# SarahPAC Short-Bus Tour **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 28, 2011, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarahpac-short-bus-tour/583588 "2011-05-28T19:26:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pythonzzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9e8a1a/32.png) [@pythonzzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pythonzzz)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarahpac-short-bus-tour/583588/1 "2011-05-28T19:26:23Z")
Oh, shit… [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/gDGZm9ALBUs/hqdefault.jpg "One Nation") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDGZm9ALBUs) needs to be: [http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/1765/vgtmo1.jpg](http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/1765/vgtmo1.jpg) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarahpac-short-bus-tour/583588/2 "2011-05-28T19:39:38Z")
Moved to the Pit in case the OP feels like adding some content. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarahpac-short-bus-tour/583588/3 "2011-05-28T19:43:59Z")
Uh, I see she spent a lot on production of that video. Now WTF does it mean? I really do hope she runs. I could use a good year long laugh. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarahpac-short-bus-tour/583588/4 "2011-05-28T19:45:45Z")
Doesn’t PAC money have to go to some specific campaign? Can I really collect money for a PAC and then use it to just to have other people pay for me to tool around the country in a big bus all day? > [@Shakes](#): > > I really do hope she runs. I could use a good year long laugh. Yea, I thought the actual video was a lot funnier then the lazy photo-shop joke. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarahpac-short-bus-tour/583588/5 "2011-05-28T20:08:37Z")
Laughing all the way to the bank. ---
**Author:** ![LilShieste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@LilShieste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilShieste)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarahpac-short-bus-tour/583588/6 "2011-05-28T20:16:51Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Doesn’t PAC money have to go to some specific campaign? Can I really collect money for a PAC and then use it to just to have other people pay for me to tool around the country in a big bus all day? There is a bit of ambiguity surrounding what PACs can and cannot do. [Some clarity might come from an unexpected source, though…](http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/5453770-574/stephen-colbert-could-put-fox-news-in-bind.html) ---
**Author:** ![Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omg_a_Black_Conservative)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarahpac-short-bus-tour/583588/7 "2011-05-28T20:24:27Z")
I’ve never understand some people’s hate for Palin. It’s as if she can do no right. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarahpac-short-bus-tour/583588/8 "2011-05-28T20:35:38Z")
> [@LilShieste](#): > > There is a bit of ambiguity surrounding what PACs can and cannot do. [Some clarity might come from an unexpected source, though…](http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/5453770-574/stephen-colbert-could-put-fox-news-in-bind.html) Thats a question of how they can raise money though. I’m asking about the legality of how SarahPAC is spending its money. I thought you could spend it on other peoples campaigns or issue advocacy. This tour doesn’t seem to be either, unless you take a _really_ broad view of “issue advocacy”. But its main purpose looks like its to raise the profile of Palin, which seems a pretty questionable use of the money that other people gave her with the understanding she’d distribute it to other campaigns. But I’m only very vaguely aware of what the rules for PACs are, so maybe I’m wrong and its kosher, but thats why I’m asking. Given the amount of attention Palin draws, I’m sure someone somewhere must’ve examined the issue. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarahpac-short-bus-tour/583588/9 "2011-05-28T20:42:04Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > I’ve never understand some people’s hate for Palin. It’s as if she can do no right. It’s because she’s Steven Colbert in drag, except she takes herself seriously. A vapid, pandering ‘candidate’ that exudes the worst of the new-right movement. Her banality and transparent hacking are easy targets to laugh at. It’s unfortunate that she should make people cry. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarahpac-short-bus-tour/583588/10 "2011-05-28T21:24:42Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Yea, I thought the actual video was a lot funnier then the lazy photo-shop joke. I’m actually being 100% serious and free of all jest when I say I felt dirty after watching that video. ---
