Interest groups are those organizations who influence public policy making from the outside looking in. They goal is to get politicians from both sides to see their points of view when it comes to a particular issue. Members of both political parties accept money from interest groups. Do you believe there should be limits on what interest groups can give to a politician during a campaign?
The Top 13 Sectors (Interest Groups) in 2013-2014. From: opensecrets.org
The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) of 2002, also known as the McCain-Feingold Act, includes a provision where political candidates, running for public office at the federal level, must identify their own political advertisements with the phrase, “I approve this message.” This idea was intended to discourage candidates from running negative ads on television or radio. However, when ads are produced and aired by outside organizations, such as interest groups or political parties, they acknowledge that their ads are not affiliated with any candidates or campaign committees. In effect, the interest group or political party is letting the audience know that the ads are independent of any candidate. Candidates for state office are not required to have an “approval” message included in their ads.
Here are two recent examples of candidates utilizing the phrase. One ad is a positive. The other is negative.
What is your opinion on the “I approve this message” provision?
Here is the recent advertisement created by the National Rifle Association (NRA). An interest group, the NRA was created in 1871 and its mission is to fight for the protection of Second Amendment rights. They lobby members of government (federal, state, and local) to help ensure those rights.
What are your thoughts on the ad? Does the ad appeal to only members of its organization? Is the ad aimed at a larger audience?
Politics Matters 