"It’s time that Congress reconsider its stance on the anonymity of donors to Super PACs. In a world where political speech is unfettered, voters need every way possible to judge its truthfulness."

...................................................................................................................................................................
Transparency needed on political ads
Novelist George Orwell once said, “Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful.”
Florida Tims-Union, September 29, 2014

And when it comes to political advertising, it’s often difficult to discern the fabrications from the truth.

Unlike advertisements for goods and services, political ads are not held to disclosure standards by the federal government. It’s perfectly legal for political ads to use whoppers and tall tales under the established policy that political speech deserves First Amendment protection.

While candidates are not hesitant to attack their opponents, they generally shy away from clearly bogus claims that may taint their integrity. In addition, when it’s clear a particular candidate paid for an ad, voters can weigh more effectively whether to accept the premise of that ad.

Not so with the type of Political Action Committees known as Super PACs, which support specific candidates or issues but remain officially disconnected from them. These Super PACs can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money, yet their donors are often functionally anonymous.

Nonprofit corporations are able to contribute unlimited amounts to Super PACs but do not have to disclose the names of the individual donors. So were born numerous nonprofits specifically for the purpose of concealing the names of super PAC donors, making it impossible for voters to judge the veracity of an ad by knowing who paid for it.

It’s time that Congress reconsider its stance on the anonymity of donors to Super PACs. In a world where political speech is unfettered, voters need every way possible to judge its truthfulness.

Perhaps Orwell’s quote could stand rephrasing. “PACs are designed to make lies sound truthful.”
...................................................................................................................................................................