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Lawrence Lessig Defends Americans Elect for Not Disclosing its Funders

Posted on March 8, 2012 by admin

Lawrence Lessig here defends Americans Elect for not telling the world who is paying for its petition drives and its costs for setting up the on-line presidential primary. Lessig is the author of “Republic, Lost” and a leading critic of campaign finance practices in the U.S., and a law professor. Here is the wiki page about him. Thanks to Rick Hasen’s ElectionLawBlog for the link.

Comments

Lawrence Lessig Defends Americans Elect for Not Disclosing its Funders — No Comments

bolarm on March 8, 2012 at 9:15 am said:

The problem is that Americans Elect said they would release information & haven’t & apparently won’t.
Brad M on March 8, 2012 at 9:20 am said:

Or as Mark McKinnon put so eloquently recently in Austin, Texas at a forum on Americans Elect by the Center for Policy and Government: “If there is no quid where is the quo?”
Brad M on March 8, 2012 at 9:22 am said:

#1

When and where did you hear/read/see that AE would release the names of his donors?

AE has been consistent since day one that it is up to the individual donors to self-release their names and contribution amounts. AE has only said they “hope” that contributors at some point reveal themselves.
John Lumea on March 8, 2012 at 12:52 pm said:

The “precipitating” reason why it matters what Lessig thinks about Americans Elect’s non-disclosure practices is that Lessig now sits on Americans Elect’s Board of Advisors — meaning, surely, that, on some level, he is expected to be an apologist for these practices.

One reason why we have this response from Lessig is that Rick Hasen flagged my recent piece, in which I asked the question:

How is it that Lawrence Lessig, one of the most informed and eloquent critics of the undue influence of money over politics — and one of the most ardent and public advocates for financial transparency from elected officials, corporations and political institutions — winds up on the Board of Advisors, a.k.a. the Leadership, of a political group with such a shadowy financial pedigree?

Hasen tweeted Lessig a briefer version of the question, and Lessig’s response is the upshot.

For at least a couple of reasons, I find it unconvincing. Within the next day or so, I’ll have a new piece that explains why.
Casual Bystander on March 8, 2012 at 1:15 pm said:

Riddle: When is a two party system no different from a three party system?

Answer: When the third party is Americans Elect!
Don Davis on March 8, 2012 at 8:27 pm said:

Why is it so diffacult for people to understand? Read the facts! AE is NOT SUPPORTING ANY ONE RUNNING FOR OFFICE. So it’s NOT a campaign issue so it doesn’t matter.
Rick on March 9, 2012 at 12:42 am said:

Based on their overflow viewing of their “town hall meeting”, I would have to wonder if Ackerman is funding the whole thing.
In August 2010 he demanded a refund from Arno and changed his IRS status. His business image would be less damaged by overspending and being successful, as opposed to being the only funder and failing to garner any of the pledged financial support.
Either way, he, or they, seem(s) to be the victim(s) of free spending consultants(as long as it’s the client’s money).
Perhaps it’s time for another audit?
The last one yielded nearly $30,000.00 and prevented overcharging on California by claiming nonexistent signatures.
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