havemildschemesforaddressingtheissueifelectedpresident,buttherestoftheirparty
hasbeenunabletoturnoutanysettlementwhatsoever.Hence,themajorityofthe
conservativecandidatesmustbewithoutaresolutionotherthanmaintainingthepresent
structureforpoliticalfunding.

Evidently,thereisgreatcontroversysurroundingcampaignfinancereform,witheach
politicalpartytakinganopposingview.ForDemocrats,thepartysleadingcandidatesare
supportiveofoverturningthecurrentfundingsystem,whileRepublicanshavebeenobserved
toendorsethepresentstructure.HillaryClintonandBernieSandershavespearheadedthe
liberalmovementofthisissue,whileinformationfromJebBush,TedCruz,DonaldTrump,
andotherconservativeshasdefinedtherepublicanstance.Democraticfrontrunnershave
expressedtheirdisdainforthepostCitizensUnitedcampaignfundingformatthrougha
willingnesstoproposeaconstitutionalamendmenttorebalancefinancing.Moreover,
RepublicansendorsementoftheCitizensUniteddecisiontransitivelydemonstratesthe
candidate'ssupportforthefinancingsysteminplace,withaselectfewcandidatesoutlining
viewpointsbaseduponfreespeech.But,nomatterthepartyoneisassociatedwith,or
individualbeliefs,makingcrucialdecisionsoncampaignfinancereformisbecoming
increasinglyimportant.Whetheracandidatewilltakeproactivemeasuresorallowfor

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congressandthejudiciarytosortouttheissue,itspresenceasamainstaytopicis
undeniable,anditwillbeunendinguntilresolutionismet.Whenincreasedwealthallowsfor
moreperceivedopportunity,abattlewillundoubtedlyensuetodefeatwhatispresupposedas
anattackonrights.Yet,suchastructurewhichisseeminglyslantedtowardstherichis
certainlyinplaceforareason,asadditionalregulationsmayminimizetherightsofthe
wealthy,favoringthelesswelloff.Hence,campaignfinancereformexistsinpendulumlike
swing,whereamotionleftwardbeckonsareactionfromtheright,andarightwardtiltcalls
forthrepercussionsfromtheleft.Justasanypoliticalissuewithsuchideologicalpolarization,
trueequilibriumandsatisfactionisonlymetoncebalancebetweenenablingonepopulation
anddisablinganotherisachieved.Therefore,theAmericanpeoplemustriseup,andengrave
theirmarkonlegislature,viavocalizingtheiropinions.Withoutthisactivism,campaign
financereformwillbeleftinthehandsoflawmakers,andnottheAmericanindividuals,
wheretheaforementionedlegalbalancewillcertainlyneverbereached.Itisbythis
engagementinthepoliticalprocessthatcandidatesandpartieswhosharesimilaropinionsto
thevotersareelected,andlonglastingchangeisaccomplished.

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