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tpsbmam

(3,927 posts)
Wed Jan 11, 2012, 01:58 PM Jan 2012

Bernie Sanders is asking us to sign a pledge to fight to overturn Citizens United....I'm in!

Link to sign the pledge:
http://democracyforamerica.com/activities/726?akid=1599.237568.QZsyVO&rd=1&t=1

Email from Bernie Sanders:

I know that many of you are deeply concerned about the economy, health care, education, global warming and the environment, Social Security and Medicare, civil liberties, war and peace and the national debt. But here's an issue that's even more important because it encompasses all of these issues -- and much more.

Will the United States survive, in any significant way, as a democracy in which ordinary people can control their future? Or, will "democracy" simply become another commodity owned and controlled by billionaires and corporations in order to serve their own purposes?

Today, as a result of the absurd Citizens United Supreme Court decision, corporations and billionaires can spend unlimited sums of money, without disclosure, in political campaigns. And that is exactly what they're doing.

Karl Rove's American Crossroads has already pledged to spend at least $240 million in the elections of 2012. The extreme right-wing billionaire Koch brothers may be spending even more. And then there is Wall Street, the oil and coal corporations, the insurance and drug companies and the military-industrial-complex with all of their money.

The goal of the top 1 percent is simple. They will spend as much as it takes to elect candidates who support a right-wing corporate agenda. They will spend as much as it takes to defeat those candidates who are fighting for working families. And that's about it!

Please join me, Daily Kos and Democracy for America in pledging to fight to overturn Citizens United.

Our strategy must be equally simple. Short-term, we must do everything we can to support those progressive candidates in 2012 who are fighting for the middle class and the values we believe in. Long-term, we must overturn Citizens United and fight for real campaign finance reform which limits the power of big money.

Last month, I introduced a constitutional amendment, the Saving American Democracy bill, to overturn Citizens United. This amendment states that:

Corporations do not have the same constitutional rights as human beings.

The people have the right to regulate corporations.

Corporations are prohibited from making campaign contributions.

Congress and states shall have the power to set reasonable limits on election spending.

As we approach the second anniversary of the Citizens United decision, please join me, Daily Kos and Democracy for America in pledging to fight to overturn Citizens United and to counter the unlimited resources of the right-wing in 2012.

Your pledge of support today will show the Big Money interests that while they may have unlimited sums of money, we have something more important -- the power of the people. Your support could mean volunteering on local, state or national elections, organizing against Citizens United, donating to progressive candidates or running for office yourself.

Please pledge your support today. Please stand with us so that, together, we can transform American politics.

Sincerely,

-Bernie

Sen. Bernie Sanders
U.S. Senator from Vermont

(no copyright violation since this is from email)

34 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Bernie Sanders is asking us to sign a pledge to fight to overturn Citizens United....I'm in! (Original Post) tpsbmam Jan 2012 OP
Done! nt gateley Jan 2012 #1
Done! old guy Jan 2012 #2
Done n/t ceile Jan 2012 #3
Nothing changes until this is rolled back. K + R deacon Jan 2012 #4
done and posted to my facebook page. DesertFlower Jan 2012 #5
Shameless bump for visibility and thanks for the reminder to share elsewhere! nt tpsbmam Jan 2012 #6
done. barbtries Jan 2012 #7
DONE! kag Jan 2012 #8
Done. n/t TriMera Jan 2012 #9
Think I already have signed this. efhmc Jan 2012 #10
Just do it again Politicalboi Jan 2012 #25
Done... thanks SalviaBlue Jan 2012 #11
No thanks. Nye Bevan Jan 2012 #12
Done! libodem Jan 2012 #13
Done... Magoo48 Jan 2012 #14
If "Corporations do not have the same constitutional rights as human beings," Zebedeo Jan 2012 #15
craft laws protecting the *people IN* the corporation? BlancheSplanchnik Jan 2012 #17
DONE! BlancheSplanchnik Jan 2012 #16
Heh...I tried to rec twice. Wait Wut Jan 2012 #18
Done! Shadowflash Jan 2012 #19
Done Vincardog Jan 2012 #20
Done! onestepforward Jan 2012 #21
Done! katty Jan 2012 #22
Done! diddlysquat Jan 2012 #23
Thanks for posting! tblue Jan 2012 #24
Done Luciferous Jan 2012 #26
K&R nt woo me with science Jan 2012 #27
It is time for this organization to hook up with paypal ooglymoogly Jan 2012 #28
Glad to do it. TheKentuckian Jan 2012 #29
k&r deutsey Jan 2012 #30
Done! nerdist Jan 2012 #31
K&R Odin2005 Jan 2012 #32
Kick. nt woo me with science Jan 2012 #33
Punt LiberalLovinLug Jan 2012 #34
 

Politicalboi

(15,189 posts)
25. Just do it again
Wed Jan 11, 2012, 09:52 PM
Jan 2012

I doubt the internet police will bother you. LOL! Not sure about Fox News police though. You would have to ask the master Bill O'Reilly for that.

Nye Bevan

(25,406 posts)
12. No thanks.
Wed Jan 11, 2012, 04:39 PM
Jan 2012

DemocraticUnderground is a LLC and as such would be stripped of its current free speech rights under this proposal. For example, the DU owners using bandwidth to promote Democratic candidates could be deemed a "corporate campaign contribution" and prohibited.

There's a reason the ACLU is in favor of the Citizens United ruling.

 

Zebedeo

(2,322 posts)
15. If "Corporations do not have the same constitutional rights as human beings,"
Wed Jan 11, 2012, 05:54 PM
Jan 2012

then what will prevent the government (under a Republican administration perhaps) from raiding Democratic Underground LLC's offices and rifling through whatever they find there?

What will prevent the government from fining the New York Times Company for publishing editorial opinions that are critical of the government? Or punishing Democratic Underground, LLC for the same?

Stripping all constitutional rights away from corporations might have some consequences that are not fully appreciated by Sen. Sanders.

BlancheSplanchnik

(20,219 posts)
17. craft laws protecting the *people IN* the corporation?
Wed Jan 11, 2012, 06:01 PM
Jan 2012


not sure, I'm not a lawyer, but it seems to make sense.

tblue

(16,350 posts)
24. Thanks for posting!
Wed Jan 11, 2012, 09:11 PM
Jan 2012

I saw him talk about this on tv and I should have signed up immediately.

Fyi: People generally need to be told about something 3 times before they take action so it never hurts to poke them & remind them.

ooglymoogly

(9,502 posts)
28. It is time for this organization to hook up with paypal
Thu Jan 12, 2012, 12:33 AM
Jan 2012

for those housebound and chairbound. They would get a lot more money from folks wanting to help out.

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