Colbert Super PAC Is Super Legal, Says Colbert (VIDEO)

Stephen Colbert is very upset about the influence that Super PACs have in today's politics. Namely, he's upset that the organizations which are legally allowed to raise unlimited funds for a political candidate don't have nearly as much influence as they could.

On Tuesday's "Colbert Report," he showed a clip from the latest GOP debate, the last in a series which he notes has "passed 'The Simpsons' for the most episodes in TV history," he was astonished to learn that candidates like Mitt Romney are trying to distance themselves from their Super PAC.

After all, Colbert had to give up a leadership post in his own Super PAC, formerly the Colbert PAC, renamed the Definitely Not Coordinating With Stephen Colbert Super PAC. And some journalists, namely Ben Smith of BuzzFeed, pointed out that Colbert Super PAC's ad endorsing Herman Cain aired before Colbert had taped "The Report" on Wednesday, seemingly indicating that Colbert had illegally coordinated with his former Super PAC (and its current head Jon Stewart) in producing the ad.

But as Colbert's lawyer, former FEC chairman Trevor Potter, pointed out, it actually is legal for Colbert to talk to Stewart prior to an ad airing, as long as he has no influence over it. "Non-coordinating just means I can't help them or approve what they're doing, but I can know in advance what they've done. That's not coordinating. That's just… ordinating."

Just to catch everyone up to speed -- BuzzFeed, which was known for viral content until about three weeks ago, is running serious political journalism about the legality of a joke video made by comedian who isn't actually running for anything. Comedy, you win again.

Also on HuffPost:

Comments

[MarkAntney]

08:51 AM on 01/19/2012

Their Commercials and mocking that stupid USSC decision,..makes it almost worth it?

Keep it coming Jon and Colber"TTTTTTT"!!!

[PragmaticStatistic]

08:34 AM on 01/19/2012

The result of the Supreme Court decision on corporate personhood is biting the very people who hoped to benefit from it because the various factions of the corporate oligarchy that are funding these SuperPacs are attacking the each other's candidates. Thus, the GOP is destroying itself in the process, and if there is a winner, the people would have surrendered their personhood and freedoms to the corporate personhood that employs them.

It comes down to a case of: "be careful what you ask for because you may get it." The GOP asked for SuperPacs, they got SuperPacs, and they now suffer from SuperPacs. And, in the process they destroy the very freedoms they state they are protecting.

[L armond]

10:21 PM on 01/18/2012

I wish Colbert would get a hair piece like Ronald Reagan, and show how in Virginia our Representative, with the Reagan look-a-like hair acts like a message to people that want to think they are voting to bring back the good times. I think his name is Eric Cantor. I could be wrong. I think he now the head of the US Congress, not majority leader, but another title. But, maybe majority leader. His haircut definitely got him the job, whatever job it is.

[MASH4077]

07:31 PM on 01/18/2012

This is one of my all-time favorite things to watch on TV. They are fantastic, and they spare neither side of the political spectrum.

I hope Herman Cain (Colbert... wink, wink) comes in second or third place in South Carolina. That will increase the joke-ability of the GOP primaries to their proper level.

Awesome!

[Me atlast]

05:41 PM on 01/18/2012

Absolutely genius. This is absolutely one of the best things that exists, this whole superpac thing with Colbert and Stewart. I am in awe of these guys.

On a side note, I am no fan of Gingrich, but I did like the dig he got on Romney about what his influence might be as President if he doesn't have any influence on his superpac.

[RealityCheck454]

05:19 PM on 01/18/2012

Hey Huffpost moderators it ok that Colbert make fun of or insaults everybody, but you can't make a joke about him. Come on you guys.

[Mike Anton Bidner]

07:07 PM on 01/18/2012

It probably sucked.

[bookreader451]

09:18 PM on 01/18/2012

What is to joke about?

He is happily married, with children. His wife was never his mistress, he is from Christian background, pays his taxes, supports America and honor our armed services. I don't know how you can say ALL AMERICAN any clearer

[RealityCheck454]

10:29 PM on 01/18/2012

WOW YOU JUST DESRIBED ME THANK YOU.

[Pennsylvanianne]

08:54 AM on 01/19/2012

Clarification: Colbert is CATHOLIC. Catholics consider themselves Christians; but some Christians consider Catholicism a cult and not part of Christianity. (Which is funny, considering Catholicism was the original form of Christianity ... )

[Eva Munet]

02:24 PM on 01/18/2012

Ben Smith is no Sherlock Holmes. Just because you figured out that it was Colonel Mustard in the Billard Room with the candlestick does not make you a top sleuth.

[UnRed]

01:44 PM on 01/18/2012

Stewart and Colbert are incredibly brilliant, or at least their writers are.

[Pennsylvanianne]

08:56 AM on 01/19/2012

All of the above! I think Stewart and Colbert are brilliant AND so are their writers. I am glad you are gave a shout-out to writers, because television execs try to circumvent paying good ones in favor of reality shows, where the participants speak drivel in lieu of carefully written anything. "In the beginning was the WORD."

[3bunnies]

01:13 PM on 01/18/2012

I am glad these 2 are "not coordinating". Blunt honesty at its funniest.

[mabinog]

12:14 PM on 01/18/2012

I pose the question again............can you make a mockery of some that is already a mockery?

Remockeryization?

[pleblian]

12:40 PM on 01/18/2012

Nice!

I ask the same question... How do you criticize satire? you either think it's funny or you don't

[Ron666wood]

11:20 AM on 01/18/2012

Politics is a joke...that's why the most factual information shows up on Colbert and the Dailey Show. Hypocrisy can be hilarious.

[Ex-Fed]

11:17 AM on 01/18/2012

Oops! Corrupt!

[Ex-Fed]

11:17 AM on 01/18/2012

Another Colbert word, "ordinating" , I just love how he points out just how curupt the money game is in politics every night! Should be required watching by Congress and the SCOTUS!

[Dbos]

10:34 AM on 01/18/2012

whats up with buzz feed?