President Obama Responds to Supreme Court Ruling Giving Government Over to Corporations
President Barack Obama, perhaps sensing a need to once again take progressive stances on issues and stop catering to the right wing and corporate Democrats, issued the following statement:
"With its ruling today, the Supreme Court has given a green light to a new stampede of special interest money in our politics. It is a major victory for big oil, Wall Street banks, health insurance companies and the other powerful interests that marshal their power every day in Washington to drown out the voices of everyday Americans. This ruling gives the special interests and their lobbyists even more power in Washington--while undermining the influence of average Americans who make small contributions to support their preferred candidates. That's why I am instructing my Administration to get to work immediately with Congress on this issue. We are going to talk with bipartisan Congressional leaders to develop a forceful response to this decision. The public interest requires nothing less."
He is on point, and it's even worse. The already pervasive influence of corporate money has been made abundantly clear lately, in health care, banking, big oil, military contracting, and almost every other facet of government.
It's so deeply involved in politics that the Tea Party folks don't even realize they are doing corporate bidding. They think they represent a grass-roots social movement for change, when they really are funded and orchestrated by big corporate money.
President Obama would serve himself well to once again be something other than just a more liberal version of the status quo. He was elected to bring change, and to take on corporate power would be a great way to demonstrate his resolve.
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18 Comments
Post a CommentThe please everyone thing is getting tiresome, I do wish he'd go strong against the right. As for corporate power, fighting it may have to come from the bottom up.
Obama is becoming worse than useless at this point so he's unlikely to take on corporate power - he's too frightened of them. Then again, I'm not to blame, I voted for Hillary as I never liked him that much. Too weak of a person and too desperate to 'please everybody', therefore pleasing no one.
wire and email taps either had something to hide, or might just be unpatriotic. "If folks blinded by partisan ideology would begin to see the forest, and not just the trees, then we might start making progress."...I felt the need to repeat this delicious quote, because, after perusing your list of articles, I found nothing but praise for right-wing and Republican candidates. Perhaps your attempt at bipartisanship was your article " Is Barack Obama a Racist or Guilty by Association?". I feel totally comfortable inserting "laughable" here.
Kim: My use of laughable had nothing to do with your use of laughable, and I'm glad you called me on it...you were right to do so. A moment, on my part, where passion eclipsed brain function, and for that I apologize. Fair is fair. Beyond this, I did not insinuate that you agreed with the court's decision, or mention either party in my comments...therfore, I did not "demonize one party over the other does nothing to further the debate." or "If folks blinded by partisan ideology would begin to see the forest, and not just the trees, then we might start making progress." as you suggest. "And by the way, to assume a lack of patriotism in another because they have a different point of view is a perfect example of the kind of thinking that got our nation in the mess it's in."...I didn't do this either, but since you raise the issue, I don't remember hearing a peep from you on this very subject when Bush and his disciples insinuated that anyone not readily accepting of his illegal phone, wir
@Orchiolum - I didn't say I agree with the ruling. I said both parties are guilty of abusing the system - and will use the ruling to continue to do so. Regardless of political persuasion, to deny that fact or try to demonize one party over the other does nothing to further the debate. We need a complete overhaul of campaign finance rules. Whether it be unions, lobbyist, foreign "investors" or mega corporations - the whole thing is one big corrupt machine. If folks blinded by partisan ideology would begin to see the forest, and not just the trees, then we might start making progress. And by the way, to assume a lack of patriotism in another because they have a different point of view is a perfect example of the kind of thinking that got our nation in the mess it's in.
today's lobbysts look like pissants.
I've heard some legislators say that they might attempt to enact legislation which would require corporations to obtain shareholder approval prior to campaign spending. Let's face it...shareholders invest in companies to make money. If the corporation convinces its shareholders that the cost of cleaner environmental legislation will be far more expensive than the cost of an add campaign supporting a candidate who supports the cheaper, dirtier environmental route, I'd bet the shareholders will choose more profit over a cleaner environment. Corporations will be able to easily outspend all private citizen donations combined...on any issue, on any candidate. Essentially, they will able to buy whatever government they wish to install. I don't believe the potential seriousness of this decision is evident to most Americans yet. Hopefully, when they are made fully aware of the potential impact, there will be a tidal wave of anger, dissent, and action. If successful, this ruling will make today
And ironically, the blame will rest at the feet of the conservatives who speak so loudly of "freedom" it was by their hand the Roberts court with Scalia, Thomas, etc., came to be.
I cannot even begin to fathom the minds of those who see the impending slaughter of America as "laughable". Parading themselves as patriots IS, tragically, laughable.
If the Supreme Court ruling stands without legislative intervention, we can kiss clean air, clean water, endangered species, cleaner alternative energy independence, our jobs, the impact of an individual's vote, separation of church and state, Social Security, Medicare, social programs, democracy, the Constitution, and America...goodbye. And this list barely scratches the surface. Within the span of one or two election cycles, America's citizens and freedom will be crushed beneath the obscenity of unbridled corporate greed, and we will hear the unmistakable sound of the death rattle from the America we once knew.