**Author:** ![LilShieste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@LilShieste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilShieste)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarahpac-short-bus-tour/583588/11 "2011-05-28T21:28:17Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Thats a question of how they can raise money though. I’m asking about the legality of how SarahPAC is spending its money. I thought you could spend it on other peoples campaigns or issue advocacy. This tour doesn’t seem to be either, unless you take a _really_ broad view of “issue advocacy”. > > But its main purpose looks like its to raise the profile of Palin, which seems a pretty questionable use of the money that other people gave her with the understanding she’d distribute it to other campaigns. Ahh I see. Then, I too am curious as to the details of the spending restrictions that are in place for PACs. According to the PAC’s home page: [ > [@](#): > > Formed in January 2009, SarahPAC is a federally registered political action committee (PAC) dedicated to building America’s future by supporting fresh ideas **and candidates** who share our vision for reform and innovation. ]([Home - SARAH PALIN](http://www.sarahpac.com/about-sarahpac))(bolding mine) According to the FEC’s website, PACs are allowed to make unlimited “independent expenditures”: [ > [@](#): > > An independent expenditure is an expenditure for a communication which expressly advocates the election or defeat of a **clearly identified candidate** and which is made independently from the candidate’s campaign. ]([Help for candidates and committees | FEC](http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures/fecfeca.shtml#Independent_Expenditures))(bolding mine) So, my WAG is that some tenuous connection can usually be made between a PAC’s spending, and a “clearly identified candidate”, which really helps blur the line of where their spending limit is. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarahpac-short-bus-tour/583588/12 "2011-05-28T21:33:19Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > I’ve never understand some people’s hate for Palin. It’s as if she can do no right. I hate her because she’s an jaw droppingly ignorant person. She’s the brain dead hybrid of politics and reality television. She mistakes popularity with intelligence and quality. I hate her pandering and her folksy down home bullshit. I hate her reality celebutante daughter. I hate how her political views are shallow enough to be expressed via the 140 character or less Twitter service. That said, she’s easy on the eyes, so I guess she does one thing right. Happy now? ---
**Author:** ![Cort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/77aa72/32.png) [@Cort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cort)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarahpac-short-bus-tour/583588/13 "2011-05-28T21:37:42Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > Uh, I see she spent a lot on production of that video. Now WTF does it mean? Well, _duh!_ It’s about Freedom. And Liberty. And the Constitution. And Vision. And Futures, _our_ Futures. It’s also about The People. It’s about Truth. And America. And Honor. And God. And the Liberty Bell. And Repetition. _Endless_ Repetition. And it’s also about working Washington, Lincoln, and Reagan into the same sentence. The fuck’s _that_ about? ---
**Author:** ![No\_umlaut\_for\_U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ea5d25/32.png) [@No\_umlaut\_for\_U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_umlaut_for_U)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarahpac-short-bus-tour/583588/14 "2011-05-28T21:39:26Z")
My hatred of her begins with one simple fact: Geraldine Ferraro was the first female VP candidate from a major party. Sarah, you’re not original in any way, shape, or manner. Just go away, now. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarahpac-short-bus-tour/583588/15 "2011-05-28T21:52:42Z")
There is an interesting article on Palin in this month’s _Atlantic Monthly_: [The Tragedy of Sarah Palin](http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/06/the-tragedy-of-sarah-palin/8492/). The author discusses her record as Governor of Alaksa, and argues quite convincingly that she actually did a pretty damn good job, especially when it came to dealing with the incredibly important issue of oil taxes and the gas pipeline. She worked to assert the interests of Alaskans over those of the oil companies and their paid-off politicians, she challenged corruption among the Republican establishment, she worked closely with Democrats who were pushing a more liberal economic agenda, she didn’t spend her whole time pushing socially conservative issues, and she drove a tax reform bill that garnered a much higher share of oil profits for the state. It partly due to Palin’s reforms that Alaska currently enjoys a multi-billion dollar surplus rather than being billions in the hole like most other states. Rather than run on this record, when Palin was elected as McCain’s running mate she basically dumped all of it in order to pander to the far right, social conservative element of American society. The author argues that, had she run with the same sort of agenda and politics as characterized her term as governor, she might have dramatically changed the landscape of the 2008 election campaign, and could have made herself a viable candidate for reform in a period when Americans were concerned about the power and influence of corporations and corrupt politicians. Instead, she let the less savory aspects of her character, her “relentlessness” and her “impulse to settle scores” with people who criticized her, override the rest, and she deployed them indiscriminately rather than against targets worthy of attack. > [@](#): > > But McCain and Palin didn’t run as mavericks. Instead, they turned hard right. Palin’s old colleagues were stunned. “The speech at the Republican convention that made her a star, that was just shocking,” [Democratic state senator Hollis] French told me. “She could have said, ‘I’ll do for the nation what I did for Alaska: I’ll work with both sides and won’t care where the ideas come from.’ Her background supported that. Instead, they handed her a red-meat script she’s been reading from ever since.” Sums her up pretty well, i think. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarahpac-short-bus-tour/583588/16 "2011-05-28T22:07:37Z")
