Mayday PAC faces backlash over payment to Free Stater group, Lessig defends action
In a spirited Twitter exchange with angry New Hampshire politicians and activists, Mayday PAC founder Prof. Lawrence Lessig defended his PAC’s payment to a New Hampshire group with links to the Free State Project.
The backlash came in response to our report that Stark 360, a super PAC led by the chairman of the Free State Project, pocketed $103,500 from Mayday. The libertarian group received the funding despite Chairman Aaron Day’s opposition to campaign finance reform efforts by Open Democracy, Lessig’s NH Rebellion partner.
“Am I accused of working w/ people I disagree w/ on an issue we agree on?” Lessig asked. “Guilty. That’s the premise of democracy.”
“Stark360/Kostric don’t agree with you on CFR,” answered state House Rep. Peter Sullivan (D-Manchester). “They’re using you to screw with Brown because they see him as insufficiently pro-gun.”
“The Free Staters are laughing at you for being so willing to turn liberal dollars over to right wing ideologues,” added Susan Bruce.
Lessig said the funding was “just covering costs” of joint work in support of U.S. Senate candidate Jim Rubens.
“Pls do better [homework],” wrote Dean Barker. “FSP is anti-gov’t & secessionist. They are skilled at manipulating others to further their cause. Some of that $103.5k could be used to elect FSPers to the #NHHouse who will gladly dismantle campaign finance laws.”
“It is being used to boost turnout among hardline right wingers,” added Sullivan. “The legislators they elect will kill NH CFR efforts.”
“[P]eter you are misstating the facts,” wrote Lessig.
“No, sir, you are oblivious about the reality of the situation on the ground in NH,” Sullivan answered. “Drive the hour up 93 and meet the people you are funding. Not CFR supporters.”
“[Y]ou are mistaken about what our money is supporting - and if you are not they bought a lawsuit,” replied Lessig.
Update: Lessig addressed the issue in his blog. A brief excerpt:
“Supporters of Mayday.US are RIGHTLY asking the question why we would be ‘supporting’ an organization that doesn’t support campaign finance reform.
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