FEC rejects boost to "SUPERPACs" (but allows one formed by Stephen Colbert!)

.....................................................
Stephen Colbert allowed to form Super-PAC

Stephen Colbert, the comedic host of "The Colbert Report," was granted permission Thursday to not only form a political action committee but the privilege of promoting it on his show.

The only restriction the Federal Election Commission laid out in its 5-1 ruling was that Colbert could not promote Colbert Super-PAC on any other shows on Comedy Central, the most likely being "The Daily Show," which precedes his 30-minute satirical program.

If any promotion of the PAC does take place outside of "The Report" on Comedy Central or programs aired on Viacom -- its parent company -- it will be considered a political campaign contribution.

Colbert's on-air persona is one of a well-dressed, overly patriotic conservative faintly reminiscent of Fox News' Bill O'Reilly, whom Colbert refers to adoringly as "Papa Bear." That persona was in full bloom after the FEC allowed Colbert to have his PAC.

“There will be others who say, Stephen Colbert, what will you do with the unrestricted Super-PAC money?” Colbert told reporters. “To which I say, 'I don’t know. Give it to me and let’s find out.'”

Later, to a cheering crowd the comic actor addressed the elephant in the room: Was this too satirical?

"Some have cynically asked if this is some kind of joke,” he said. “But I don’t think that participating in democracy is a joke. I don’t think that wanting to know what the rules are is a joke.”

On Wednesday Colbert opened his show by saying, "Change is coming, and I hope a lot of large bills too."

Thanks to the feds, change, bills, checks, money orders and all sorts of politically earmarked dollars will soon be headed Colbert's way.
.....................................................
Colbert's 'SuperPAC' Pushes the Limits of Election Law
[snipped]
Because Colbert's group will not give any money directly to candidates -- instead airing independent ads to support them -- Colbert can take donations of any size.

He forced the FEC to make this decision by planning to operate as a real political group, not a parody.

"If we'd viewed this as a funny request, that would have been a lot easier," Commissioner Ellen Weintraub, a George W. Bush nominee, told Colbert at today's hearing.

In the end, the commission voted 5-1 to approve Colbert's PAC according to guidelines under consideration at today's hearing.

Colbert had sought guidance from the FEC on how to handle air-time and help from Viacom, Comedy Central's parent company -- and this is the area in which his SuperPAC has forced precedents with implications for other media companies, like Fox News.
[snipped]
.....................................................
MORE:
Colbert laughing all the way to the PAC
FEC rejects boost to super PACs
.....................................................