newjerseynewsroom.com

BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Montclair resident Colbert grew up in South Carolina.  His rally was called the “Rock Me Like a Herman Cain South Cain-olina Primary Rally,” and featured cheerleaders, a gospel choir, a band and Herman Cain.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports that so far this year, super PACs have spent more than $26 million and negative ads are all over South Carolina television these days. Colbert raised money from viewers through his super-PAC, and according to super-PAC rules, has not revealed the amount.

He has earned enough to finance commercials supporting a candidate known as “Rick Parry,” and another that called Mitt Romney a serial killer. His point was that it was all done legally. Colbert’s lawyer Trevor Potter, who helped the comedian form his super PAC, is a real campaign-finance lawyer who once worked for John McCain and is a former Federal Election Commission chairman.

But is Colbert making a point or does he have other motives for his campaign?

According to Mediaite, NBC White House correspondent Chuck Todd asked,  “Is it to educate the public about the dangers of money in politics? Or is it to marginalize the Republican party? Todd attacked Colbert and Daily Show host Jon Stewart, saying they are mocking the media, and then backing off and saying “we’re just comedians” when they are held accountable.

According to the Atlantic, Colbert said, "The pundits have asked, 'is this all some joke?' And I say, if being allowed to form a super PAC and collecting unlimited, untraceable amounts of money from individuals, unions, and corporations, and spending that money on political ads and for personal enrichment, and then surrendering that super PAC to one of my closest friends while I explore a run for office is a joke, then our entire campaign finance system is a joke!"

Colbert said he had to stand for corporations because, without legs, they cannot stand for themselves. He said,  “I am the Martin Luther King of corporate civil rights — the Lockheed Martin Burger King,”

On a recent appearance on Morning Joe, according to Mediaite, Colbert mentioned a recent poll that found 41 percent of South Carolinians are not satisfied with their choices. I have the highest favorability rating of any of the Republican candidates, even though I’m not one.”