The money donated by millionaires and billionaires through Political Action Committees are Dark Money and PACs don’t have to tell what or who supplied the money. This allows the people to get around the limits the average person can give. PACs are not supposed to coordinate with the candidate or their campaign staff. This also allows them to say things so misleading or so nasty that even a barely ethical candidate wouldn’t want to be associated with the Ads.

            The Illinois Governor’s race is an example. The People Who Play by the Rules PAC has already crossed the line with their ad getting a local retired and respected black newsman, Charles Thomas, to say in an ad that the current governor has failed the Black People in the Chicago Area. One issue is Thomas has lost the impartial stance news people should have. Why would he destroy his and the much sought impartial image of himself and his profession? The PAC is paying him $50,000 dollars. Several billionaires don’t like Illinois’ billionaire Governor because he tried to put through a higher tax on billionaires.

            Billionaires and multi-millionaires funded the Tea Party under an IRS code that allowed them to fund groups which had no particular association to a party. The code did not require public disclosure of whom and how much was donated. The IRS was excoriated and funding cut for the following the rules Congress had set. This opened the door for black money PACs.

            It’s time to eliminate all dark money. However we know politicians who depend on dark money are going to make sure that doesn’t happen.