For All They're Worth

That big money plays a mega-role in our political elections is such an old story that many simply accept it and do their best to read between the lines. To wade through that difficult process (made more challenging by candidates' blustering, bullying, pandering, sound bites, half-answers, and non-answers), it behooves one to know who, exactly, is paying for whom. Fortunately, PACs (super and otherwise) do have to file fundraising reports, and the first of them were recently sent in, as were candidates' own filings. Interestingly, the Republican breakdown accounts for about 9/10s of this article, as "There won't be much talk of Democrats in the presidential super PAC filings. That's because they account for less than 9 percent of the total super PAC haul so far, according to an Associated Press analysis ..." Of course, at least part of that is due to there being so many more Republicans running right now (story, videos, link to quiz about $$ in politics): http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2015/0801/Money-talking-loudly-A-guide-to-the-super-PACs-video
   And speaking of how many Republicans are running ~ and with our veep seemingly about to take the plunge ~ one couldn't be blamed for losing count. Enter the 2016 presidential race cheat sheet: http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/08/2016-election/384828/
   Here's a brief rundown of interesting tidbits about the candidates. Be careful, though. As with so much of the information we get, the details that are left out can make a difference in how one thinks of the whole story. As an example, this guide mentions that Jeb(!) Bush passed a law in 2001 "that required single mothers to publish their sexual history." Outrageous! But a little fact-checking reveals
that he "allowed a law to pass in Florida in 2001 that forced single mothers—including minors and rape victims—planning to put their children up for adoption to advertise their sexual histories in a newspaper if they didn’t know the identity of the father," according to the New York Daily News (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/florida-law-required-single-moms-advertise-sexual-history-article-1.2253178). "The law’s intent was to notify fathers about potential children so they could take custody if they wanted to do so." Not great, but maybe a little more understandable. Bush repealed the law in 2003 (story, slideshow): http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/politics/article/A-brief-guide-to-controversies-surrounding-the-6395485.php#photo-8335916