Kucinich Denounces Supreme Court Decision in Citizens United Case

[IndianaGreen]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 21, 2010
4:32 PM

Kucinich Denounces Supreme Court Decision in Citizens United Case

WASHINGTON - January 21 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today released the following statement following the 5-4 Supreme Court ruling in the case Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission:

"Today's decision will allow corporations to spend unlimited funds in support of political candidates. It will increase the stranglehold corporations now have over politics. There is no more effective way to concentrate even more money and power in the hands of the wealthy.

"Already, Wall Street is thriving on government largesse while America struggles with rising unemployment and foreclosures; insurance companies are preventing meaningful health care reform; and fossil fuel companies are preventing meaningful climate change legislation. The foundations of our democracy are at serious risk.

"The five-man majority has overreached considerably. The five-man majority brought up this issue of its own volition and has now legislated from the bench. The Supreme Court's actions and decision violates 100 years of precedent as well as the Constitutional prerogative given to Congress to legislate," said Kucinich. "In his dissent, Justice Stevens somberly remarks, ‘The Court's ruling threatens to undermine the integrity of elected institutions across the Nation.' Congress can hardly ignore such a stark and foreboding comment.

"Now, it is incumbent upon Congress to act. We must reclaim the democratic process and protect the voice of American citizens. If we allow corporations, many of whom are owned by foreign interests, to exert the kind of influence allowed by today's ruling, we will have, finally and completely, abandoned Lincoln's government ‘of the people, by the people, and for the people,'" said Kucinich.

http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2010/01/21-26

[Norrin Radd]

1. kr

[Martin Eden]

2. Despair

I'm getting that feeling again ... the deep despair of the darkest days of the CheneyBush regime.

[jacksonian]

3. yes

Now, it is incumbent upon Congress to act. We must reclaim the democratic process and protect the voice of American citizens. If we allow corporations, many of whom are owned by foreign interests, to exert the kind of influence allowed by today's ruling, we will have, finally and completely, abandoned Lincoln's government ‘of the people, by the people, and for the people,'" said Kucinich.

Yes. Let's start the constitutional admendment thing right now. This must be fixed.

Love that line about the "foreign interests". Very true, not good, and we need to hit hard on this. I know this ain't a popular idea in this country that the, say, Chinese (just to pick a bogeyman) could blackmail our system by setting up a front corp.

And Congress aint allowed to stop it, says the Supremes. Cute.

[Vidar]

4. K&R.

[David Zephyr]

5. K&R for Dennis. And thanks, IG for the story and link!

K&R.

[ibegurpard]

6. The true agenda of the REAL Bush backers

the institutionalization of corporate power...and they got what they wanted with Bush's Supreme Court picks.
they could give a shit about abortion and gay marriage...look who's leading the charge in the case about it right now.
I truly wish that the Democrats who AREN'T actively supporting that agenda would revolt and start leading the charge to reign in this obscenity.