HDNet's 'Dan Rather Reports' Takes a Closer Look at the Continuing Issue of Campaign Finance Reform

In the wake of the most expensive Midterm Election in U.S. history, the question of where the big money behind political campaigns really comes from takes front and center TONIGHT, November 9 at 8:00 p.m. ET

News provided by

HDNet

Nov 09, 2010, 10:30 ET

DALLAS, Nov. 9, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Tonight's "Dan Rather Reports" takes an in-depth look at the most controversial Supreme Court case of the year, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. That's the case that granted corporations and unions more free-speech rights in order to try to influence elections on their own -- but not to donate more money to the candidates directly. Ever since President Obama scolded the Court for its decision during his State of the Union address in January, some Democrats have blamed the case as part of the reason for this year's rightward political tilt. In this episode, Rather and his team try to move past the hype and take an in-depth look at what the case really meant, at its political context, and to ask what bigger problems the focus on Citizens United might be leaving unaddressed.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080324/HDNETLOGO)

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080324/HDNETLOGO)

To see how the case has played out this year, "Dan Rather Reports" follows two of the most hotly contested races in the recent 2010 Midterm Elections. Reporting from the campaign trail of Senate campaign-finance reformer Russ Feingold in Wisconsin and from the small-town Ohio campaign of a promising Republican upstart named Jim Renacci. Rather's team looks at how the influx of money from organizations based far away from each candidate's home state – organizations with their own strategies and agendas – are affecting our democracy.

To help viewers understand the issue of money in politics, Rather talks to Yale Law School professor Heather Gerken, who thinks the Court's refusal to allow campaign finance reform on free speech grounds is a dangerous precedent. He also interviews former George W. Bush attorney Ben Ginsberg, who agrees that Citizens United has left American elections in a bad place – but thinks the solution is to get rid of all limits on money and speech in politics, allowing money to flow to candidates themselves and eliminating the need for third-party pressure campaigns. "As long as you're going to restrict candidates and parties and what they can raise and have corporations and unions allowed to raise unlimited funds, you're gonna have a terrible imbalance," he claims.

Both lawyers argue that the Citizens United ruling was just one more step in the slow process of the Supreme Court making subtle changes that have chipped away at the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform Bill of 2002 - one of the most ambitious attempts to change election law since Watergate in the early 70s.

And yet, Wisconsin's Russ Feingold, co-author of that reform bill, was in the fight of his political life this year, and believes his opponent benefited greatly from the Citizens United decision.

"What's happened in this race is really obscene," said Feingold. "My opponent has 9 million dollars worth of ads of his own money, the most ads of any candidate in the country, but on top of that he has some 3 million dollars in ads from these interest groups from around the country, we don't even know who's funding them although we have a pretty good idea. I have none of those ads. So this is an attempt to buy this seat from outside of Wisconsin."

But, the Republican lawyer Ginsberg does point out to Rather that despite all the outcry about Citizens United, nothing has changed since the last election cycle when it comes to disclosure rules, only the nuance is what outside groups are allowed to say. Ginsberg claims that there's so much more activity this cycle simply because Republicans are fired up.

So, whether it is corporations buying these seats or just a change in the political tide that affected this election, we may never know for certain. Feingold was a liberal Democrat running during a Republican landslide – he was outspent and lost. Jim Renacci of Ohio was a Republican running during a Republican landslide – he was outspent and won. But everyone we spoke to agrees that democracy works better when voters know from whose voices they're hearing, and everyone has agreed that in recent years, American elections have been hurt by outside groups taking over roles better filled by political parties and the candidates themselves. Only "Dan Rather Reports" is taking a deeper look at these problems, and how one day they may be fixed.

"Dan Rather Reports: Here Comes the Cash" premieres on HDNet, TONIGHT, November 9 at 8:00 p.m. ET with an encore at 11:00 p.m. ET.

About HDNet

HDNet (www.hd.net) is the independent network with unique and thought-provoking content that appeals to men of all ages and is delivered in true high definition.

HDNet is the exclusive, high definition home for popular, original programming, including television's only HD news feature programs "HDNet World Report," and the Emmy Award winning "Dan Rather Reports," featuring legendary journalist Dan Rather. Only HDNet goes beyond the headlines to deliver real news that is redefining the way we look at our world. HDNet News is provocative, sometimes controversial and always relevant - telling the important stories of our time in-depth, with attitude and with independence. HDNet is also the exclusive high definition home to critically acclaimed and award winning documentaries as part of the InFocus series. "NASA on HDNet" presents all live shuttle launches through 2010.

HDNet presents championship sports coverage featuring the best of Mixed Martial Arts with its Friday night series, "HDNet Fights" (www.hdnetfights.com). "HDNet Fights" works with leading MMA promoters including DREAM, Sengoku, King of the Cage, XFC, K-1, K-1 Max, MFC and more. HDNet produces more live Mixed Martial Arts events than any other network and HDNet's "Inside MMA" is the hottest Mixed Martial Arts program on television, giving MMA fans their weekly fix for everything MMA, while "Fighting Words with Mike Straka," goes one-on-one with some of the biggest names in the sport. HDNet also features live coverage of regular season games from the second season of the United Football League.

HDNet also delivers the world's largest and most diverse concert line-up through the HDNet Concert Series. The HDNet Concert Series features leading artists and bands including Paul McCartney, Mariah Carey, John Mayer, Nickelback and more. HDNet also features revealing lifestyle programming featuring "Art Mann Presents," "Girls Gone Wild," "Deadline" and "Get Out!"

Only HDNet Movies (www.hdnetmovies.com) delivers exclusive Sneak Previews of new movies before they hit theaters. The HDNet Movies Sneak Preview series features top Hollywood stars in critically acclaimed performances including Gwyneth Paltrow, Joaquin Phoenix, Demi Moore, Michael Caine, Tom Hanks, Vera Farmiga, Parker Posey, Brian Cox, Matthew Broderick, Brittany Snow, Eric Bana, John Malkovich, Emily Blunt, Robin Williams, Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger.

In addition to being the exclusive home of Sneak Previews, HDNet Movies viewers enjoy the best films from the classics of the 1950s-1970s, to favorite films from the 1980s and 1990s, to recently released theatrical films.

HDNet Movies offers subscribers a premium movie viewing experience in true HD, and more original movies shot entirely in HD than any other network.

Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available on AT&T U-verse, Charter, Comcast, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, and Verizon FiOS.

The HDNet networks can be followed via Facebook at facebook.com/HDNet, facebook.com/HDNetFights and facebook.com/HDNetMovies and via Twitter at twitter.com/hdnet, twitter.com/hdnetfights and twitter.com/hdnetmovies.

SOURCE HDNet