Conervatives in the Supreme Court just Loosened Rules on Corporate Campagn Contibutions... (Iran, polls)

[harborlady]

Originally Posted by FinkieMcGee

You will basically have bidding wars between Capital/Labor for power over the government.

You have just eloquently described the perversion in politics that predates every single poster in this thread. BRAVO!

[stillkit]

It's really sad, and a harbinger of future troubles, that so many posters here don't understand or appreciate either the Constitution or our electoral processes. All they seem to know is that there is something, or someone, they don't like hearing from and they'd be more than willing to push them completely out public discourse for it.

So long as people are so myopic, so enchanted with their own opinions, so judgmental and so ready to condemn other opinions to the trash pile, so long will our republic be in danger.

Worse yet, they won't even get what I'm saying.

[Quick Enough]

Originally Posted by odinloki1

Show me the data pitting the top unions in funds compared to the top corporations. Its always been about who can buy the most politicians, but corporations have far, far, far more money to blow on this. This is an obvious gift to corporate America.

Teachers unions aren't the major problem with our education. get in a classroom and realize how many kids have parents that aren't around and don't give a *****. Lack of real parents is the problem. Don't just villify unions for the hell of it, they've done a lot more for the American people in raising the standard of living and worker safety, compared to the good that corporate America has brough us.

I hope this works:

