Brewer speaks with Morning Sentinel about political action committee websites
Mark Brewer, a political science professor at the University of Maine, spoke with the Morning Sentinel for an article about U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin being criticized for his support of the Republican health care legislation following the release of separate online video and audio involving constituents challenging him, according to the article. Poliquin also is one of a dozen congressional Republicans being targeted in a new campaign because of their votes for the American Health Care Act. The House Majority PAC launched a website as part of its Congressional Accountability Campaign, which features audio recordings of constituents in those 12 congressional areas admonishing their representatives for voting on the legislation, the article states. Brewer said websites and efforts such as this one have become more common over the past few years, and their effectiveness depends on whether they ring true for viewers. Brewer said such campaigns possibly could affect the way a politician votes, but he added, “Again, it depends on how many people see this and what they do as a result.”