Let Hugo Chavez and King Abdullah Buy U.S. Elections?

[SHRED]

Why is it okay for foreign owned (or major shareholders) corporations operating here to be allowed unlimited financial access to our election process?

This is the question to ask the TeaBaggers (GOP) that favor the recent SCOTUS ruling.

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Will the Citizens United Ruling Let Hugo Chavez and King Abdullah Buy U.S. Elections?
Supreme Court Ruling May Open Door to Foreign State-Owned Corporate Political Spending
By Aaron Mehta and Josh Israel | January 22, 2010

While political observers have dissected much of yesterday’s 5-4 Supreme Court ruling in the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, one potentially huge (and probably unintended) consequence has gotten little notice: the impact the decision could have on foreign government spending on federal campaigns.

The ruling essentially gives corporations the same rights as individuals in their ability to spend freely on political advertising, even if those advertisements explicitly advocate the election or defeat of a federal candidate. This means that candidates who support, say, increased restrictions on tobacco products could find themselves up against the corporate treasury of say, a major American tobacco company. And even the fear of $10 million in attack ads blanketing the airways come re-election time may give sitting legislators pause before taking on moneyed industries.

But it’s one thing for U.S. firms to have their say. What about foreign companies that operate U.S. subsidiaries? Many of these, like American businesses, are owned by ordinary shareholders — but a host of others are owned, in whole or in part, by the foreign governments themselves.

MORE:
http://www.publicintegrity.org/articles/entry/1913/


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[fascisthunter]

1. anyone with loads of cash now have the ability to warp american politics

the Supreme Court has made it law of the land.

[cali]

2. excellent. thanks.

[Joanne98]

3. Don't forget China. They'll probably bribe politicians into buying their products

With taxpayer money. What a mess.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

6. And what's a little lead in some kids toys or a bit of melamine in pet food?

Fussy, fussy! A little brain damage to some toddlers, a few dead cats - what's the big deal?

[Strelnikov_]

10. umm . . .

Just two days after a giving itself a huge pat on the back for getting the Bay Bridge open for the Tuesday commute, Caltrans is giving new red flags about the project completion date.

The single anchor suspension bridge is supposed to be open to traffic in 2013.

On Wednesday Caltrans said issues with steel deliveries from China has put them a year behind in the process of fabrication.

[Moochy]

4. Fear of Foreign Nationals

Probably very effective argument for Xenophobes like the conservative Tea Baggers.

[Enrique]

5. or Kim Jong-Il

or Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, or even Nicolas Sarkozy.

[Sebastian Doyle]

7. The Saudis already have a slick media campaign in the US

Anybody remember those commercials they were running back when gas was $4/gallon reminding us what a great bunch of guys they were? I think they had one shortly after 9/11 shedding a bunch of crocodile tears about what 15 of their own allegedly did, led by one of their leading citizens.

[CJCRANE]

8. Not sure if it was unintended. nt

[Gregorian]

9. If the world is more liberal than the United States, then that could be a good thing.

I'm against it. However, while being talked down (not really) by someone yesterday, they said Microsoft, and that's all I needed to hear. It could even be that most companies are liberal owned.

Whatever. I'm not sure what to do any more. It all seems to be on autopilot.

Just to add this- For example, I called Pelosi's office yesterday to say my piece about how I feel unrepresented, and after talking with an actual human being for several seconds, I was transfered to a machine. fuck you.