Tightening the Corporate Grip: The Stakes at the Supreme Court

[marmar]

Published on Wednesday, September 9, 2009 by CommonDreams.org

Tightening the Corporate Grip: The Stakes at the Supreme Court
by Robert Weissman


Can things get still worse in Washington?

Yes, they can. And they will, if the Supreme Court decides for corporations and against real human beings and their democracy in a case the Court will be hearing today, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.

Until reaching the Supreme Court last year, this case has involved a narrow issue about whether an anti-Hillary Clinton movie made in the heat of the last presidential election is covered by restrictions in the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law. However, in a highly unusual move announced on the last day of the Supreme Court's 2008 term, the justices announced they wanted to reconsider two other pivotal decisions that limit the role of corporate money in politics.

The Court ordered a special oral argument on the issue, before the full start of their 2009 term in October.

The Court will today hear argument on whether prior decisions blocking corporations from spending their money on "independent expenditures" for electoral candidates should be overturned. "Independent expenditures" are funds spent without coordination with a candidate's campaign. The rationale for such a move would be that existing rules interfere with corporations' First Amendment rights to free speech. ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/09/09-11

[maxsolomon]

1. raise your hand if you think this is a foregone conclusion

5-4 ad nauseum

[lyonn]

2. I just heard the Justice Kennedy was going along with the repubs

That is game folks.......

[RaleighNCDUer]

3. The day that any corporation can speak out in opposition to the policies

of the corporation's CEO and board of directors, THEN I will grant that a corporation is a person capable of having first amendment free speech rights.

This is, and always has been, a fraud perpetuated by the owners to do as they wish while keeping themselves unaccountable for their actions.

[Voltaire]

4. The day that a corporation can pull down its zipper and take a piss

Is when I will give it its First Amendment free speech rights.