News-Record.com

Wednesday's lead editorial.

When political opponents trade TV attack ads, it isn’t pretty. But at least the candidates accept responsibility for them.

Not so when it comes to intervention by little-known outside organizations that spend potentially unlimited amounts of money to help or hurt one side or the other.

Two groups trying to influence North Carolina’s gubernatorial race emerged last month. The first was a political action committee formed and funded by the Republican Governors Association, which collected large donations from businessmen from across the country. Only a few days later, the “Alliance for North Carolina” set up shop with a Web site, a Raleigh mailbox and enough out-of-state money to launch attack ads against Republican candidate Pat McCrory.
The campaign of Democrat Beverly Perdue denounced the meddling by the Republican group, while McCrory’s campaign decried the involvement of the Alliance for North Carolina, which is connected to Democrats.

Voters should wish a pox on both. North Carolinians don’t need ill-mannered outsiders telling them how to choose their governor.

Unfortunately, more of this is coming. Known as 527 organizations for the IRS rule that authorizes them, these groups have more of a free hand since a federal appeals court struck down a restrictive North Carolina law in May. Now, instead of limits on individual contributions to 527s, anything goes. Donors can give as much as they want.

Some rules still apply. These groups have to disclose some information about themselves, although not enough about where they get their money. And they can’t coordinate their activities with candidates. Nevertheless, candidates should ask them to butt out.

During the primary campaign, Democratic rivals Perdue and Richard Moore traded TV attack ads. Their exchanges did neither one much credit — and voters could blame both of them for sullying the political climate. Finally, Perdue called a halt and focused on positive messages until May 6. The voters seemed to reward her, as she won going away.

She and McCrory should heed the lesson. So should other candidates in similar circumstances. While they aren’t directing efforts by 527s, they can be associated with their messages. They should disavow false and unfair attacks on their opponents and demand that the sponsoring organizations desist. Otherwise, it should be assumed that they approve of them.

There’s only so much that laws can or should do to limit political speech. The real issue is accountability. The public deserves to know who’s behind these shady organizations and which candidates stand with them.