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Who says Americans can’t find agreement on anything? All it took to bring us together in determined unity was that black-robed gang of democracy thievessitting on the Supreme Court.
The latest national poll shows that Americans of all political stripes overwhelmingly oppose the recent 5-4 decree by the Supremes to allow unlimited corporate spending in our elections. “Holy Thomas Jefferson,” shouted 85 percent of Democrats to the pollsters – “No!” Likewise, 81 percent of independents said “No way.” But get this – 76 percent of Republicans also joined in this emphatic national “ uh-uh” to the Court’s corporatization of our politics. Indeed, the decision was opposed by big majorities of all ages, education levels, and racial categories.
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So, with eight out of ten Americans united in opposition to this gaping wound that the Court inflicted on our democracy, we can expect quick action by Congress to heal it. Right?
Uh… No. First, Republican leaders (who’re ever-faithful, tail-wagging kowtowers to any whim of their corporate sponsors) have cheered this unleashing of special-interest money and will oppose any efforts to restrict it. Second, the Democrats’ designated leader for dealing with the court’s ruling is Sen. Chuck Schumer, a notorious corporate servant whose chief skill is rasing corporate campaign cash. Sending Schumer to restrain the political power of corporations is like going lion hunting with a flyswatter.
Sure enough, Schumer is not even considering a constitutional amendment to force these corporate powers out of our elections, instead offering a patchwork of regulatory bandaids to cover the wound – but not heal it. To get real action, we have to produce it ourselves. Connect with these two grassroots coalitions: FreeSpeechForPeople.org and MoveToAmend.org.
“Democrats Try to Rebuild Campaign-Spending Barriers,” The New York Times,” February 12, 2010.
“Poll: Large majority opposes Supreme Court’s decision on campaign financing,” www.washingtonpost.com, February 17, 2010.
“Left and right united in opposition to controversial SCOTUS decision,” www.yahoo.com, February 17, 2010.