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[Date: 05/03/2010; This column first 'went up' on May First. What happened to it? Everything but the title DISAPPEARED!! Do "Clown Prince" obama's minions read it?? Are they the culprits?? We'll never know!!]
Weekly Address
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Over the past few weeks, as we’ve debated reforms to hold Wall Street accountable and protect consumers and small businesses in our financial system, we’ve come face-to-face with the great power of special interests in the workings of our democracy. Of course, this isn’t a surprise. Every time a major issue arises, we’ve come to expect that an army of lobbyists will descend on Capitol Hill in the hopes of tilting the laws in their favor.
That’s one of the reasons I ran for President: because I believe so strongly that the voices of ordinary Americans were being drowned out by the clamor of a privileged few in Washington. And that’s why, since the day I took office, my administration has been taking steps to reform the system. Recently, however, the Supreme Court issued a decision that overturned decades of law and precedent – dealing a huge blow to our efforts to rein in this undue influence. In short, this decision gives corporations and other special interests the power to spend unlimited amounts of money – literally millions of dollars – to affect elections throughout our country. This, in turn, will multiply their influence over decision-making in our government.
In the starkest terms, members will know – when pressured by lobbyists – that if they dare to oppose that lobbyist’s client, they could face an onslaught of negative advertisements in the run up to their next election. And corporations will be allowed to run these ads without ever having to tell voters exactly who is paying for them. At a time when the American people are already being overpowered in Washington by these forces, this will be a new and even more powerful weapon that the special interests will wield.
In fact, it’s exactly this kind of vast power that led a great Republican President – Teddy Roosevelt – to tackle this issue a century ago. He warned of the dangers of limitless corporate spending in our political system. He actually called it “one of the principal sources of corruption in our political affairs.” And he proposed strict limits on corporate influence in elections. “Every special interest is entitled to justice,” he said. “but not one is entitled to a vote in Congress, to a voice on the bench, or to representation in any public office.” [What I'm not telling you: I conducted the "Campaign of Fluff" for two specific purposes; neither of which appreciably benefit the American voting public! Early on, I realized that I'm a charismatic personality--able to take the most outrageous bullshit and make it believable to entire audiences. With this ability comes the power I so crave--power to transform practically anything--public opinion, direction of legislation, state government, federal government, et al!! The second purpose is to guide the federal government toward a meaningful position in the pending 'one-world government.' The earlier we take over vast segments of the American economy-the sooner we enter the path toward the aforementioned government structure. Almost since the first day of my regime, the public should have realized that the word 'reform' has different meanings to different people; different levels of society. To 'we of the ruling class,' reform means acquiring the most power with the least turmoil. But, if turmoil is necessary, so be it. To the 'dependency class,' means the most cash benefits with the least effort. During the campaign, you'll remember I disparagingly mentioned lobbyists many times. I led you to believe that I thought them to be the basis of most of the problems the federal government faces. Not so much!! Lobbyists are so evil that I've hired several dozens to work in my regime; several individual lobbyists are some of my closest advisors!! I have to be against the Supreme Court's overturning the campaign finance laws as they apply to corporations; in reality-they're some of the largest contributors to the "Campaign of Fluff!!" As such, I will continue to take their counsel to heart. Notice how I weave 'fascism' into practically every photo/blather opportunity?? To paraphrase Reba McIntyre.... "Teddy Roosevelt was a fascist, when fascism wasn't cool!!"
{Oops, there I go, off teleprompter, again!!}]
In the wake of the recent Supreme Court ruling, we face a similar challenge. That’s why it’s so important that Congress consider new reforms to prevent corporations and other special interests from gaining even more clout in Washington. And almost all of these reforms are designed to bring new transparency to campaign spending. They are based on the principle espoused by former Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis – that sunlight is the best disinfectant.
Shadowy campaign committees would have to reveal who’s funding their activities to the American people. And when corporations and other special interests take to the airwaves, whoever is running and funding the ad would have to appear in the advertisement and claim responsibility for it – like a company’s CEO or an organization’s biggest contributor. This will mean citizens can evaluate the claims in these ads with information about an organization’s real motives.
We know how important this is. We’ve all seen groups with benign-seeming names sponsoring television commercials that make accusations and assertions designed to influence the public debate and sway voters’ minds. Now, of course every organization has every right in this country to make their voices heard. But the American people also have the right to know when some group like “Citizens for a Better Future” is actually funded entirely by “Corporations for Weaker Oversight.” [What I'm not telling you: That Justice Brandeis quote.... I didn't lose any sleep over that principle getting in the way of my march to fascism!! We don't have to worry about any legislation I support 'getting disinfected!!' Although the voting public MUST BELIEVE EVERYTHING I say, there are some things that just aren't believable on their face: Legislation posted on the internet for five days of public review?? The Congress rarely--if ever--even reads all the crap they vote for; they just take my word that it's good for their retention of power!! The Supreme Court ruling surely doesn't apply to the SEIU contributions or their 'Purple Shirt' voter intimidation activities!! {That Philadelphia 'activity' put me over the top in Pennsylvania!!} ACORN's community agitation activities will have to be exempted, somehow; that's where I learned how to be elected!! {See how I got their funding reinstated, just by suggesting they change their name?!?!}]
In addition, these reforms would address another troubling aspect of the Supreme Court’s ruling. Under the bill Congress will consider, we’ll make sure that foreign corporations and foreign nationals are restricted from spending money to influence American elections, just as they were in the past – even through U.S. subsidiaries. And we’d keep large contractors that receive taxpayer funds from interfering in our elections as well, to avoid the appearance of corruption and the possible misuse of tax dollars.
Now, we can expect that these proposed changes will be met with heavy resistance from the special interests and their supporters in Congress. But I’m calling on leaders in both parties to resist these pressures. For what we are facing is no less than a potential corporate takeover of our elections. And what is at stake is no less than the integrity of our democracy. This shouldn’t be a Democratic issue or a Republican issue. This is an issue that goes to whether or not we will have a government that works for ordinary Americans – a government of, by, and for the people. That’s why these reforms are so important. And that’s why I’m going to fight to see them passed into law. [What I'm not telling you: True, foreign nationals and corporations have no place in American elections, at any level. I can not have the illegal immigrants continue to be considered foreign nationals!! After the 'dependency class,' they're my largest bloc of voters; I--as well as the fascist legislators in Congress-- can't win another term without their votes. The government--as demanded by the U.S. Constitution--has not been an actuality in decades; we've added so many more layers, it's about to implode upon itself. The more we take of states' rights, the larger it gets. As an example: Why the Hell do we have a federal Department of Education--but for the meddling in state, local and school district affairs?? The best actions of this department are to syphon off tax dollars better spent at the local level; to demand UNFUNDED mandates be inacted, syphoning off still more of local and state tax receipts!! What has the Department of Education actually done that's been positive? Nothing!! Unless you consider insane, inane, ridiculous rules and regulations that do nothing more than rewrite history!!! I hate to admit it, but Texas is on the right track in curbing rewritten history in that state's classrooms. {Again, off the teleprompter!!}]
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