When Everybody Wants to be a Political Wiseguy

Per my recent comments about Bill Richardson casting his lot with folks who claim that ACT was a positive step in the right direction...
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New York Times
September 1, 2007
Editorial
The Slow Pursuit of Political Wiseguys

Too little and too late, federal regulators are getting around to one of the worst abuses in the last presidential election — the channeling of unregulated tens of millions in “soft money” contributions to shadow party operations created to evade federal campaign controls.
These clearly partisan groups should have been tightly regulated as political action committees, but they improperly claimed exemption under the tax code as simpler advocacy organizations. Three years after election complaints were filed, regulators have cited one of the bigger abusers — America Coming Together, a Democratic get-out-the-vote drive that spent nearly $100 million in skirting the campaign law.
A settlement includes a fine of $775,000, which federal regulators say should be a warning against future abusers. But party wheel horses could just as easily take that as a fair price for further shady electioneering next year, unless the federal elections commission sets clear and early regulations against it. Party sugar daddies stand ready with their checkbooks for fresh variations on this devious theme. The billionaire George Soros helped bankroll America Coming Together under the leadership of Harold Ickes, the Democrats’ field marshal. The commission has reprimanded Republican shell operations, too, notably the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ads scurrilously financed under the radar.
Representatives of America Coming Together, defunct after the ’04 election, ludicrously proclaimed vindication in the commission’s citation and punishment. This signaled that fresh groups undoubtedly are eager to game the next elections.
The commission has too often served as the lair for safe appointees from both parties dedicated to protecting machine values. It’s time for the commission to confront the political wiseguys’ next round of machinations with firmer regulations and bigger fines.