TestPAC

TestPAC was registered with the Federal Election Commission on January 31, 2012.{{cite web |url=http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/fecimg/?C00511055 |title=Committee Details for Committee Id C00511055 |accessdate=2012-04-03 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622232113/http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/fecimg/?C00511055 |archivedate=2015-06-22 }} TestPAC started when several members of the Reddit community initiated a netroots boycott of GoDaddy.com and "Operation Pull Ryan", where Reddit members helped Paul Ryan's opponent, Rob Zerban raise $15,000 in 48 hours.{{cite web |url=http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2011/12/reddit-forces-paul-ryan-play-defense-sopa/46782/ |title=Reddit Forces Paul Ryan to Play Defense on SOPA – The Atlantic Wire |publisher=The Atlantic Wire |date=29 December 2011 |accessdate=1 April 2012 |archive-date=18 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118084317/http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2011/12/reddit-forces-paul-ryan-play-defense-sopa/46782/ |url-status=dead }} When Ryan eventually came out in opposition of SOPA, activists Andy Posterick and Jeromie Whalen formed a political action committee for potential future campaigns.{{cite web |url=https://thenextweb.com/us/2012/03/30/meet-testpac-an-upstart-political-action-committee-that-calls-reddit-home/ |title=Meet TestPAC: An upstart political action committee that calls Reddit home – The Next Web |publisher=The Next Web |date=30 March 2012 |accessdate=1 April 2012}}

TestPAC was originally registered as "TestPAC, Please Ignore." The name is a play on an inside joke on Reddit;{{Cite web|url=https://thenextweb.com/us/2012/03/30/meet-testpac-an-upstart-political-action-committee-that-calls-reddit-home/|title=Say Hello to TestPAC|date=30 March 2012}} the site's most popular post ever was titled "Test Post, Please Ignore."{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/92dd8/test_post_please_ignore/|title=Test post please ignore|date=18 July 2009}}

TestPAC crowdsources its mission, goals and campaigns from its member-base on the PAC's discussion forum on Reddit. Although most decisions are made among PAC members, major decisions are put to an official vote on the PAC's website. So far, the organization has held two official votes: one asking members whether to campaign against Lamar Smith and one to decide on a concept for a billboard advertisement.

TestPAC primarily relies on crowdfunding as a means of fundraising and solicits donations on social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit.{{cite web |url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/internet_pac_goes_after_lamar_smith-213332-1.html |title=Internet PAC Goes After Lamar Smith – RollCall |publisher=Roll Call |date=22 March 2012 |accessdate=1 April 2012}}

{{Update|section|date=May 2015}}

In February 2012, TestPAC members voted between removing 13-term incumbent Lamar Smith from office or Campaign Finance Reform for the PAC's first target issue. With 63% of the vote, members elected to start a campaign against Lamar Smith.{{cite web |url=http://testpacpleaseignore.org/polls/ |title=What Should TestPAC's First Target Issue Be? |publisher=TestPAC |accessdate=30 March 2012}} The campaign was officially titled "Mr. Smith Comes Back From Washington".{{cite web |url=http://www.dailytexanonline.com/news/2012/02/13/test-pac-aims-unseat-lamar-smith |title= TestPAC Aims To Unseat Lamar Smith Washington |publisher=DailyTexan |accessdate=29 March 2012}}

TestPAC had chosen this campaign primarily because of Rep. Smith's support of the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act and introduction of H.R. 1981.{{cite web |url=http://www.dailytexanonline.com/news/2012/02/13/test-pac-aims-unseat-lamar-smith |title= TestPAC Aims To Unseat Lamar Smith Washington |publisher=DailyTexan |accessdate=29 March 2012}} The primary strategy for accomplishing this is encouraging registered Republicans and Democrats to vote in the May 29th semi-open Republican Primary against Smith.{{cite web |url=http://www.testpacpleaseignore.org/unseatlamar/?page_id=57 |title=How To Defeat Smith |publisher=TestPAC |accessdate=1 April 2012}}{{cite web |url=http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2012/03/texmessage-rep-lamar-smith-faces-challenge-from-grassroots-pac/ |title=Mad about SOPA, grassroots group tries to defeat Rep. Lamar Smith |publisher=Houston Chronicle |date=12 March 2012 |accessdate=2 April 2012}}

On April 4, 2012, TestPAC released its first television commercial {{cite web |url=http://www.testpacpleaseignore.org/unseatlamar/ |title=Dear Mr. Smith |publisher=TestPAC |date=4 April 2012 |accessdate=4 April 2012}}

Test PAC's leadership structure is volunteer-based and open to anyone. The PAC lists several officers on its website who organize operational elements of the PAC's campaigns and manage day-to-day operations of the organization. According to the Federal Election Commission, Andrew J Posterick is registered as the PAC Treasurer.{{cite web |url=http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/com_detail/C00511055/ |title=FEC Disclosure Report Search Results |accessdate=2012-04-03 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623000315/http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/com_detail/C00511055/ |archivedate=2015-06-23 }}

{{reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120329212719/http://testpacpleaseignore.org/ TestPAC] official website
• [https://twitter.com/testpac TestPAC Twitter] official Twitter
• [https://www.reddit.com/r/testpac Sub-Reddit TestPAC] official sub-Reddit

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Category:Political advocacy groups in the United States

Category:527 organizations

Category:Internet privacy organizations

Category:Internet-related activism

Category:Political organizations based in the United States

Category:Organizations established in 2012

Category:Politics and technology

Category:2012 establishments in the United States