Pro-Bernie Sanders PAC Confronts Media Mouthful and ActBlue Super PAC

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwired - October 04, 2015) - Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders has swept in as the dark-horse presidential hopeful, who is now gaining a significant amount of popularity across America since announcing his presidential candidacy in April. Pro-Bernie Sanders political action committee Americans Socially United, originally formed as Ready for Bernie Sanders 2016 in February has been a hot topic in the media since running a "pro-Bernie Sanders for President" billboard ad in Time Square, New York a few weeks before Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) confirmed his run for president.

The pro-Sanders PAC has made a tremendous impact on social media, building a compilation network of two million followers and virtual volunteers, but not everyone feels that the PAC is good for Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign. Bernie Sanders himself previously renounced super PACs that raise money from corporate donations. Americans Socially United chief director Cary Peterson has said in past interviews that he has not accepted any corporate contributions and feels that many people may confuse Bernie's statement about PACs, since he uses ActBlue, a super PAC that supports the Democratic Party and candidates to raise funds.

"Bernie Sanders uses a super PAC himself to raise money; ActBlue is a PAC. Go look it up," states Peterson during an interview last month on Al Jazeera America TV broadcast of On Target with Ali Velshi discussing the critical remarks about the PAC from a non-partisan media publication in Washington.

"…He called my office three months until I took his call. Its all healthy for the cause until you start publishing inconsistencies in the media like I'm 36 rather than 35. My mother, the hospital where I was born, and what my passport says otherwise…" - Cary Lee Peterson

PoliWatch asks Cary Peterson (35), a U.S. Senate and House lobbyist about the not-so-pro-Sanders PAC article published by The Center for Public Integrity about American Socially United and its chief-in-command Cary Lee Peterson. Peterson says, "I made the decision to talk with them, which apparently means I wasn't hiding from anything or the inquiries they had about the PAC." When asked about the allegations from the article, Peterson comments, "Beckel was a persistent fellow. He called my office three months until I took his call. Its all healthy for the cause until you start publishing inconsistencies in the media like I'm 36 rather than 35. My mother, the hospital where I was born, and what my passport says otherwise. The fact that I've been around the block as an entrepreneur in my 20's and decided to get involved in politics to make a change in my country that I've served to make a better place is really not related to our PAC. All the press needs to know is that I am here making things happen and you see it. When Sanders was a long shot, 70+ senator with a Brooklyn accent in the public eye I was out there promoting his name and what he stood for to let people know that a viable presidential candidate for the people of this country exists."

"The likes of Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura weighing in would definitely make things interesting." - Cary Lee Peterson

Peterson tells PoliWatch that the cease and desist letter from Bernie 2016's attorney Brad Deutsch was sent after the PAC changed its name at Federal Elections Commission to abide by federal regulations and that he spoke with Deutsch about the changes PAC website and promotions would make to remain compliant with FEC and honor Bernie Sanders' campaign committee. Peterson says that the cease and desist notice from Deutsch was addressed to a PAC called Citizens Socially United, referenced Ready for Bernie PAC, and Draft Bernie website, which were not affiliated with Americans Socially United or the former registered name Ready for Bernie Sanders 2016 and Bet on Bernie Dot Com, which is now redirected to the Americans Socially United website.

Peterson states, "We're sticking around to make sure the right candidates are nominated for the ballot. I love Bernie Sanders' momentum and I like Donald Trump's fire." Peterson continues by saying, "The likes of Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura weighing in would definitely make things interesting."

"…The last two elections used PACs to raise over $2 billion for both sides and things went well. $26 million does not cover the bill for the type of awareness and campaigning we need to get the job done; sorry friends…" - Cary Lee Peterson

PoliWatch asks Peterson his outlook and future of Americans Socially United, which he responds: "SociallyUnited.org will definitely stay around until the Primary Elections. Hillary Clinton and some of the other Republican presidential candidates are raising crazy money through PACs. Trump has no issue with financing and we don't need to go there. The fact is that Sanders uses a PAC that we actually use to work with and lacking the extension of funding will hinder his chances capturing the proper exposure for awareness and winning the Primary Election." Peterson closes his comments by telling PoilWatch, "Texas, Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, and Michigan ballot registration deadlines are all approaching in less than ninety days. The public exposure and rah-rah for Bernie is great but we need to get him nominated on the ballot and that requires people registered to vote and substantial political contributions to fund the campaigning and promotions in districts throughout the states that have 2015 ballot deadlines nomination that collectively hold more than one-forth of the vote needed to advance to the General Election; which will take the Hispanic, African-American, medical marijuana, and veteran vote to win. That's bond! I'm sure the opposition would like to keep talking about James Bond to steer everyone away from the bond facts of how federal elections really work. The last two elections used PACs to raise over $2 billion for both sides and things went well. $26 million does not cover the bill for the type of awareness and campaigning we need to get the job done; sorry friends. The fact is that we hoped the Bond donation endeavor would encourage more Hollywooders that identify with Sanders to weigh in. That's all. We are here to win."

Americans Socially United says that it will continue to inform PoliWatch and other supporting media outlets about its activities and that it is pleased with the results of its activities since its formation in February and its first financial filing with U.S. Federal Elections Commission last month.

About Political Watch Association

Political Watch Association is a non-partisan association monitoring activities of political organizations, politicians, and political issues in local, national, and international government.

Article by: Jason Vasquez