Republicans cook up a lot of different titles to get in touch with donors.
In the eyes of the government, no matter what they do, it's not really a big deal.
According to campaign officials, there is no requirement for truth or falsehood in political speech.
The race to give make-believe titles to Republican donors is heating up as 2022, the year of the mid-term election, gets closer.
Insider identified a dozen such memberships just within the past month, and they were all offered by the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
A former federal official said that it doesn't matter if donor X gets special treatment by throwing money at the NRSC to become a "Trump Majority Strategist" or founding member of the "America First Society."
Saurav Ghosh, the director of federal campaign finance reform at the Campaign Legal Center, told Insider that there is no agency of the government that watches political messaging.
He said the FEC doesn't have jurisdiction over truth in political speech.
The Federal Communications Commission is the best place to separate fact from fiction in political emails. He pointed out that the FCC has not restricted political speech in the past.
The scale is protected by the first amendment. Unless it's fraudulent, government agencies cannot regulate it.
Insider was directed by a FEC aide to follow rules about properly identifying who paid for or authorized a political ad and prohibiting fraudulent misrepresentation so a candidate can't pose as another and wreak havoc.
There aren't any other FEC rules that deal with the content of messaging or ads. DOJ officials did not respond to questions about the investigation.
Is it wrong for a person to click through on a limited-time offer in order to claim their status in a hierarchy of giving? There is no time limit when a digital timer that appears within the email resets whenever the URL is refreshed.
Is it possible that the electorate has been numbed to the nonsense?
"I think most people wouldn't look at that as fraud, they'd look at it as something else," he said.
The Democratic Party committees are often involved in marketing ploys. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee recently sent out a "membership notice" with a dire plea for $3, or they could lose their majority in the House.
The DCCC doesn't operate a formal membership program in a traditional way and a small dollar donation doesn't earn a contributor a tote bag. It would be expected from becoming a public television supporter.
The Republicans are in their own league lately.
The official Trump majority member, the official Trump advisory board, and the official Trump club have all been offered by the NRSC.
Many of the NRSC's solicitations share a similar sense of desperation, "you are only one gift away from joining, chip in any amount and you'llunlock this prestigious title"
Some of the benefits include confidential election-year strategy memos for America First Society Members or access to top America First Senators. Some people keep things vague, such as an email that promised an exclusive gift.
Emails that ask for money, additional contact information, and warn that time is running out are all part of the process of raising money.
"People want to get some sort of recognition, and that's what flattery is for."
When asked about requirements to join any of the groups, exclusive perks associated with the various tiers, or if any category is ahead of the others, the aides did not reply.
Is the FEC going to try to do something about this?
It's not likely.
The agency, which this week was named one of the worst places in the federal government to work, has struggled for years to agree on the most basic regulations governing political committees' digital outreach.
The FEC may make it easier for politicians to email you.
Business Insider has an article on it.
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