Elected Officials and Corporate Donations: An Idea

[Dr Morbius]

I had an idea yesterday; bounced it off a wife and a coworker and both of them liked it.

You know how the Supreme Court recently reaffirmed their ruling that spending money is equivalent to free speech, and that corporations may spend as much as they like on elections? I am sure you know that many, perhaps most, of the members of Congress have received mega-donations from corporations?

And are you also familiar with NASCAR, in which the drivers and their cars are covered with logos from their sponsors?

My idea is to combine the two. I think the American people deserve to know who their representatives are actually representing. If members of Congress take donations from corporations or other special interests, make them wear a big label with the appropriate logo or company name. So the people of Connecticut deserve to see a big patch on the suit of Joe Lieberman showing the insurance companies who are sponsoring him. This of course applies to everyone in public service; Tim Geithner shouldn't appear in public without the Goldman-Sachs logo on his breast. The bigger the donation, the larger the patch.

It appears we have to allow our elected representatives to take money from large donors; SCOTUS says so. So we let them, but I think we have a right to know who they're working for. Hence my idea: combine NASCAR and politics, and see who comes to Congress or the White House completely covered in corporate logos and labels.

The more I think about it, the more I like it.

[47of74]

1. Someone else mentioned that too a while back...

I think it was Alan Grayson who had said that politicians should do that, but am not positive. I know Stephanie Miller has suggested it a number of times on her show.

[maryf]

2. Still a good idea worth sharing!

whether someone said it before or not! :)

[Dr Morbius]

5. I guess it's too obvious to be original.

Now that you mention it, I may have heard it on the SMS. I forget things sometimes. Still, I like the idea. We have a right, methinks, to know who is sponsoring our representatives in government. I like the idea of photoshopping them on, too; handy notion in an election year. Alas, I myself have no such skills.

[KharmaTrain]

3. That's Our Job...

I'd love to tatoo a corporate name over a local rushpublican and shine the light on whose really paying their freight. You don't need a law to do that...just a candidate with the cajones to call out their opponent and put those corporate donations in the public record for voters to see. While there are those who love the SCOTUS ruling (the corporate media are salivating for the billions in 527 money they'll bring in this fall...so they won't be of any use) a majority of voters won't take a liking to someone (especially from outside the district) try to buy their elections. If you say it early, often and loud, people will hear things and then put the opponent on the defensive to try to justify why they were bought.

[lunatica]

4. It can actually be done at a grassroots level and with Photoshop

There's a lot of talent right here in DU. Simply Photoshop the logos onto the candidates they pertain to and send them out to as many recipients as possible making a real effort to go viral. The photoshop can look quite good if it's done by those who are good at it.

It may have limited influence or it may not work, but it also just might work, at least with a few candidates. Just make sure the logos really do belong to each candidate.

Anyway, that's my .02 cents worth. I think it would work if people got serious about it. Code Pink came up with a nutty idea and look at them. A bunch of middle aged women wearing pink have the ability to shut Karl Rove down for a day. I can't think of a single other group who has ever been able to do that. To repeat myself, there's a lot of talent among the peoples.