The Real Bush Legacy
Bush was a terrible president who left a mess for us to clean up. Record deficits, lying to lead us into war, torture and contempt for the Constitution, and the worst recession since the Great Depression. Potentially his biggest legacy will be the activist Roberts Supreme Court, which rolled back 100 years of law in regards to financing of campaigns.
One Republican attorney said that the new ruling basically turns the political landscape into the “Wild Wild West.” Another GOP election lawyer said that the ruling represents “a huge sea-change in campaign finance law. The Court went all the way. It really relieves any restrictions on corporate spending on independent advertising.”
Republicans are overjoyed, because they think the ruling will benefit them at the expense of Democrats. Just think about all the commercials we’ll see from Republican think tanks like the Heritage Foundation and Republican groups like the Club for Growth and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (Oh, I’m sorry. I meant “nonpartisan” groups that happen to parrot GOP talking points and give money to GOP candidates).
The ruling is a giant win for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the big corporations, which tend to donate heavily to Republicans. Many Republicans have therefore come out and praised today’s decision:
– Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX): “It is about a nonprofit group’s ability to speak about the public issue. I can’t think of a more fundamental First Amendment issue. … [The ruling could] open up resources that have not previously been available [for Republicans].”
– Rep. Steve King (R-IA): “The Constitution protects the rights of citizens and employers to express their viewpoints on political issues. Today’s Supreme Court decision affirms the Bill of Rights and is a victory for liberty and free speech.”
– Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN): “If the freedom of speech means anything, it means protecting the right of private citizens to voice opposition or support for their elected representatives. The fact that the Court overturned a 20-year precedent speaks volumes about the importance of this issue.”
– Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY): The court took a step toward “restoring the First Amendment rights [of corporations and unions]. … By previously denying this right, the government was picking winners and losers.”
– RNC Chairman Michael Steele: “Today’s decision by the Supreme Court in Citizens United v. FEC, serves as an affirmation of the constitutional rights provided to Americans under the first amendment. Free speech strengthens our democracy.”
– Senate Candidate Marco Rubio: “Today’s SCOTUS decision on McCain-Feingold is a victory for free speech.”
I think the big question is whether this decision will blowback on SCOTUS and the GOP. If people are annoyed by the political ads now, imagine how many commercials unlimited money from corporations can buy. Some evidence for blowback is coming from some unlikely places, like corporations. Not all of them are happy about the decision:
Today, in response to the Supreme Court’s catastrophic decision, “dozens of current and former corporate executives” from corporations including Delta, Ben & Jerry’s, and Crate & Barrel sent a letter to Congress asking it to immediately pass the Fair Elections Now Act, which would publicly finance all congressional campaigns out of a special fund created by a fee levied on TV broadcasters:
Roughly 40 executives from companies including Playboy Enterprises, ice cream maker Ben & Jerry’s, the Seagram’s liquor company, toymaker Hasbro, Delta Airlines and Men’s Wearhouse sent a letter to congressional leaders Friday urging them to approve public financing for House and Senate campaigns. They say they are tired of getting fundraising calls from lawmakers — and fear it will only get worse after Thursday’s Supreme Court ruling. […]
“Members of Congress already spend too much time raising money from large contributors,” the business executives’ letter says. “And often, many of us individually are on the receiving end of solicitation phone calls from members of Congress. With additional money flowing into the system due to the court’s decision, the fundraising pressure on members of Congress will only increase.”
I think it would be supreme irony if corporate money is used to lobby for passing a law against using corporate money in elections.
nice pipe dream. I think most of the money will come from oil companies, health insurance companies, and Club for Growth type organizations. and it will go right into the pockets of R’s and LIEberman
“Record deficits”
Not anymore!!!
Seems to me that we can call Obama’s time in office the Error of No Personal Responsibility.
Let’s face it, folks. Obama is in his second year as President. The current Congressional (mis)leadership is in its fourth year. At what point do they start taking responsibility for anything — especially when they supermajorities for the entire past year?