Mainly because, Citizens United has consequences. Anyone recall HOW Ron Johnson (I-hate-Unions), replaced Senator Russ Feingold, in the once-very-progressive state of Wisconsin?
Three words: "Citizens United Money"
Well, they're fixing to do it again -- this time in the great bell-weather state of Ohio.
Ohio's Bruising Senate Fight
by Mark Niquette, Bloomberg, businessweek.com -- Sep 20, 2012
For a display of the power of unlimited spending in politics, take a look at Ohio, where a barrage of television advertising is threatening to sweep away Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown. His Republican challenger, first-term State Treasurer Josh Mandel, trailed by as many as 14 percentage points this past May, yet two recent polls show the candidates in a statistical tie.
The gap narrowed after $18 million was spent on TV ads supporting Mandel. Much of the money came from independent groups, including Karl Rove’s Crossroads GPS, which under the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United decision can spend without limits on campaigns. Ohio, a bellwether in the presidential election, is also a linchpin in the Republican effort to take control of the Senate.
[...]
A total of 38,382 TV commercials aired in the race from July 2011 to Sept. 17 -- 27,483 of them for Mandel, 10,899 for Brown -- according to Kantar Media’s Campaign Media Analysis Group, which tracks advertising. [...] In the Senate race, Mandel has aired the most ads, 7,238, followed by 6,855 from Crossroads GPS and 6,472 from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Brown’s campaign has aired 5,633 spots.
Says Brown: “This wouldn’t be a race at all if it weren’t for the millions of dollars against me from outside, undisclosed interest groups.” For Mandel’s part, he says he’s embarrassed for Brown. “He’s a sitting U.S. senator, and it seems that he’s just stuck on whining.”
Citizen United is giving a Mega-megaphone to someone seeking the Ohio Senate seat -- someone who probably isn't even qualified to be county dog catcher, given his recent
dodgy track record.
Josh Mandel: The AWOL Watchdog
link to video
Law & Order Political Crimes Unit: Josh Mandel Investigation
link to video
Josh Mandel dodges question on Suarez campaign contributions
link to video
Even "the Feds" are looking into HOW this Political Rookie is raking in SO Much Cash ... (Citizens United didn't obliterate every Campaign Finance law, it seems) ....
Campaign donations prompt FBI probe
Funds to Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel, U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci investigated
by Tony Cook, toledoblade.com -- 5/21/2012
Large campaign contributions from a Northern Ohio businessman and his employees to U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci and U.S. Senate candidate Josh Mandel have prompted a federal investigation, the campaigns confirmed Monday.
The probe is centered around more than $200,000 in campaign contributions from employees at the Suarez Corporation, a Canton-based direct marketing firm owned by Benjamin Suarez, a frequent financial supporter of Republican causes. The Blade reported in August that 16 of the company’s employees and some of their spouses gave maximum allowable $5,000 contributions to one or both candidates. Many of the employees had never given to federal campaigns before, lived in modest homes, and held job titles such as “copywriter.”
[...]
Here's an Oppo-site that might we worth a view or two:
American Bridge 21st Century
And here's a important Progressive Voice in the Senate, that Rove and Company are trying to unseat for another pledge-taking stooge ... (guess Crossroads can read the Romney-writing on the wall, eh?) ...
Sherrod Brown: The Servicemembers Protection Act
link to video
Sherrod Brown: Preventative Health Care Coverage for Women
link to video
Sherrod Brown: Ending Too Big To Fail
link to video
Official YouTube Channel of Senator Sherrod Brown
Sherrod Brown's Campaign Site -- (Donate here)
Sherrod Brown Petition: OVERTURN CITIZENS UNITED: A Constitutional Amendment
Democracy in Action -- takes concerned citizens taking a stand -- for who and what we believe in. In spite of those Millionaire-Money-Megaphones that would PAY Karl Rove -- to drown out our voices.
Remember Russ Feingold ... and how Citizens United sent him packing. If we don't stop it -- Who will?
The SCOTUS? The Kochs? The Rove money-changers? Not likely.
Not in this "Money = Speech" era.