Obama Calls SCOTUS Ruling on Campaign Spending ‘Devastating’

OMG!!! The liberals are OUTRAGED!! The liberal and corporate MSM have been “shaping public opinion” for DECADES, and now they are outraged that a counter-argument may show up during the commercial breaks.
I’m certainly glad that they feel morally obligated to censure what I hear during the commercials – after all, they know that I can’t think for myself, and if I get a message that conflicts with their message, whatever would I do? I might not vote for THEM!!
Oh no!!
LOL

Nothing to do with principle, nothing to do with democracy, it’s just about who it benefits politically. As if money didn’t already influence politics, it’s not like unions, various interest groups, lobbyists, didn’t contribute money to candidates. Obama & his un-Democrats are hypocrites – if the court ruling had a political benefit for them, they would be singing another song.

The guy with the most cash.. is concerned about politicians getting more money (does he think we are stupid?).. also… don’t we have this court so that the executive and legislative branches don’t rule the whole deal.. he’s not making many friends lately and he sounds more and more disingenuous.. all the time.

If you find a watch, there has to be a watchmaker. The fault is not Mr. Obama, it’s those who elected him.

hmmm- this from the guy that turned off the credit card validity checks on his campaign donation web pages.
I saw step by step demonstrations of people donating money in the name of Daffy Duck and Deputy Dawg on that site… and now suddenly president arugula is concerned with campaign funding laws?
I also seem to remember obama pledging he would only take public funding in the general election…how’d that work out again?
Ah, love the smell of hypocritical outrage from political hacks from the Chicago Machine.
Smells…like…hot garbage.

I’m no Obama fan.
But this ruling is a bad one.
Unions and corporations are not citizens.
Only citizens who are qualified to vote for a candidate should be able to donate.
For example, if you live in District 3, you can vote for and donate to a District 3 candidate. But you should not be able to vote for or donate to a District 1, 2 or 4 candidate.
If a corporate exec or union boss likes a candidate, let them spend their OWN money on a candidate that they are legally qualified to vote for.
Fat cats in California and New York should not be able to buy elections in Wisconsin and Kansas.

“. . . decks are too often stacked against ordinary Americans. . . ” BARACK OBAMA
Haven’t the decks been stacked against ordinary Americans by Obama, who first said he “didn’t notice” the tea party protesters outside the WH, and then dismissed them as “people waving teabags.” I’m surprised he didn’t term them “little people waving teabags,” because that’s what he meant.
There is a big tea party movement in the Midwestern state where I live, and I know several tea partiers who donated to Scott Brown’s campaign.
Denigrating the tea partiers was a BIG, BIG mistake by the Democratic Party and the Administration.

Pretty tough words from a fellow who received nearly $20 million from the insurance industry, more from banking, and millions for overseas donors. There are 36,000 professional lobbyists in Washington at this moment. Until that changes, nothing else will.

Obama doesn’t mind the influence of SEIU, Acorn, George Soros or labor unions on government or the election process. He just doesn’t want the “evil capitalist corporations” to have a say.

If it ticks off Yomama Obama and the rest of the Dems then it had to have been the correct ruling.

I am glad that freedom of speech prevailed. A person should be able to express their views without worrying that big brother will put you in jail or fine you for it.

Obamba had no problem with spending and accepting money for his campaign. Obama even said he would stay within limits (like Mccain) before he did the opposite. So, the reality is it is okay for unions (liberal (progressives-socialists) talking points) to spend money, but when it is against liberals (progressives-socialists)

Obama is one to comment about campaign
financing, saying one thing and then
doing something else. Any ruling leaves
the little guy out. Its a cluster and
where there is power, there is money.
Regular everyday people will have to
use common sense, do their research
and vote accordingly. It worked in
Mass. and it can work on a broader
scale.

Tea Bag people should be on notice, that you think Health care bill stinks. Wait until the Old English Judiciary get though with you.
1. A judge TERM is for LIFE.
2. A judge is appointed not ELECTED.
3. A judge is IMMUNE FROM THE LAW.
4. A Judge makes LAW enforceable as they see fit.
No chance for the election process to work with Haliburton cash on the HILL.

The bill that George B. pasted in 2005 took your right to freedom of Speech, now this bill will take your vote away with a bias source of knowledge about candidates.
Are you insane, money is the key, not freedom of speech, MONEY will TALK. Unless you are one of the Filthy Rich, the Supreme Court just said SHUT UP.

Huh?? — Is this statement coming from the former Presidential candidate who dismissed public funding becaue he knew he could get more from special interest groups?????

A bill should be passed to limit the TERM of a JUDGE, A JUDGE should be elected not appointed (as KING’S of ENGLAND used to DO), a JUDGE should not have immunity for violation of the LAW.
THE LOBBYIST ARE THE UNDISPUTED WINNER, given to by the SUPREME COURT.
DON KING COULD NOT DO BETTER.

