Wiretap Gone Wrong, DCCC Cash Advantage and More in Capital Eye Opener: January 27

Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics:

ANTI-ACORN ACTIVIST ARRESTED IN FAILED ATTEMPT TO WIRETAP SENATOR: Conservative activist and filmmaker James O’Keefe and three others were arrested Monday during a failed attempt to wiretap the New Orleans office of Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported. The four men apparently posed as utility repairmen. O’Keefe gained notoriety last year when he dressed up like a pimp and secretly filmed his interactions with ACORN employees giving him unscrupulous advice. One of O’Keefe’s accomplices is also reportedly the son of an acting-U.S. Attorney. O’Keefe was reportedly in New Orleans to give a speech at the libertarian Pelican Institute on the “role of new media” and “effective investigative reporting.” The title of the event was “Exposing Truth: Undercover Video, New Media and Creativity.” Media Matters additionally notes that 31 House Republicans led by Rep. Pete Olson (R-Texas) co-sponsored a resolution to honor O’Keefe last fall after his anti-ACORN expose.

DCCC HITS THE JACKPOT: Despite a string of high-profile retirements and several increasingly tough re-election races, there remains one bright spot for Congressional Democrats: the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee reportedly raised $55.6 million in 2009, giving the DCCC a significant edge over its Republican counterpart, according to Politico. The National Republican Congressional Committee, meanwhile, the newspaper reports, raised about $33 million. On the Senate side, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee out-raised the National Republican Senatorial Committee, $43.5 million to $41.2 million. Of course, money alone does not an election victory make. Yet with the primaries just around the corner, the Dems’ hefty war chest could give them an early edge on the GOP. As Politico notes, the DSCC aims to hit Republicans hard early in the campaign season. 

DAILY SHOW TAKE-AWAY: On Monday night, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart weighed in on the Supreme Court’s high-profile campaign finance ruling Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. According to Stewart, the Court’s majority opinion declares that “corporations and unions, they’re people just like you and me, only without mouths…so they can only talk through their wallet cords.” Sidekick John Oliver took advantage of the ruling by forming his own corporation for the sole purpose of insulting Stewart. Another hilarious highlight: the E-Trade baby starring in a mock anti-abortion ad aimed at Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.). Stewart and crew raised legitimate points that are sure to be further legislated — and litigated — in the next few months and years. To what extent should corporations and unions have the same First Amendment rights as people, and what effect will the ruling have on the campaign-related spending of corporations? 

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