This is a quick followup diary on the letter I wrote a couple of days ago. I sent it to the Columbus Dispatch and today they published it. The letter addresses the recent ruling of the Supreme Court. Nevermind that it's Saturday and will probably be the least read letter of the week, I was happy to get my views out there for the following specific reasons.
Click here to read the letter on the Dispatch website, or scroll down to read it.
The points I wanted to make were the following:
This was a decision that was led by Chief Justice Roberts. I want his name linked with this decision as much as possible because he is invariably linked to President Bush and the Republican party. So hopefully any politically minded person will see Citizens United vs FEC as a republican ruling.
It was a 5-4 decision. So this was no way a united ruling that has the support of the court as a whole. This was a decision that was only made possible by the appointees of the former president George W. Bush.
I wanted to point out which groups will now be able to fund their positions or candidates. Including labor unions and foreign corporations. I failed to put religion in there, which I'm kinda mad at myself about.
This is about preserving American Democracy. It is about eliminating foreign influence on our election. This, to me, is a subject that crosses party lines and speaks to the populist in all of us. Whether it's England, or Saudi Arabia, Americans do not like the idea of another country having any influence on who we elect or what laws we pass.
The final point is to bring it home. Make it a local issue by asking the local candidates how they feel about such a ruling. In the case of Ohio, Senate candidate, Rob Portman is Bush guy. He loves big business and is probably on the side of Justice Robers in this case. This will not go over well in Ohio. That's why we need Jennifer Brunner to beat Lee Fisher so she can then beat Rob Portman.
The Tea Party movement, while a lot of is crazy, has a lot decent people who are confused and upset with a lot of things in this country. They are as skeptical of big business as they are with big gov't. This ruling has sewn the two together in a devastating way. The more we can educate people that this was a Republican ruling, and what republicans stand for, the more easier it will be to convince the sane one's to come to the progressive side and the harder it will be to motivate the insane one's to support republicans. Below is the letter that's been published...or you can give the dispatch some love and click the link above...it has my name but I don't care.
Under the leadership of Chief Justice John Roberts, the Supreme Court of the United States has made a ruling that should get the attention of every citizen who loves this country.
With the court's decision in Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission, corporations, trade associations and labor unions are now allowed to use unlimited amounts of money to advocate for candidates or legislation.
The 5-4 decision holds that corporations have the same First Amendment right as individuals to exercise free speech to support or oppose candidates.
This overturns years of precedent and should alarm every politically minded citizen of this country, no matter what ideology. What this means is that corporations, trade associations and unions can now use unlimited funds to influence our democracy.
They can flood the airwaves with commercials, they can hold events, they can make movies; anything they can afford, in support of specific legislation or candidates.
What concerns me most as an American is that so many of the big businesses in this country are international. This means that there will be an expanded international influence in American democracy.
Think about who owns our debt right now. Think about who supports terrorism. Think about who we're at war with. Those countries, through their international businesses, can now give unlimited money and have an unlimited influence on our elections.
Their voices just got as loud as they can afford to make them. This is the internationalizing of our democracy, and we need to take notice because I'm sure the business minds in China, Saudi Arabia, Mexico and everywhere in between are. On a local note, it would be very interesting to see where the Senate candidates Jennifer Brunner, Rob Portman and Lee Fisher stand on this issue, as well as Gov. Ted Strickland and his opponent, John Kasich. That will be very telling: Will they fight for the American people or for international businesses?
Thanks and have a great weekend!!!