Kudos to John McCain! And kudos to the bipartisan group of attorneys general from 22 states and the District of Columbia who recently filed an “unsolicited brief” with the Supreme Court, asking them to “reconsider” it’s decision in the “Citizens United” ruling it handed down in 2010.
They have seen the torrent of special interest money being funneled by billionaires and mega-corporations into this fall’s election and it’s corrupting influence is beyond dispute! Something is always expected in return!
Most recent polls show almost two-thirds of Americans are opposed to the Citizen’s United decision and nearly half are strongly opposed. “Eighty-one percent believe there is too much money spent on political campaigning and that there should be reasonable limits on campaign contributions,” according to a Greenberg Quinlan Rosner poll.
How refreshing to see members of both parties decide to take action together, in the hope their efforts will lead to a reconsideration by the conservative majority that handed down this horrendous and “anti-democratic” decision!
Democracy demands that voters be assured their political candidates are NOT beholden to billionaires and mega- corporations seeking favorable tax treatment or preferential treatment on matters of commerce!
Imagine, over 60 percent of the money spent in support of Scott Walker in his recall campaign came from out of state!
I seem to recall the United Nations, with U.S. support, sending teams of neutral observers to Third World nations if their national elections have “the appearance” of corruption, undue influence or voter suppression.
Maybe we need to petition the U.N. to monitor our future elections?
Rod Livdahl
Mesa
sockratties posted at 9:43 am on Thu, Jun 7, 2012.
Yes politics do need to return to the constituents. The court decision determined that the money didn't even have to come from within the U.S. and the source does not have to be revealed. And it's also good to see McCain do something useful again.
chatmandu002 posted at 11:04 am on Thu, Jun 7, 2012.
Rod,
Your plea to reverse the SCOTUS decision on Citizens United would have been palatable if it wasn't so one-sided. You left out the labor unions and big money from sources other than "Billionaires and Corporations" in you rant against the Citizen United decision. Does my $20 donation to Walker, through the Tea Party, count as bad "Citizens United" outside money? If yes, then what about the outside donations that supported the recall of Gov Walker?
The Citizens United decision was primarily to declare unconstitutional restrictions on the use of monies from treasuries of associated citizens, as corporations or as unions, in political campaigns as a suppression of free speech.
Now that public sector unions are taking a bit hit and union member money is drying up. I expect the democrats to really start crying more about "Citizens United", although Obama seems to be doing quite well with the 1%ers from the entertainment industry. Also I don't hear any angst from anyone on the left about the $1 million dollars from the comedian and pundit Bill Maher? Or is it that only money going to the right side that's bad?
Leon Ceniceros posted at 11:07 am on Thu, Jun 7, 2012.
Oh, come on now Letter Writer. The readership of the East Valley Tribune might be 99% Senior Citizen but we ain't.......stupid.
As for John McCain. Where would he be without his wife's beer warehouse millions and millions ??? He doesn't even know how many homes his wife owns....lol.......duh...[sad]
VofReason posted at 1:24 pm on Thu, Jun 7, 2012.
Thanks Chat. For a moment their I thought our friend Rod was actually being lucid. Lord knows in the Presidential race who is getting all of the union money (visable and not). "elections have “the appearance” of corruption". What about the Black Panthers that President Obama's lapdog Eric Holder looked the other way on? Or again, is it only fair if it is pointing the right (or I mean left) way? Again, I was getting a little wobbly for most of his editorial, but hearing any credence given to the UN will wake you up like a smelling salt.
truth posted at 2:46 pm on Thu, Jun 7, 2012.
What do I think of our politicians, if I said it like what I realy felt, They would not be able to print it in a XXX rated movie. Our politicians put their party and self before the best intrest of the American people. What a politician is !@#$ !@#$ _+) (*&. About John McCain, How quick we forget Lincoln Savings and Loan and the Keating 5. Take the time to look up Keating 5.
sockratties posted at 5:12 pm on Thu, Jun 7, 2012.
One problem with unions giving to political causes is that they give money taken from individual members that may not support the cause or candidate favored by the union. This is particularly true in a “closed shop” state such as California or New York. If the union had a special fund for members to contribute to when they choose that would be different but that is not the case.
Dale Whiting posted at 4:48 am on Fri, Jun 8, 2012.
Bravo, Rod, Bravo!
Apparantly chatmandu believes that two wrongs make a right! And sock, if taking money from members of a labor union to support causes members might not support is wrong, where corporations are given similar opportunities to do the same to share holders, just what's the difference? None, right?
When you neocons start using logic one sidedly, you really look stupid!
sockratties posted at 6:22 am on Fri, Jun 8, 2012.
Dale – making a point by using an example doesn’t mean another similar example is not valid. It was just the example used. If you wish to be offensive, that’s your prerogative but if you look up stupid, your picture will be next to the definition. Try not to be such a big bag of squish. What an idiot!
Cerulean posted at 9:27 am on Fri, Jun 8, 2012.
Thanks to anyone that would ask the court to review the Citizens United decision. It’s testament to an over reaching court decision. Corporations are not people. Money is not speech. This is a conflict that has troubled the United States for some time:
“Very soon after the Fourteenth Amendment became law the Supreme Court began to demolish it as a protection for blacks, and to develop it as a protection for corporations.” Howard Zinn wrote in A People’s History of the United States, “the Supreme Court, . . . was doing its bit for the ruling elite. How could it be independent, with its members chosen by the President and ratified by the Senate? How could it be neutral between rich and poor when its members were often former wealthy lawyers, and almost always came from the upper class? ”
And we all (should) know from which political party appointed the sitting judges in this Robert’s court.
That should tell you something.
Rod Livdahl – thank you
Leon Ceniceros posted at 9:43 am on Fri, Jun 8, 2012.
Don't you just love seeing a bunch of Democrat commentors complimenting each other........it's kind of like watching the National Geographic TV Channel when they show a troop of chimpanzies pulling ticks off and grooming one another.........[wink]
sockratties posted at 8:50 am on Sat, Jun 9, 2012.
You’re right leon – the other end of the political spectrum is more incestuous.
fae4now posted at 11:08 am on Sat, Jun 9, 2012.
And now...back to our regularly scheduled topic......
Thanks Rod, for pointing out a cause for us ALL to CELEBRATE! Someone in elected office taking a stand against Citizens United which does not serve the constituency and evidence of our lawmakers doing the job they were elected to do - represent. People. Hooray! Bravo! Kudos!
I could care less if it was John McCain or John Doe or if it denies union contribution or corporate contribution. It's a step toward the prevention of our government 'for sale' - a good thing.
And shame on those of you who would reduce yet another discussion to a childish, name calling, spitting contest. Yawn.....