> [@LilShieste](#): > > So, my WAG is that some tenuous connection can usually be made between a PAC’s spending, and a “clearly identified candidate”, which really helps blur the line of where their spending limit is. I watched the video and flipped through the material on the tours website. If there’s a candidate or set of candidates involved, they’re definitely not being “clearly identified”. Indeed, they don’t even directly reference the election or the GOP. And her first stop is in DC, which has no federal legislators to campaign for. I can’t imagine its really illegal, since her PAC no doubt has plenty of lawyers to come up with a justification for it. But I’m curious what that justification is, as the point of the tour is pretty nakedly to boost Palin’s profile, and that doesn’t seem to be a valid use of PAC money. I assumed they would use the bus to go from campaign event to campaign event to shill for Palin-endorsed candidates, and thus justify the expenditure that way, but that doesn’t seem to be what they’re doing. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarahpac-short-bus-tour/583588/17 "2011-05-28T22:45:13Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > I’ve never understand some people’s hate for Palin. It’s as if she can do no right. Even the Republican pundits knew it was a dumb and cynical move when McCain choose her for VP, lets rewind the tape: [http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0908/Noonan\_Murphy\_trash\_Palin\_on\_hot\_mic\_Its\_over.html](http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0908/Noonan_Murphy_trash_Palin_on_hot_mic_Its_over.html) > [@](#): > > After a segment with NBC’s Chuck Todd ended today, Republican consultant Mike Murphy and Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan were caught on a live mike ridiculing the choice of Sarah Palin. > > “It’s over,” said Noonan, who then responded to a question of whether Palin is the most qualified Republican woman McCain could have chosen. > > “The most qualified? No. I think they went for this — excuse me — political bullshit about narratives,” she said. “Every time the Republicans do that, because that’s not where they live and it’s not what they’re good at, they blow it.” > > Murphy chimed in: > > “The greatness of McCain is no cynicism, and this is cynical.” While it was fun to discuss with many smart republicans during the campaign (it was fun when one knew what they really thought about her in private) the clear cynicism and the constant attempts at putting lipstick on that [del]pig[/del] bitch, made me lose respect of many that claimed to have lots of intelligence and were willing to give McCain and Palin their votes. So, are you serious or cynical? ---
**Author:** ![LilShieste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@LilShieste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilShieste)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarahpac-short-bus-tour/583588/18 "2011-05-28T23:23:02Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > I watched the video and flipped through the material on the tours website. If there’s a candidate or set of candidates involved, they’re definitely not being “clearly identified”. Indeed, they don’t even directly reference the election or the GOP. And her first stop is in DC, which has no federal legislators to campaign for. I completely agree. The only thing I could find offhand about spending limits/restrictions for a PAC involved those “independent expenditures”, which certainly doesn’t seem like it would cover a video like the one provided in the OP. The only reason I brought up Colbert’s Super PAC is because I was reminded of a statement that was included in his Advisory Opinion Request (to the FEC): > [@](#): > > Colbert Super PAC will make only independent expenditures, advertisements that expressly advocate the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate and that are not coordinated with any candidate or political party. Colbert Super PAC will also pay usual and normal administrative expenses, **including but not limited to, luxury hotel stays, private jet travel, and PAC mementos from Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus.**" ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarahpac-short-bus-tour/583588/19 "2011-05-28T23:25:56Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > I’ve never understand some people’s hate for Palin. It’s as if she can do no right. You don’t understand it because you’re stupid. I hate to tell you this, but stupid people have trouble understanding things. This is perfectly normal. Just accept that the world rushing dizzyingly around you is being stewarded by people who can manage to take in what is going on. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarahpac-short-bus-tour/583588/20 "2011-05-28T23:29:22Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > You don’t understand it because you’re stupid. > > I hate to tell you this, but stupid people have trouble understanding things. This is perfectly normal. Just accept that the world rushing dizzyingly around you is being stewarded by people who can manage to take in what is going on. Retort fail. Too many polysyllabic words. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarahpac-short-bus-tour/583588.md?page=2)