Obama Calls for Reforms in Election Funding

[kpete]

Source: Common Dreams/AFP

Published on Saturday, May 1, 2010 by Agence France Presse
Obama Calls for Reforms in Election Funding

WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama called on Congress on Saturday to pass reforms limiting the influence of special interest groups on US elections, saying the integrity of US democracy needed to be protected.

"What we are facing is no less than a potential corporate takeover of our elections," Obama said in his weekly radio address. "And what is at stake is no less than the integrity of our democracy."

The appeal came after a recent US Supreme Court ruling that gave corporations, lobbyists, other special interest groups -- foreign and domestic -- the power to spend unlimited money to influence the outcome of US elections.

The ruling meant that corporations would be allowed to run political television advertisements ahead of national and local elections without telling voters who was paying for them, said Obama.

Read more: http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/05/01-0

[dotymed]

1. All elections

should be publicly financed. We should require media to give equal air-time to candidates. The airwaves are (legally) owned "by the people." They are currently required to give PSA's (not many), they should require this, very important PSA, and not allow other money into elections. What a concept. A politician not owing corporations from day one...

[elleng]

2. I agree, as to public financing; always have.

Due to technology, however, tv and radio 'airwaves' are not 'owned' by the people, so that part of the discussion is a bit more complicated than it was in the past.

[Iliyah]

3. Good luck

with that. America for sale, jeez-us, the Conservatives/GOP/tea baggers should re-name themselves - the association of greed, power and only me.

[dotymed]

8. Well

they still have to be licensed and provide PSA's. We could do it.

[elleng]

10. Not the cables.

'Airwaves' incorrect term for them, and as such are not limited as true airwaves are.

[Cleita]

4. Also, shouldn't lobbyists be fewer and have less influence?

It seems that every time something important comes up for debate in Congress, Washington is overrun with corporate lobbyists who gum up the works. Shouldn't there be some mechanisms to control this?

[TomCADem]

5. Obama will fight for new campaign finance rules

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama on Saturday pressed Congress for swift action on measures to restrict political advertising by corporations and labor unions, saying that "no less than the integrity of our democracy" is at stake.

Legislation introduced in Congress this week would require that corporations and unions identify themselves in political ads they pay for and that the chief executive or other top official state that "I approve this message."

The measures are in response to a 5-4 Supreme Court ruling in January that upheld the First Amendment rights of these groups to spend money on campaign ads, thus enhancing their ability to influence federal elections.

Obama slammed the decision at the time, saying the court had given a "green light to a new stampede of special-interest money in our politics" and pledging to work with Congress on a "forceful response" to the ruling.


Read more: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Obama-will-fight-for-new-apf-4081926866.html?x=0

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I don't think labor unions will be be ashamed about who they support or oppose, but corporations?

[nosmokes]

6. why are unions being equated with corporations?

They certainly aren't equal in financial resources and shouldn't be treated the same way when it comes to campaign finance. One is boon to society, the other not so much.

[dotymed]

11. Agreed.

Unions cannot compete with corporations. Maybe if they ever pass that easy unionization law(?), but I doubt it. It's amazing how people vote against their own interests...and we need to impeach about 5 SCOTUS justices. Anyone who would intentionally sell our electoral process is anti-American.

[mucifer]

7. They need more than that. That is just a bandaid.

[No Elephants]

9. How does a poster start two threads on the same subject n the same forum 3 hours apart?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4364526


Never seen that before.