It’s clear from these comments and those of Obama that the lefties have no interest in freedom of speech. It was Obama who didn’t take public financing, but then had no checks and balances on his website to monitor online contributions. How much money came from foreign donors We’ll never know because his website should have automatically rejected those donors, yet didn’t. Hillary and McCain operated under the campaign finance law. Obama believes campaign finance laws are made to be broken.

There is nothing more devastating to democracy then Barack Obama!

this is really an odd comment from obama, since he’s been a socialist-type ruler for a year now. seems the only free speach he and administration want is his and theirs.

Don’t make Obama mad, he will open his man child mouth, and cause the market to drop another 530 points, further causing the middle class pain

Soooo BO is against our most basic right “Freedom of Speech” … figures…. that’s the way Socialist are……

Good for Obama!!! The American people should be demanding that lobbyists and corporations should have less influence in our politics, not more. And all these posts taking aim at Obama are right-wing fire breathers who want nothing less than total freedom to to do as they please without any government interference…heaven forbid that we should have any laws that restrict big business!

As a native Washingtonian who has worked in politics and lived overseas I applaud President Obama. His clear, unobstructed vision and great sense of history and ethics is indeed reminiscent of President Teddy Roosevelt. He is clearly leading the fight, our fight, to be heard.

Ah. The classic battle between those who would rather not work, live off the fat of the land, overpopulate it by any means they want;…. and those responsible people who understand that a good day is earned through work and sacrifice. Gotta love it.

LOBBYIST are soon to be running the Country, with a free hand,for the Corporations then the Corporations will run the military soon after that , not just blackwater or xe but all of it. Corporate wars will start and the winner will be someone like Hitler. DO you want that again ?

I can disagree with Obama and his policies while totalling ignoring that he is a light skinned african American who doesn’t speak Negro unless he wants to. I’m not offended by his race…I am offended by the damage he has done and seems to want to do to my country. If he were lily white and did the same things, I would condemn him just the same. If, God forbid, he were to die in office and be replaced by that clown Biden, and the policies of this administration continued, I would say the same things about Biden. And he is a light skinned Irish American that doesn’t speak with a brogue unless he wants to.

This president is so disgusting! Does he really think that we are not aware of his ‘….buying…’ the unions and their votes? Does he really think that when he was a part of ACORN and gives them all they want that he is not ‘…buying…’ their votes? Does he really think that his talks of amnesty for ‘illegals’ is not ‘…buying’ their votes?
IS THERE SOMEITHING MENTALLY WRONG
WITH OUR PRESIDENT?

Remember this feigned outrage in 2012.

“Special Interest”….. ya and out Socialist President BO will decide which “Special Interest” are OK, and which ones aren’t……. right out of Valenzuela’s, Hugo Chivas playbook

Some of you right-wingers really have something wrong with you. No matter what the legislation, it’s all about WHO and what PARTY was for or against it.
I find it very difficult to believe that ALL of you, especially the more average among you, don’t have a problem with Corporate interference into the American way of life.
Try growing a set and stand up for what you believe instead of dissing everything simply because it’s popular in your party to do so.

Posted by: What the Hey
Your post is quite biased. For one thing Clinton signed Glass-Steagall into law. For another, if KSM is entitled to rights then why isn’t Hugo Chavez? Your screaming for the rights of terrorists but now you want to pick and choose who gets rights. Second, let’s take a look at foreign campaign donations and who got them in the last election, it was Obama who got donations from Hezbollah. This ruling didn’t negate libel, it only upholds free speech and even you can’t dictate who gets to speak.

BO’s devastated. alright. He just hates that ‘defect’ in the Constitution called the second amendment.

Some of you right-wingers really have something wrong with you. No matter what the legislation, it’s all about WHO and what PARTY was for or against it.
I find it very difficult to believe that ALL of you, especially the more average among you, don’t have a problem with Corporate interference into the American way of life.
Try growing a set and stand up for what you believe instead of dissing everything simply because it’s popular in your party to do so.
Posted by: Troy Street | Jan 23, 2010 11:27:49 AM
How did we make it all those years without Mccain Fiengold? We had Clinton, Bush,& Reagan during those times. I wont bring up Jimmy Carter.

This decision by the US Supreme Court only strengthens our freedom of speech. Liberal politicians like Obama will argue it gives more strength to special interest groups and lobbyists – but is that what he’s really afraid of? No – he’s afraid that you as a voter will get “misinformed” and not be able to make an appropriate decision. Obama doesn’t want you to think for yourself – in fact, most Liberals are like lawyers – they really believe they can make better decisions than you can regarding the direction of the nation. They are afraid more information will cloud your judgment. Well they are wrong – because an empowered electorate is what brings about the greatest democracy.