Top All-Time Donors, 1989-2010


View party split for:
All cycles2010 cycle LEGEND: http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) Republican http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) Democrat http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link) On the fence
http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link)
http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link)
http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link)http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link)
http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link)http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link)http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) = Between 40% and 59% to both parties
= Leans Dem/Repub (60%-69%)
= Strongly Dem/Repub (70%-89%)
= Solidly Dem/Repub (over 90%) RankOrganizationTotal '89-'09Dem %Repub %Tilt1AT&T Inc$44,027,48544%55%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link) 2American Fedn of State, County & Municipal Employees$41,751,31198%1%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) 3National Assn of Realtors$35,438,72548%51%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link) 4Goldman Sachs$31,413,46264%35%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) 5Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers$31,359,95797%2%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) 6American Assn for Justice$31,319,02990%9%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) 7National Education Assn$30,068,16792%6%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) 8Laborers Union$28,814,40092%7%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) 9Service Employees International Union$27,911,23295%3%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) 10Carpenters & Joiners Union$27,769,68389%10%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) 11Teamsters Union$27,684,62492%6%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) 12Communications Workers of America$26,992,07699%0%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) 13Citigroup Inc$26,983,58850%49%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link) 14American Federation of Teachers$26,282,49198%0%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) 15American Medical Assn$26,280,22339%60%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) 16United Auto Workers$25,767,00298%0%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) 17Machinists & Aerospace Workers Union$25,105,77798%0%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) 18National Auto Dealers Assn$24,253,70831%67%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) 19United Food & Commercial Workers Union$24,088,33398%1%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) 20United Parcel Service$24,064,92936%63%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) 21Altria Group$23,888,41627%72%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) 22American Bankers Assn$22,366,21641%58%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link) 23National Assn of Home Builders$21,821,65536%63%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) 24EMILY's List$21,149,77899%0%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) 25National Beer Wholesalers Assn$20,913,84532%67%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) 26Time Warner$20,236,51071%28%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) 27Microsoft Corp$19,943,89653%46%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link) 28JPMorgan Chase & Co$19,739,60351%48%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link) 29National Assn of Letter Carriers$19,399,03488%11%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) 30Verizon Communications$18,597,95240%58%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link) 31Morgan Stanley$18,514,65846%53%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link) 32Lockheed Martin$18,289,87742%56%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link) 33AFL-CIO$18,121,57295%4%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) 34FedEx Corp$17,940,91640%59%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link) 35General Electric$17,806,66951%48%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link) 36National Rifle Assn$17,300,13617%82%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) 37Credit Union National Assn$17,170,86448%51%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link) 38Ernst & Young$17,072,53644%55%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link) 39Bank of America$17,034,88847%52%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link) 40Sheet Metal Workers Union$16,997,91397%2%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) 41American Dental Assn$16,448,70446%53%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link) 42American Hospital Assn$16,408,48053%46%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link) 43Operating Engineers Union$16,332,55085%14%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) 44Blue Cross/Blue Shield$16,226,51840%59%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link) 45Plumbers & Pipefitters Union$16,218,01194%5%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) 46Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu$15,903,47035%64%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) 47International Assn of Fire Fighters$15,862,64382%17%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) 48Air Line Pilots Assn$15,626,02784%15%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) 49PricewaterhouseCoopers$15,385,89336%62%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) 50Natl Assn/Insurance & Financial Advisors$15,047,35542%56%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link) 51AFLAC Inc$14,811,76944%55%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link) 52Merrill Lynch$14,303,13037%61%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) 53Union Pacific Corp$14,250,19824%75%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) 54Boeing Co$14,002,60747%52%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link) 55United Transportation Union$13,592,69588%10%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) 56United Steelworkers$13,557,75199%0%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) 57Pfizer Inc$13,552,46629%69%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) 58Reynolds American$13,344,77724%75%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) 59Ironworkers Union$13,114,52592%7%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) 60BellSouth Corp$12,993,78245%54%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link) 61American Institute of CPAs$12,879,72142%57%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link) 62Credit Suisse Group$12,415,04044%54%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link) 63American Postal Workers Union$12,000,82695%4%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) 64National Rural Electric Cooperative Assn$11,941,32152%47%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link) 65General Dynamics$11,714,40946%52%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link) 66American Financial Group$11,444,07518%81%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) 67GlaxoSmithKline$11,088,49429%70%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) 68Walt Disney Co$10,939,69967%32%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) 69Chevron$10,878,60424%75%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) 70Exxon Mobil$10,636,92314%85%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) 71Natl Active & Retired Fed Employees Assn $10,496,00077%22%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) 72MBNA Corp$10,059,00617%82%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) 73UST Inc$9,938,81121%78%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) 74Human Rights Campaign$9,885,12990%9%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) 75Freddie Mac$9,871,49043%56%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link) 76AIG$9,769,16250%49%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link) 77National Restaurant Assn$9,738,14516%83%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) 78Southern Co$9,703,04431%68%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) 79MetLife Inc$9,489,69255%44%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link) 80Prudential Financial$9,440,69948%51%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link) 81American Academy of Ophthalmology$9,321,53852%47%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link) 82National Cmte to Preserve Social Security & Medicare$9,213,49980%19%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) 83Eli Lilly & Co$9,152,00929%70%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) 84CSX Corp$9,036,52931%68%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) 85Associated General Contractors$8,883,94114%85%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) 86American Maritime Officers$8,855,22146%53%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link) 87Amway/Alticor Inc$8,763,0010%99%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) 88National Cmte for an Effective Congress$8,707,94099%0%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) 89General Motors$8,560,52037%62%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) 90Archer Daniels Midland$8,304,11443%56%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link) 91Seafarers International Union$8,252,14484%14%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) 92American Airlines$8,136,28547%52%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link) 93MCI Inc$8,093,47246%53%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/fence.gif (broken link) 94American Council of Life Insurers$7,640,50437%62%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) 95Marine Engineers Beneficial Assn$7,427,12774%25%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link) 96Bristol-Myers Squibb$7,263,61221%77%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) 97Enron Corp$6,583,25728%71%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) 98Andersen$6,253,47737%62%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) 99BP$6,137,02828%70%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) http://www.opensecrets.org/img/elephant.gif (broken link) 100Vivendi$4,502,24066%32%http://www.opensecrets.org/img/donkey.gif (broken link)
Based on data released by the FEC on December 06, 2009.

Feel free to distribute or cite this material,

[FinkieMcGee]

Originally Posted by stillkit

It's really sad, and a harbinger of future troubles, that so many posters here don't understand or appreciate either the Constitution or our electoral processes. All they seem to know is that there is something, or someone, they don't like hearing from and they'd be more than willing to push them completely out public discourse for it.

So long as people are so myopic, so enchanted with their own opinions, so judgmental and so ready to condemn other opinions to the trash pile, so long will our republic be in danger.

Worse yet, they won't even get what I'm saying.

Wow, this is literally the most elitist thing I've ever read on this forum. You seem to know more about everything than absolutely everyone else.

Stones and glass houses, dude.

[RandomU]

Originally Posted by florida.bob

Public funds only. Equal share. If people decisions are based on the ads they see, then at least the information would be based on ad content, not quantity.

Equal shares. Advertising Execs, Businesses and fringe groups will love you.

