Many in Congress argued that it was dangerous, senseless – even screwy. Yet, the officials in charge insisted on unilaterally escalating the war. And now it is spiraling out of control, with potentially disastrous consequences for America.
I’m not talking about our country’s military surge in Afghanistan, but about this year’s shocking escalation in the brutal “War for an American Corruptistan.” In January, five black-robed autocrats on the Supreme Court decreed that America’s corporate powers must be allowed to flood our elections with an unprecedented, unlimited, unconscionable Tsunami of special interest money, effectively drowning our ideal of a people’s democracy.
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Oh, tut-tut, clucked the five Supremes at the time, the electoral impact will be minimal, for corporate executives will be self-regulating in the use of their shareholders’ money. Wow, what a happy theory!
Maybe these five slap-happy theorists should visit the ongoing senate race in Florida. Led by the ethically-challenged Republican hachetman, Karl Rove, a front group named American Crossroads has amassed an ocean of Supreme Court-approved money from out-of-state corporations and billionaires to back a Republican hustler named Marco Rubio. Hailing the influx of corporate cash from Rove’s front group, one of Rubio’s backers happily declared, “I think it’s going to seal the deal in getting his message out.”
And what exactly is his message? “Rubio will rein in out-of-control spending in Washington,” screams one of his ads. No he won’t. He’ll simply shift spending from public needs to giveaways for oil companies, military contractors, and other money powers that the five Supremes and Karl Rove have unleashed on the good people of Florida.
In Corporate Corruptistan, money is the message.
“Outsider ‘Super PAC’ a boost for Rubio,” Miami Herald, September 30, 2010.
“Making of an informed Voter,” Austin American Statesman, September 25, 2010.
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