Spacerook1 or is that Space Rock 1, the people like myself gave money to Obama in small amounts, just as they are giving to Haiti. It show the real power of the peoples dollar when it counts. It should make you lobbyist shake in your boots.
That is why the Supreme Court Justices have been payed off to make such a decision. FEAR OF THE PEOPLE, WEAKNESS IN BIG BUSINESS INFLUENCE OVER GOVT.
WE THE PEOPLE. WILL PREVAIL. AMERICANS, NOT RIGHTWING SOCIALIST.

Yes Corporate America has become EVIL

Underdog….”RIGHT WING SOCIALIST” is an oxymoron. There is no such thing. Kinda like a “Jumbo Shrimp” or “Liberal Intellectual” They just don’t exist. Try studying politics for a bit.

Obama is right – this is a sad day for what is supposed to be a free country.

For all you right wing nutters claiming Obama got money from special interest did you noticed your team got it also? Apparently you think two wrongs make a right and now you think it’s even better becasue you will get more $$ and Corporations will have GREAT influence over elections. And you think this is good? How’s this for an idea. WE GET RID OF ALL OF IT!!! FOR ALL SIDES. Two wrongs don’t make a right.

Our Bill of Rights DOES NOT say “Freedom of Speech” except for the people who work for unions and corporations…. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

Yes, bp, we noticed that our side got it too. None of us right wing nutters has claimed otherwise. And it is not us that are whining about the Supreme Court ruling evening up the playing field. So what’s your point???

We will beat this new republican ploy
same old stuff they have done for 9 years now. You need new Defensive Positions.
the right wing is fading and they are yelling anything they think someone will fall for. SORRY no more republicans for me.

Mr. Hester…”ploy” is a cool word. Now how in the world does the SCOTUS ruling end up being a “ploy”? Please explain to this poor dumb right wing nutter….I’d love to see how this is a ploy. Oh, yeah…”ploy”. another “word of the day” from the DNC hate mongers….gotcha.

The Socialist rightwing will determine who will work, who will live in a home and who will live in a project. They will determine who gets a loan, or who will not.
They will have complete control of your life.
You will be only a number when it comes to an election and the Big Corp. will remember that number.
Your social security number is linked in the George’s bill of Homeland Security Right’s Bill. (Read it, that is where your freedom of speech went down the tubes) If you are not RICH, this decision says SHUT UP

bp…the unions give millions of dollars to the Democrats, and the individual union members often prefer to vote for a Republican….But you are okay with that, right??

A REAL Ignorant statement from BO…. who took an oath to Uphold and defend our Constitution….

Obama’s ‘outrage’ will soften by 2012. Mark my words.

I don’t really like the SCOTUS ruling myself, but the hypocrisy from the left (on this particular issue) is getting to be a bit too much.

AMAZING, an American President who is opposed to freedom of speech !

It is my opinion that we should celebrate July the 4th as “Back to the English Surf System Day”. Independence Day, is gone with a Supreme Court that can be paid-off with Corp. dollars.
Just as your voting rights will be gone, if this decision is not stopped.
Big business will lay you off to give money to lobbyist to pay for what they want, “SLAVE LABOR”.
AMERICA GREW FASTER THAN ANY NATION BECAUSE OF THE SLAVE TRADE OF AMERICA BEGINNING.
FREE LABOR, WOW, FOR THOSE RIGHT WINGERS THAT ARE POOR, HOW MUCH CAN I BUY YOU FOR.

Amazing BO thinks that the Supreme Court was wrong in telling Congress that they cannot create laws “prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech”………….. hey BO if your going to restrict these boogiemen corporations…. lets restrict what the Press can do during elections….. no MORE endorsing candidates… no more “exclusive interviews with softball questions that the Networks play over and over and over….

The lead story headline applies to Obama as well as Haiti: ‘EXCEPT FOR MIRACLES, HOPE IS…FADING’

I’ve always known that Obama knows nothing about Constitutional law. The Supreme Court has just taught him a lesson.
Just as the voters of Massacusetts taught him a lesson on Tuesday.
Been a fabulous week for those who love liberty. For the statists, not so much.

ITS OK for BO to TRASH and demean Corporations to get elected on NATIONAL TV over and over and over…… but BO doesn’t want the Corporation to have the RIGHT be able to respond is HIS political rhetoric…. what a hypocrite

The american people have awoken!! But it’s not the tea partiers. We now know who the Republican parties stands up for.