"Vote for Julie - A Real Estate agent with 20 years of Real experience. She knows how to solve housing issues." (What do you mean she's using taxpayer money to advertize her business? She's listing her past qualifications and the fact that she knows how to handle one of Americas most pressing problems.)

"Vote for Jacob - Attend our rally at "Jacobs Diner" (Are you going to exclude rallies, or only those at the candidates business? Does that include, their wife, uncles or best friends business?)

"Vote for Harvey - Because every year millions of children are murdered...." (Their are millions of legitimate political causes out their which even if they have no chance of winning would love to have free money to increase awareness of their cause.)

"Vote for Bugs - Because sex with Animals..." (And probably ten times as many that almost no one would want to hear their radio add.)

So after the BILIONS of dollars are split between the millions of candidates it should be enough to allow each of the groups a few local radio adds. The fringe groups, business, and advertising agencies will love you. Those who are "real candidates” would be drowned out in the mess and the electorate will be even more uninformed then today.

And for every rule you put in place to try to stop this you will reduce the amount of information the voter gets. Can't mention where I work? Then I can't mention my 32 years helping the poor to be fed, or the fact that I am a professor of economics at Harvard. Can’t mention a rallies location. Then how do I meet the people?

If you do public funding then you must have limits and the minute you have limits is the minute you disenfranchise those who don't meet the qualifications from having representation. I don't support sex with animals, but if you FORBID private funding then they as well as every group MUST be given public funding.

Some may propose that funding be limited to the percentage of the electorate that polling shows they have. But then by that logic McCain and Obama would have received very little funding before the primaries and we would have had Clinton vs. Gulianni (Those with the highest name recognition generally poll highest early on thus we will see an increase in the status quo as well as actors and singers as candidates.)

I see no way this will work without disenfranchising others.

Random

[Hoarfrost]

Originally Posted by Little-Acorn

I haven't heard much from them since, oh, the DC v. Heller case (affirming that the 2nd amendment protects an individual's right to own and carry a gun) a few years back. And now they seem to be REALLY quiet.

Didn't the majority in Heller make the argument that some constitutional rights are individual in nature? And now they are waffling over and giving corporations(which are artificial entities never intended to have any rights beyond what a legal jurisdiction decided was efficient) 1st amendment rights?

[RandomU]

The other problem is as we have seen everytime we try plugging a hole, 3 new ones pop up. Unless you are going to institute draconian laws then those with the money will STILL have the advantage because they can own the media. Does anyone here want to make the claim that ALL of the news media outlets are fair and balanced? Anyone? Silence is deafening.

And that doesn't even include all the holes for the sorts of media and entertainment that people don't even think about, but which many people spend far more time in front of then cable news.

Give me a million dollars and I can set up an internet news website aimed at Japanese Anime Fans. Of course I'll only mention the good things my candidate is doing (He visited Japan in 1998 and met the emperor) and the bad things about my opponent (how the his opponent supports China who hates Japan). Oh wait there already are such websites….

Give me a million dollars and I can create a computer game that millions will play. Your goal is to stop the evil government who is waging a secret war on America with al sorts of political messages to make it "Realistic". Wait there are already such games being made by corporations.

OK I know I can create a comic book that....Really? Already been done…..

I can use the money to back a Rock band that supports......Damn been done to….

Yes, Money can and always will allow those with it to get their message out to the people more effectively. Attempts to stop it are ineffective. Every law passed just causes it to find a new venue. It’s like holding jelly. The harder you squeeze the more it squirts out and the bigger the mess.

Random

[Finn_Jarber]

Originally Posted by brubaker

Yeah for free speech! HOOORAY!
Confetti for everyone! Open the floodgates of free speech!

Anymore doublespeak you want to present us with?

Yea, FREE. I'd like to reserve 1 minute free slot at FOX News right now so I can say a few words.

[TXboomerang]

Considering corporate media whores already play a gigantic role in who gets elected, 2012 won't be any different than it has been. The media will still do their best to preselect our choices as they always do.

[texdav]

I see where allowing special interest have free speech may be a problem. But I really don't see it when you allow corporate media to have it all alone. In the end with the amount of media and other communictions its not but a drop in the bucket of speech that controls politics really.I thnik we are now besieged with talkingheads representing politcal views that have almost unlimited access to air time to express their views.Its like saying that people are too dumb to decide waht they think;then their too dumb to allow them to watch TV too now days. i am for free speech and aginst limiting it in this case now days.