Stephen Colbert Explores Run For Presidency, Hands Over Super PAC To Jon Stewart

[Rich Johnston]

Last night on The Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert announced that... he was setting up an exploratory committee over the possibility of running as the Republican candidate for President of the United States.

This caused a problem of course, because he is also running a Super PAC, a organisation raising money to promote a candidate without having to declare the source of funding, as long as they are not associated with the candidate in question.

Many of the SuperPACs however are run by people very close to the candidates however - colleagues, business partners or friends which makes a mockery of the separation.

Which is why Stephen Colbert has hande over the reins to the Stephen Colbert Super PAC - Americans For a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow to... Jon Stewart, frontsman for The Colbert Report's sister programme The Daily Show.

This letter was sent to members of the Stephen Colbert Super PAC.

Dear Super PAC Super Members,

Hi there. I'm Jon. It looks like I'm running this thing now. All the details are in the press release below. Quick question: does anybody know where the key to the Super PAC bathroom is?

Thanks,

Jon Stewart President Pro Tem Americans For A Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow

FOR REALLY IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Under New Management!

BASIC CABLE, USA ? Americans For A Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow, an FEC registered Super PAC, today announced the addition of Jon Stewart to its executive board (along with the subtraction of Stephen Colbert).

With this change the group, which had been known colloquially as Colbert Super PAC, can now be referred to as The Definitely Not Coordinating With Stephen Colbert Super PAC. They have already begun updating all of their letterhead with sharpie.

"I am excited to take the reins of this completely independent organization, and begin to air ads in South Carolina," said New President and Noncommunication Director Jon Stewart. "But I want to be clear: Stephen and I have in no way have worked out a series of morse-code blinks to convey information with each other on our respective shows."

Colbert is currently exploring a run for President of the United States of South Carolina. Because of this, he cannot be associated with any Super PACs, although he has asked Americans For A Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow to forward any periodicals of an "adult nature." *

Americans A Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow is an independent, expenditure-only committee founded by Stephen Colbert in the wake of the Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling, then handed down to Jon Stewart like a pair of old dungarees.

###

For Press Inquiries Contact: Alberto Rčalnamč Communications Director, Definitely Not Coordinating With Stephen Colbert Super PAC alberto.realname@colbertsuperpac.com

* Including the periodical "Adult Nature".

[Joe Kalicki]

He's not legitimately running for President, but using this as a platform for much-needed system reform, and I applaud him for it.

[JoshAdams]

The transferring of the Super PAC last night was brilliant even down to the Highlander-esque absorbing of Stephen Colbert's "PAC Power" into Jon Stewart who, much like a Highlander, shook and screamed as he took in the power. All the while Stephen's lawyer sat at the other end of the table patiently observing this.

[Thad]

Haven't had a chance to watch last night's episode yet, but this is delightful. Colbert's done a really wonderful job so far of shedding light on this ridiculous process, and giving the reins to the guy with the timeslot before his and swearing they're not coordinating is a great bit of farce.

(I hate Newt Gingrich, but I have to hand it to him -- yes, Mitt Romney is obviously and transparently lying when he says he has no involvement whatsoever with the PAC that is running ads on his behalf. Oh dear, fetch the smelling salts, a politician called another politician a liar just because he knowingly said something that was factually false.)

[Mad_Man_Moon]

........
awesome

[Mad_Man_Moon]

........
awesome

[maki0129]

(I hate Newt Gingrich, but I have to hand it to him -- yes, Mitt Romney is obviously and transparently lying when he says he has no involvement whatsoever with the PAC that is running ads on his behalf. Oh dear, fetch the smelling salts, a politician called another politician a liar just because he knowingly said something that was factually false.)

And yet the PAC that most prominently lends its support to Newt Ginrich is lead by his former campaign manager.

And John Huntsman's PAC is also managed by a former business partner.

And Rick Perry's PAC is managed by a couple of guys who spent a weekend with him on a private island before actually starting the PAC.

Only one who doesn't have a major PAC supporting him is Ron Paul.

I don't like to shit on other countries' idiosyncrasies but the electoral process in America is more than a little bit tainted by special private interests. Not that it's any better in my country, but at least mind you, we do a better job of hiding it.