All Justices That Sold Democracy Appointed by Republicans
By Jesse Barron on Sunday, 24th January 2010
Millions of Americans are outraged at the Supreme Court’s decision this week that allows corporations to donate unlimited funds to political campaigns.
In the 5 to 4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that political donations by corporations are protected by the First Amendment. With this ruling, corporations can essentially donate whatever they want to candidates. As an example, if an oil-friendly politician runs for President, there is nothing stopping each of the big oil companies from donating $100 million to his or her campaign. Many political experts worry that the ruling will change future elections. They are fearful that politicians will become more worried about serving corporations rather than the people that elect them and who they are supposed to serve.
One thing that is not really being discussed is which justices sold our democracy. It will probably come as no surprise to Gay Vantage readers that all of the Justices that ruled in favor of corporations being able to buy elections were appointed by Republican Presidents.
- Justice Kennedy was appointed by President Reagan
- Justice Roberts was appointed by President George W. Bush
- Just Alito was appointed by President George W. Bush
- Justice Scalia was appointed by President Reagan
- Justice Thomas was appointed by President George H. W. Bush
Not only are Americans outraged. After the decision was handed down, President Obama said it is “a major victory for big oil, Wall Street banks, health insurance companies and other powerful interests that marshal their power every day in Washington to drown out the voices of everyday Americans.”
The Supreme Court’s decision:
Supreme Court Case 08-205 – Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission
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If “Big oil” and “Big tobacco” and “Big drug” can’t have their views heard before an election, then why should “Big media”?
ABC, CBS, FOX, CNN et al. Are Some of the biggest corporations in the world. NBC is owned by General Electric. MSNBC by Microsoft. The reason “Big media” is in such a tizzy is because they have lost a huge amount of political power. Now we will hear all opinions leading up to an election, not just what “Big media” wants us to hear.
With media, you can change the channel, turn the page or surf to another site.
Money = access. Money = paybacks. Money = favors.
You always say “yes” to the boss — the one who keeps you in a job — and now the boss will be the corporations that give the politicians the biggest contributions.
When the politician does something that the people hate, the corporation that bought and paid for them will just step up the commercials the next election cycle to point out what they did right and make them look like the good guy. Or worse, they’ll take a page out of the Karl Rove Handbook of Politics and go on the offensive against the guy running without their agenda in mind. We’ve already proven that we have a short attention span … the politicians sponsor can run a commercial every half hour on every channel about how great they are and we’ll completely forget about the bad.
Anyone that listens to what the media says without doing their own independent research probably shouldn’t be voting in the first place.
(sorry, I forgot to add that to my comment — there is no way for me to go back and edit it. If the mods would like to, they can add this to my prior comment)
Let them contribute any amount but all money should be put into a general fund that will be divided equally among all the candidates. Then pass a law that only advertisements paid from this general fund can be attributed directly to the candidate. Anything else should CLEARLY state in the beginning who is paying to distribute the information and the views expressed are those of the PAYING source. Big business keeps their feedom of speech but cannot BUY our government through political contributions.
The Supreme Court Justices that sold democracy last week were all appointed by Republicans! http://www.gayvantage.com/gay-news/all-j...
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[...] Originally Posted by North Beach Person Corporations were first recognized as "persons" in 1886 in the case Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad (there is some question on that, too) so the case decided the other day didn't really break new ground on that issue. I would imagine that corporations will now come under the same restrictions that people have had concerning campaign donations. In MD an individual may not donate more than $10000 per election cycle to an individual candidate. With this ruling, corporations can essentially donate whatever they want to candidates. As an example, if an oil-friendly politician runs for President, there is nothing stopping each of the big oil companies from donating $100 million to his or her campaign. Many political experts worry that the ruling will change future elections. They are fearful that politicians will become more worried about serving corporations rather than the people that elect them and who they are supposed to serve. All Justices That Sold Democracy Appointed by Republicans – Gay Vantage [...]
@Kathy Belawski:
That is an excellent idea! Somehow, I bet a rule like that would get donations down to $0. Corporations only donate with the “what’s in it for me” mentality.
[...] All Justices That Sold Democracy Appointed By Republicans – Gay With media, you can change the channel, turn the page or surf to another site. Money = acc… [...]
[...] All Justices That Sold Democracy Appointed By Republicans – Gay With media, you can change the channel, turn the page or surf to another site. Money = access. Money = paybacks. Money = favors. You always say “yes” to the boss — the one wh… [...]