Campaign Finance Rules Can’t Stop Hotties for Harris
Influencers and the DNC: “Federal Election Commission rules require paid campaign advertising to carry a disclaimer notice identifying who paid for the communication,” reports Lee Fang for his Substack. “However, payments to individual influencers represent a grey area of completely unregulated campaign finance. No federal rules require disclosure when a TikTok star or Instagram personality is paid to promote an election-related message. Although efforts have been made to reform election transparency rules, little has changed. Last December, the FECÂ formally punted on the issue.”
But Fang has found that campaigns—including those of Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz—have been “showering funds on social media influencer marketing agencies,” which in turn contract out with individual content creators. Given the lack of disclosure from these agencies, it ends up being very difficult to see which influencers ultimately get paid.
What we do know, per Fang’s reporting: Harris-Walz shelled out $1.9 million to Village Marketing Agency. “The company previously worked on the 2020 Biden campaign and several efforts to promote the Obama family,” notes Fang. “Village Marketing, now a part of the marketing conglomerate WPP Group, is reportedly working to recruit 5,000 social media influencers to promote the Kamala Harris presidential campaign.”
At the Democratic National Convention last week, the party “treated influencers like celebrities, hoping that free stuff and copious access in Chicago would reap buzzy posts on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube,” reports The New York Times. There were parties with tiki drinks; there were free Lake Michigan boat rides; there was a “hotties for Harris” neon sign with which you could take pictures. A lot of influencer travel and lodging was paid for by progressive groups.
“I know why they want me here,” one foodie influencer told the Times. “I’m not here to ask any embarrassing questions.”
In a sense, this lays bare what we already knew to be true: Social media influencers are down to be purchased, whether it’s sponsored content for products or sponsored content for ideas. And many voters are also not especially ideological or even thinking about these issues very deeply.
Perhaps this also lends some credence to Harris’ strategy of running a policy-lite, vibes-heavy campaign; it’s about the joy and the TikTok egg-cracking videos and how Daddy Walz can fix your car for you, not about the economic despair that would come from instituting price controls. If you’re operating in a landscape where the youth vote is being influenced (and you’re attempting to put your own thumb on the scale), maybe we’ve transcended any hopes of political seriousness.
Israel raids West Bank: On Wednesday, Israel conducted raids and airstrikes in Jenin and Tulkarm—both in the West Bank—in an attempt to stamp out terrorist groups. Nine are dead so far. “We are in the first stages of thi
Article from Reason.com
The Reason Magazine website is a go-to destination for libertarians seeking cogent analysis, investigative reporting, and thought-provoking commentary. Championing the principles of individual freedom, limited government, and free markets, the site offers a diverse range of articles, videos, and podcasts that challenge conventional wisdom and advocate for libertarian solutions. Whether you’re interested in politics, culture, or technology, Reason provides a unique lens that prioritizes liberty and rational discourse. It’s an essential resource for those who value critical thinking and nuanced debate in the pursuit of a freer society.