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Correct the Record
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| Correct the Record | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Type: | Hybrid PAC |
| Top official: | David Brock |
| Founder(s): | David Brock |
| Year founded: | 2013 |
| Website: | Official website |
Correct the Record is a hybrid PAC that had supported the 2016 presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton. The organization was originally launched in 2013 as an opposition research arm of American Bridge 21st Century, but became a standalone PAC in May 2015.[1][2]
Background
Originally founded in 2013 as a collaborative committee for American Bridge 21st Century, Correct the Record (CTR) broke away in 2015 to become an independent committee. CTR is a hybrid PAC and had supported Hillary Clinton's bid for president during the 2016 election cycle. The group described itself as "a strategic research and rapid response team designed to defend Hillary Clinton from baseless attacks."[3] By definition, hybrid PACs are independent expenditure-only committees, meaning that they cannot coordinate with a candidate's campaign.
Activity
Presidential election, 2016
A supporter of former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, most of CTR's work was done through rapid response. The group frequently used Twitter to promote Clinton's ideas and to respond to critiques of Clinton by other politicians and policy groups. They also posted commentary to their website debating specific points from media and political commentary on Clinton.[4] In January 2016, Brock and CTR made the news when Brock demanded that Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders "release his medical records before the Iowa caucuses on Feb. 1," according to Politico.[5] Hours after Brock's demand, he tweeted, "Correct the Record is not going to attack Senator Sanders on the issue of his medical records, nor am I. I've said nothing about the issue. This has nothing to do with the Clinton campaign."[6]
Campaign coordination argument
As a strictly Internet-based publishing outlet, Correct the Record attempted to get around the campaign coordination provision. According to The Washington Post,
| “ | Correct the Record believes it can avoid the coordination ban by relying on a 2006 Federal Election Commission regulation that declared that content posted online for free, such as blogs, is off limits from regulation. The “Internet exemption” said that such free postings do not constitute campaign expenditures, allowing independent groups to consult with candidates about the content they post on their sites. By adopting the measure, the FEC limited its online jurisdiction to regulating paid political ads.[2][7] | ” |
According to The Daily Beast, "The idea for CTR [Correct the Record] came to Brock during the Benghazi hearings on Capitol Hill. With Clinton not there to defend herself, having left her post as secretary of state, the right wing was having a field day, Brock says."[8]
Hirings
Former CTR communications director Adrienne Watson, was hired by Hillary Clinton's campaign as its rapid-response spokeswoman in February 2016.[9]
In mid-August 2016, Jennifer Granholm announced her move to Correct the Record. Until August, Granholm was the co-chairwoman on the board of the other pro-Hillary Clinton presidential super PAC Priorities USA Action. Granholm's role with CTR was acting as senior advisor. According to The New York Times, the move from Priorities to CTR was initiated by Clinton's campaign. According to the Times, Granholm "can act as a surrogate" to Clinton.[10] Granholm's role was within FEC guidelines due to the "Internet exemption," which does not categorize free postings online as campaign expenditures.[2]
RNC leaks
On July 21, 2016, it was reported that CTR had obtained and leaked several Republican National Convention speeches. Among the leaked speeches was Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's nomination speech. CTR sent the speech to media outlets after verifying its authenticity, stating "as if this convention hasn't been enough of a failure for Trump, somehow he let US get a hold of his full remarks before the speech."[11] Republican operatives described the leak as "a disaster," noting that such a leak was problematic and that the Trump campaign wasn't "ready for prime time."[11]
General election focus
In late March 2016, Politico noted that, while the Clinton campaign was focused on the primaries, CTR, along with Priorities USA Action and American Bridge 21st Century, were looking forward to a possible Donald Trump nomination. CTR had been researching Trump for months, preparing for the 2016 general election.[12]
Pollie award
In April 2016, CTR was awarded a Pollie—an award given by the American Association of Political Consultants, which recognizes "excellence" in political communications and public affairs—for its "most original/innovative collateral materials" concerning the Benghazi Select Committee.[13][14] According to Politico, the document was a rapid-response effort that laid out the purported "facts about the politically-fueled investigation."[13]
Finances
Correct the Record raised $3,436,572 in 2015, according to FEC records, and spent $3,104,476. (Note: While expenditures are reported to the FEC on a 24-hr, 48-hr, monthly, or half-yearly basis, contributions are only reported in June and in December.)[15][16] All information on contributions and spending are collected from the FEC Disclosure Database.
Media
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Correct the Record'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- Democratic presidential election super PACs, 2016
- Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016
- David Brock
- American Bridge 21st Century
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Slate, "Ready for Anything," July 29, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 The Washington Post, "How a super PAC plans to coordinate directly with Hillary Clinton’s campaign," May 12, 2015
- ↑ Correct the Record, "About," accessed January 26, 2016
- ↑ Correct the Record, "The Points," accessed January 26, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "Clinton surrogate to demand Sanders release medical records," January 16, 2016
- ↑ Twitter, "David Brock tweet on January 16, 2016," January 16, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ The Daily Beast, "Hillary’s Outside Enforcers Are Led by a Former Foe," July 10, 2014
- ↑ Politico, "Clinton campaign hires rapid-response spokeswoman," February 22, 2016
- ↑ The New York Times, "Jennifer Granholm, ex-Michigan Governor, Takes On New Role Supporting Hillary Clinton," August 14, 2016
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Politico, "'Republican source' leaks Trump speech to Dems," July 21, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "Clinton allies urge campaign to torch Trump," March 31, 2016
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Politico, "91 days to Cleveland, 204 days to election -- DEMS FEEL TRUMP PINCH," April 18, 2016
- ↑ American Assoc. of Political Consultants, "Pollie Awards," accessed April 21, 2016
- ↑ FEC, "FEC Form 3X, Correct the Record (Year End, 2015),", accessed February 2, 2016
- ↑ FEC, "2015 Reporting Dates," accessed December 3, 2015
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