Saturday, August 21, 2010

The Corporate Takeover of American Democracy

I read a transcript of President Obama's weekly address on the Daily Kos this morning and got reacquainted with the man I voted for in 2008.

He's misstepped a time or two or three since then but overall, he's been the right person at the right time. Can you imagine where we might be now if McCain and Palin had been elected. I shudder to think.

This week's address went to the heart of campaign finance and the disastrous Supreme Court ruling of Citizen United.  The Republicans blocked legislation that would have undone some of the harm perpetrated upon our Democracy by the Citizens United ruling. In clear language, the President let them have it.
"But the Republican leaders in Congress said no. In fact, they used their power to block the issue from even coming up for a vote. 
 
This can only mean that the leaders of the other party want to keep the public in the dark. They don’t want you to know which interests are paying for the ads. The only people who don’t want to disclose the truth are people with something to hide".  (emphasis mine)
The Republicans don't want us to know who is paying for their advertising. Special interests can hide behind names like Citizens for a Better Future and we won't know who's footing the bill.
In addition to the lack of transparency the Citizens United ruling allows, it also allowed News Corp and Rupert Murdoch to give the Republican Governors Association a cool million. With unlimited donations possible and no restrictions on foreign investing, our elections are now open to the highest bidder.

Which is just what the Republicans in Congress are telling us they want by blocking this legislation.


4 comments:

LeftLeaningLady said...

I wish I found it shocking. Appalling? Of course, but I don't think I am shocked by anything the Republicans do anymore.

Sadly, I am starting to not be shocked by those who believe their BS either. What are the chances that the Democrats will still be in charge after the November elections? The Right blocks important legislation, dumbs down the Health Care Bill, constantly fights the Left on everything, but people are going to vote them back into power? Count on it.

I think I have to move to Europe.

Chris said...

Great post....just how I was feeling! I've been a bad blogger lately.......paralyzed by the craziness of my fellow countrymen, and busy with life....thanks for keeping on top of it!

Nance said...

Excellent post. Glad to have found you, and I'll be back.

Like Chris, I've gone back to being as bummed as I was during the Bush years. It makes me have to keep a low profile, avoid the political news, and try to focus on my own present moment. In other words, it renders me cowardly, exhausted, and politically impotent. I'm only up for the occasional political post of my own these days, but I'm very grateful to my lefty blog acquaintances for carrying the flag when I've let mine drop.

Chris said...

We just need to bucky up and mobilize to get back to working for what's good for America.......we did it once, we can do it again!