A couple of weeks ago I asked the question of what the Tea Party activists would do in response to the Supreme Court decision giving big corporations (and unions) more power to pump cash into the political system. It wasn't a rhetorical question -- I was truly curious as to which way they'd go. I was somewhat surprised by the response, and you may be, too:
Just hours after the court ruled last month, RNC chair Michael Steele praised the decision, calling it "an important step in the direction of restoring the First Amendment rights" of corporations.
But some Tea Partiers don't agree. Shane Brooks, a Texas-based Tea Party activist, told TPMmuckraker in an email:
"This decision basically gives the multinational corporations owned by foreign entities [the right] to pour unlimited funds into the pockets of corrupt corporate backed politicians to attack everything this country stands for. We might as well be able to vote for Disney or the SEIU as President of the United States of America."
Brooks isn't alone -- read the whole thing, and then talk amongst yourselves. I'm tied up on a story for the dead-tree people.
Gee. I can't figure out why Steele would think it was a good decision. You don't suppose that it would be because the decision advanced the ability of corporation to spend billions on politicians, and Steele is a politician. Nah. That couldn't be it. Obviously, Steele supports the decision because all those corporate CEOs were being stifled, not allowed to express their opinions, before the SCOTUS ruling. Yeah, that's the ticket. It had nothing to do with $. It was all about "free speech." LOL!— Talking point sleuth
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- personally- I enjoy Free speech- (even if I have to read TPS's 40000 post a day)— Manny Trillo
- Brooks (and TPS) is a freakin idiot. Corporations still can't contribute directly to candidates. It had nothing to do with $. It was all about "free speech." " Freedom of speech. And yes, since corporations couldnt directly run political ads, then their speech was stifled.— RG
- Comment removed.
And where are the libs getting their money? Wall street.. Contrary to liberal media assertions. My source-the FEC.— georgel- Regardless of liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican this decision is dangerous. The court decides that a corporate entity is a citizen, even though the corporate entity has a far greater reach financially along with easy access to the politicians and people don't see how this is a bad idea? Unions and corporations will control the government within ten years. And the unions are too stupid to realize that they will be left out as the small fish in the pond and eventually get eaten by the companies that are in control. Maybe not control, but at the very least pulling the strings. It's obvious that Republicans are supporting this because of how the justices voted along party lines and the Democrats are against it for the same reason. Proof positive that there can never be any type of middle ground anymore. This is where I would say something witty about a revolution or taking back the government but what's the point? We are past the point of no return.— phillyjeffsr
- "The court decides that a corporate entity is a citizen, even though the corporate entity has a far greater reach financially along with easy access to the politicians and people don't see how this is a bad idea? " The court decided to take the first five words of the 1st Amendment at face value.— RG
- Let's see if I can clean this up enough to get it through. Here's a challenge to all our beloved ARts. Go ahead and read this column about your hero, James O'Keefe, and then come back to defend this racist punk. Here's just a taste: --snip-- Meanwhile, O’Keefe lost his job at the Leadership Institute in 2008 for a prank call he made to an Ohio-based Planned Parenthood clinic. During the call, O’Keefe offered a donation to the clinic on the condition that it would be earmarked to pay for aborting African-American fetuses. “Because there's definitely way too many black people in Ohio,” O’Keefe remarked to the receptionist. “So, I'm just trying to do my part.” --snip-- http://www.salon.com/news/james_okeefe/index.html?story=/news/feature/2010/02/03/james_okeefe_white_nationalists— Talking point sleuth
- ---} It had nothing to do with $. {--- I think it remains to be seen just whether and if so how much more money will be spent on elections by corporations. They already pretty much own most politicians. But the claim that this had "nothing to do with money" is just flat out hilarious, RG. You're in John Gualt territory now.— Talking point sleuth
- TPS, you are the only one obsessed with an amateur filmmaker.— RG
- "But the claim that this had "nothing to do with money" is just flat out hilarious, RG." Umm, so we can discriminate on the basis of wealth now? Does this mean the NYT isn't entitled to freedom of speech cause they have money? Nonprofits such as MoveOn? What about wealthy individuals like George Soros? All have more wealth than me, should we limit their ability to speak?— RG
- Everybody do a teeny tiny bit of research and you will see that nearly 2/3 of Oba-mao's contributers are evil Wall Streeters and/or bankers Aren't his constant attacks on Wall Street and big corporations just a bit disingenuous? Now his attack on the Supreme Court takes it one more step. My guess is because this will shine a light on who ACTUALLY supports political candidates. When GE starts running political ads for Dear Leader he may have a tough time selling himself as being above the influence of evil corporate entities.— pjsz1261
- Who wants that kind of transparency? Especially after your transportation sec just told everyone to stop driving Toyotas, then later backed off it. Could it have anything to do with the gov's ownership stake in two of Toyotas competitors? Or Toyota's recent decision to back out of a joint venture with GM?— RG
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Will Bunch, a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News, blogs about his obsessions, including national and local politics and world affairs, the media, pop music, the Philadelphia Phillies, soccer and other sports, not necessarily in that order.
Will Bunch, a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News, blogs about his obsessions, including national and local politics and world affairs, the media, pop music, the Philadelphia Phillies, soccer and other sports, not necessarily in that order.
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