信箱里躺了这样一封邮件： The defense of Chinese Diaoyu Islands is not only an important responsibility of Chinese from both sides of the Taiwan Strait, it is also a great duty of Chinese around the world. Now Chicago Chinese Community is working together with Chinese Communities in many other US cities in a worldwide effort to defend Diaoyu Islands and demonstrate the strength of Chinese Communities globally. Please join us and make contributions. Together we will have a great rally and make our voice resonate with both the Chinese Community and Mainstream US Society. Rally for the Defense of Diaoyu Islands Date: Saturday September 15, 2012, 1:00PM to 3:00PM Location: Chicago Chinatown Square John 芝加哥保釣示威 大集會 —華埠廣場 9 月 15 日下午 1 時 日本非法侵佔中國領土釣魚島，全球全美華人 915 同步舉辦 “ 保釣護土 ” 抗議。 “ 大芝加哥華人抗議日本侵佔中國釣魚島 ” 示威大集會 時間： 9 月 15 日星期六下午 1 時至 3 時。 地点：芝加哥南唐人街華埠廣場 9 月 18 日星期二上午到日本領事館前集會遞交抗議書。 社團商家重金在主流媒體刊登保釣抗議廣告。 至盼各社團不分黨派，動員僑胞，重責中華民族大義，踴躍參加出錢出力，保釣護土。 和統會、保釣委員會、華聯會、海外交流協會、五邑同鄉會、美亞協會、抗戰史實會、龍岡公所、鳳倫公所、劍忠厚體育會、芝加哥華人藝術團、安良工商會、協勝公會、洪門致公堂、伍胥山公所、朔源公所、至德三德公所、華中科大校友會、辛亥聯誼社、復旦校友會、河南同鄉會、全美華人聯合社團、香港華協會、科工專、一中會、湖北同鄉會、美中文化藝術中心、李氏教育基金會、新亞電視、美國華網、美國僑網、芝加哥網、天津聯誼會、天津商會、廣州協會、美亞建康協會、芝加哥少林寺、東北總商會、美加中華詩詞楹聯學會、希林聯合中文學校、希林 UIC 中文學校、希林芝大中文學校、希林西北郊中文學校、希林西北大學中文學校、希林湖郡中文學校、希林瑞柏中文學校、希林協會、希林老人活動中心、希林藝術中心、 华美教授学会、黄氏宗亲会、统促会、 文化职业协会、東方中醫、唯美、孝誠百貨、富城酒樓、張輝藥材、張英藥材、華燈禮品、陽光衛星電視、永昌食品、中華同盟會、健民行、會賓樓、芝加哥中文學校、溫州同鄉會、美國中西部湖南同鄉會、華人敬老會 。
The "superPAC" is a relatively new beast that emerged as a result of two court rulings, including an important 2010 ruling by the Supreme Court. The "superPAC", which is officially known as an "independent expenditure-only committee", has become an increasingly popular method of influence for special interest groups. The "superPAC" is like a traditional PAC (Political Action Committee) without many of the restrictions. For instance, a "superPAC" can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money for the sole purpose of supporting or opposing political candidates. A "superPAC" can directly attack a political candidate. The only caveat is that a "superPAC" is not allowed to coordinate directly with candidates or political parties. The "superPAC" will be an extremely crucial part of the 2012 Presidential election. History of PACs In 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt called for campaign finance reform . This led to laws called Acts of Congress intended to: Limit the influence of wealthy individuals and special interest groups ; Regulate campaign spending; and Deter abuses by mandating public disclosure. In 1971, Congress passed the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA). This Act further defined how a PAC could operate. In the 1972 presidential election abuses still occurred. However, there was no regulatory group to enforce the Act. Congress in 1974 set limits on contributions to PACs and established the Federal Election Commission (FEC). In brief, FEC rules include: A limit for individuals to $5,000 per year for Federal PACs; Corporations and unions may not contribute directly to federal PACs, but can for the administrative costs of a PAC affiliated with the specific corporation or union; Corporate-affiliated PACs may only solicit contributions from executives, shareholders, and their families; Contributions from corporate or labor union treasuries are illegal, though they may sponsor a PAC and provide financial support for its administration and fundraising; Union-affiliated PACs may only solicit contributions from members; Independent PACs may solicit contributions from the general public and pay their own costs. Federal multi-candidate PACs were limited as follows: $5,000 per candidate for each election and primary; $15,000 per political party per year; and $5,000 per PAC per year. In 2000, nearly unlimited spending continued. The billionaire Wyly brothers of Texas "played an instrumental role" when helping their desired candidate Texas Republican George W. Bush via a $2.5-million advertising campaign they financed via a 527 organization . In the 2004 presidential election , campaign donations were via a 527 organization . One organization, Swift Boat "torpedoed" Massachusetts Democrat John Kerry presidential campaign, 2004 and George W. Bush was elected to a second term. A reported $9.45 million came from three private individuals. Swift Boat's was cited as a front group for Republican interests. Details of the influence of wealthy individuals to control the course of elections became more clear in reports like one that documented the Wyly Brothers of Texas alone had made millions in campaign contributions to 200 Republican Candidates. In the 2010 case Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission , the Supreme Court ruled PACs may accept unlimited contributions from individuals, unions, and corporations (both for profit and not-for-profit) for the purpose of making independent expenditures. The 2010 ruling made it legal for corporations and unions to spend from their general treasuries to finance independent expenditures. Because direct corporate or union contributions to federal campaigns are still prohibited, such organizations seeking to contribute to federal candidate campaigns must still rely on traditional PACs for that purpose. However, they may spend money independently of campaigns without forming a PAC. During the 2012 election cycle, the exact boundary that defines when a campaign contribution is truly independent versus a coordinated one was lampooned on comedy shows, debated publicly and became the subject of additional Federal Court cases.
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