Citizens Ununited

Clancy was not a usual name for a girl. But Clancy McCleary was not a usual girl. She was a tall red head and it was said she favored Nichole Kidman, both in height and in looks. She was single and lived alone in Georgetown, Virginia, in an upscale apartment with luxurious decor. After graduating from Holy Cross with a degree in journalism, she had worked for a news service, but had gone freelance after only a couple of years. Her clients were news services or anyone that would pay her for her investigating prowess. Clancy McCleary, Freelance Investigative Reporter Service, was in high demand. She had her own website and a long list of satisfied clients. Clancy had a stellar reputation in journalism in the DC area. She had many contacts that helped her business considerably and she was a driven woman. Clancy dreamed of future fame from a major exposé of equal or greater importance than Watergate. She was gorgeous, with pale white skin, long red hair and clear blue eyes. She wanted to be a real life duplicate of comic-book reporter Brenda Starr with all of her glamour, intrigue, adventures and steamy romances. However, her dreams about romance were just that - dreams. She was busy and had never met a man she really liked, except a few gay men. To Clancy, men were competition to reach her goal of being a famous journalist. She had had far more relationships with women than she did with men, but she did not consider herself a lesbian. Her recent interest was an on-again-off again relationship with a female weight lifter by the name of Marie. The business line phone rang in Clancy’s Georgetown apartment. It was mid-morning and she was still in her tattered white bathrobe, typing on her laptop with a cup of coffee sitting nearby. She tossed her hair back and picked up the phone. “Hello, Clancy McCleary, Reporter. May I help you?” “Senator Randolph’s office calling. Please hold for the Senator.” She had met Senator Jennings Randolph at a cocktail party put on by a former employer for select members of congress. The Senator had not hesitated to tell Clancy how pretty he thought she was. She had given him her card and carried on a pleasant chat with him but she could tell he was much more interested in her as a woman than in her professional capabilities. Naturally, she had wanted to make a good impression on the Senator but did not want him to think her interest in him was sexual. She had felt cornered by him and tried to plot several ways to get away from him in a polite way. A Congressman who interrupted to speak to the Senator had saved her. Clancy had carried out several minor assignments for the Senator and, for the most part, managed to escape his persistent hands. “Clancy. How good to talk to you again.” “Hello, Senator Randolph. Good to hear from you.” “Clancy, I have a job for you and would like to see you in my office tomorrow afternoon at 1:30. Can you be here?” asked Jennings? “I’ll be there.” U.S. Senator Jennings Randolph was a handsome, distinguished looking gentleman with graying temples from the state of Virginia. He had been born and raised in Bedford, VA, had gone to Washington and Lee University in Lexington and studied law school at The University. In that day and time the students and faculty at the University of Virginia spoke of the school as “The University’, as if there were no other. They also spoke of “Mr. Jefferson” in the present tense as if he were on campus presently. Jennings was somewhat of a celebrity on “the Grounds”, given that he was a descendant of Thomas Jefferson. Randolph considered himself a middle of the road Democrat. He had been a long-time champion of campaign finance reform. Clancy was escorted into Senator Jennings office promptly at 1:30. She was dressed in a conservative gray business suit with a bright green neck scarf, contrasting her flaming red hair. The Senator was in shirt sleeves wearing the obligatory power red tie. Clancy noticed that Senator Randolph seemed quite serious and business like--no flirting. This must be for real. “Clancy, as you know, I am chairman of the Senate Campaign Finance Reform Committee. We investigate complaints about unlawful political spending. The source of a large amount of political spending is from political action committees, better known as PACs. After the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, a huge wave of money flowed to the PACs, and many have been dubbed “Super PACs”. For some time, we have gotten complaints about one Super PAC, called United Patriots of America - usually called UPA. I usually refer to them as “Cobra” because a coiled Cobra is their symbol.” Clancy was aware of the famous Citizens United decision, but had never heard of UPA. The Senator continued his narrative. “UPA was formed as a non-profit organization under the Internal Revenue Code because it was, according to its founders, a social welfare organization. As a social welfare organization, it is supposed to spend its donations for activities promoting a social cause. In UPA’s case, their social purpose was to promote patriotism among the American people, at least that’s what they claim. Donations to UPA and many other Super PACs are tax deductible and its donors do not have to be disclosed. The problem is that we think only a small percentage of the money goes for promoting patriotism. We are not sure where most of the money goes or what it is really used for.” Clancy leaned forward and made a gesture that she wanted to ask a question. However, the Senator kept talking. “We have received unconfirmed allegations that massive amounts of money from God-knows-where have flooded their coffers. We are talking billions- enough money to fund an army.”