Colbert Super PAC

Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow
FormationSeptember 9, 2011[1]
Dissolved2012
TypePolitical action committee
Legal status501(c)(4) organization[2]
President
WebsiteColbertSuperPAC.com

Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow[3] (better known as the Colbert Super PAC) was a United States political action committee (PAC) established by Stephen Colbert, who portrayed a character of the same name who was a mock-conservative political pundit on Comedy Central's satirical television series The Colbert Report. As a super PAC the organization could raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions and other groups, as well as wealthy individuals.[4][5] Speaking in character, Colbert said the money would be raised not only for political ads, but also "normal administrative expenses, including but not limited to, luxury hotel stays, private jet travel, and PAC mementos from Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus."[6]

Colbert Super PAC reported raising over $1.22 million in their January 2012 filing with the Federal Election Commission.[7] Colbert has been credited with increasing awareness of Super PACs through his late night television show.[8] In April 2012, Colbert received a Peabody Award for his show's series of parody reporting about his super PAC as an "innovative means of teaching American viewers about the landmark court decision".[9] On November 12, 2012, Colbert announced his intention to dissolve Colbert Super PAC, citing the death of his fictional advisor Ham Rove. On December 13, 2012, Colbert announced that he was not required to say where the entire balance of the Super PAC's funds ($773,704.83) had gone. Immediately following this, however he stated that a group called "The Ham Rove Memorial Foundation" had received an anonymous donation of $773,704.83, which it will use to support various charities.

  1. ^ "Colbert Super PAC SHH Institute". Division of Corporations. State of Delaware. Accessed December 14, 2015.
  2. ^ "Colbert Super PAC SHH Institute". Guidestar.
  3. ^ Ryan J. Reilly (July 1, 2011). "Colbert's Super PAC Not Actually Called Colbert Super PAC". TPMMuckraker. Talking Points Memo. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
  4. ^ "Outside Spending". OpenSecrets. Archived from the original on August 27, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
  5. ^ Blumenthal, Paul; Cherkis, Jason (August 13, 2011). "Rick Perry Super PACs Raise Issues of Coordination, Collusion". Huffington Post. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
  6. ^ Khan, Huma (September 8, 2010). "Stephen Colbert's Super PAC Takes on the NBA". ABC News. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference AP was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Leven, Rachel (February 16, 2012). "Super-PAC craze sweeps the nation - The Hill's Ballot Box". The Hill. Retrieved October 5, 2012.
  9. ^ "Stephen Colbert's Super PAC Satire Lands Him a Peabody". Time. April 5, 2012. Retrieved October 5, 2012.