The Misplaced Obsession with PACs
PACs are committees formed by business, labor, or other special interest groups to raise money and make contributions to the campaigns of political candidates whom they support. Money and politics always go together in the political environment, and PACs are a major source of campaign funds. Larry Sabato argues that this obsession with PACs is misplaced because PACs fulfill the role Madison created for diverse and active faction. He demonstrated how the combination of money and politics is a long-lasting relationship that has been a part of politics, he wrote, “The rapid rise of PACs has engendered much criticism, yet many of the charges made against political action committees are exaggerated and dubious. While the widespread use of the PAC structure is new, special interest money of all types has always found its way into politics” He argues that interest money has always existed, through the use of PACs, handling of this money can be done in a more systematic.
Sabato also argues the lack of clear evidence that PAC money can "buy" votes on legislation. But it seems like money has a definite role in PACs to get out to the people.”Vote buying” is not supported by a careful examination of the facts.
He suggests that in certain circumstances PACs money can be influential, with narrow, less visible, and specialized issues. They can also be effective in agenda setting and subcommittee votes, but he argues that most congressmen are not unduly influenced by PAC money on most votes, and decisions, because legislators need to be responsive to their party, and constituents. PACs are a "powerful symbol of much that is wrong with America's campaign process, and candidates for public office naturally manipulate this symbol as well as others for their own ends." I believe Sabato's main point is that PACs do not deserve all of the bad reputation they get, and are not as powerful as they are made out to be.