UPDATE: Dan is scheduled to be on the Matt Murphy radio show, which runs from 3 to 7 pm, tomorrow (Thursday) “sometime after 4″. Check it out if you can. It was changed to 6 pm today, which has already passed. Darn it. I’ll link to Dan’s account when he posts it.
This is so cool! Dan at Between the Links came up with a brilliant idea to expose PAC-to-PAC transfers in Alabama for what they really are, and he’s being rewarded with some great press coverage, including Bob Blalock’s column in today’s Birmingham News.
“I feel dirty.”
With those words, University of Alabama engineering student and political junkie Dan Roberts ended his June 13 blog entry (www.betweenthelinks.com) about a new venture: chairman of a political action committee.
Roberts formed “Dan PAC” through the Alabama secretary of state’s office with this stated purpose: “To filter funds from controversial or unpopular groups to other PACs and candidates for the purpose of hiding the actual source of a candidate’s campaign money from voters.”
Why should Roberts feel dirty, though? He has set up a PAC that does what dozens of other PACs in Alabama do. They launder campaign contributions to keep the public in the dark about who gives money to a candidate.
Unlike many PAC chairmen, Roberts at least has told the truth about his PAC’s purpose. (A sample “purpose” from a PAC that launders campaign contributions: “To promote candidates and political committees that promote good government.”)
And now it looks like the contributions are pouring in. Well, maybe trickling is a better word, but it’s a start. Dan plans to use the contributions to support candidates who will back a ban on PAC-to-PAC transfers, and he may very well be one of those candidates at some point in the future.
Congratulations again, Dan. You make the blogosphere look good.
Thanks. Sorry for the lack of a pingback.
I might be on the Matt Murphy program about it soon.
Wow! You’re in the big time for sure. Let me know when you’ll be on — if you have advance notice, I’ll publicize.
O Family Pay Pal Guardian,
I thinkw we need to contribute to the DanPAC.
I’ve got half the audio up now on a post. (It was too long to put it all up).
Bill, you can use the link in my sidebar or send me a check to the PO Box (also on Between the Links).