Although conservatives have influenced the media not to mention it and they have their scripted responces readily available, the ONLY undisputable evidence of raw bigotry is the use of double standards. The postings today don’t mention “legislating from the bench”. We all know that had this been a decision that the right didn’t like, that term would be today’s main conservative talking point. There’s your lastest double standard.There are too many to mention but the clues are throughout many of your postings today.

When he was running for president he was the first one to refuse the govt contributions, because he ALREADY HAD TAKEN THE MONEY FROM PRIVATE CORPORATIONS AND DIDN’T NEED IT.

“phantomniter “ You hit the nail on the head. The primary problem with having too many capitalist interests impacting democracy is that the beast of capitalism doesn’t care about people. It doesn’t care about the poor, since it’s more profitable to simply strip their labor rights and enslave them. It doesn’t care about taking care of the elderly, since the bottom line is enhanced by simply allowing them to die. It doesn’t care about predatory lending, the environment, protecting the Constitution or anything else that might get in the way of making another dollar.

tHOMAS JEFFERSON the link that you mention states:
If the First Amendment has any force, it prohibits jailing citizens for engaging in political speech.” The Supreme Court has decided the First Amendment does have force. Now the American people have the right to decide how much to spend on their own political speech. We all will benefit from this affirmation of our Constitution.
There is a difference in a non-profit group giving money to a campaign for the good of it’s people than a PROFIT group giving for the good of their business.
The courts was paid off for the good of the BIG BUSINESSES.
Don’t you get it. The court got it, payoff, not freedom of speech.
Laws decided by Corp.

To allow corporations to enter into an already out of control election process is just adding gasoline to the fire. How does this help us, the individual? I’ve worked for big business. They are out for one thing: to make money. That’s what they do. The only control of how that money is made is by laws and regulations. That’s the brutal facts, my friends. To allow this group to influence (and let’s all be honest, that’s what money allows you) and manipulate people’s perspectives, we’ve just allotted them a huge chuck of our freedom.
This is so much bigger than blue versus red, so much more important than conservative versus liberal! Please move beyond the Obama/Bush bashing. We’ve just sold our American soul…

HEY WJKSEA, ease up on hugo chavez ,he is bamas favorite leader,except for jeremiah…

This ruling should mean that Bill Gates should pay off as many congressmen as he can, go back to court (pay them off too) and state that he has the right to overpower any and all competition. Then raise the cost of his software 100%, because he has cornered the market.
That way the fools who wants to speak will be so broke, they will be in a project and can’t afford a information source like the internet.
A FOOL MAKES THE SAME MISTAKE OVER, AND OVER AND OVER.

UNDERDOG (12:06 PM); What!!! For profit or not really has nothing to do with it. Nice try though. Very imaginative.

Mike all these republicans do is complain if you haven’t caught that in last year. They complain about everything but givve no ways to fix it just complain about who is in office. They dont admit how the stock market and housing market have done a 360 since Obama took office. They dont admit these banks paying back loans in less than a year. And they still dont want those banks to be taxed. They think Palin is the best candidate for 2012 even though it took her 7 years to get a bachelors and flunked out of business school at Hawaii. Maybe they are upset b/c Obama is doing a better job than the last 3 republican presidents for sure. Possibly all of them. Haven’t looked that far back though.

LongT, you must not live in the United States of Capitalism. MONEY FOR PROFIT HAS ALL TO DO WITH IT.
Nonprofit means no one person gains.
Profit means big stockholders and CEO HAVE EVERYTHING TO GAIN.
A ROCK CAN’T BE HEARD OR REASON.

I guess Obama wants to fight this so that no other candidate can manage to put as much money into their war chest as the labor unions heaped into his. The unions bought Obama the presidency and in the process, purchased them a president. Lock, stock and crooked barrel.
Steps need to be taken to limit the spending by a candidate. Spending $730 million to get a job that can potentially pay about $2 million AT MOST? C’mon.
Our electoral process is no longer about electing the best candidate. It’s about electing the guy who wastes the most money. Is it any wonder he’s handing out our tax dollars to anyone who asks for them?

While I disagree with the court’s decision, I think it’s doubtful they passed this so “evil” corporations can rule the world through American politics (which is of course the way to do it). In fact, I believe this has become grossly exaggerated, and that Obama is merely playing the political game he claims to be above.

The whole issue is this:
Whether you water your plant on the leaves at the top. (Big Business)
or
Whether you water your plant at the root. (The working people)
Build your house from the Roof (Big Business)
or
Build your house from the floor up (working people)
Profit or Nonprofit matters.

So we should fight to overturn:
Roe v. Wade if we dont like abortion
Miranda v Arizona- why should a cop have to read us our rights. If you cant speak english learn it.
Gruttner v Bollinger-race for admission to college law.
New York Times v sullivan-cant sue if paper writes inaccuracies
Plessy v ferguson-Seperate but equal. Made it ok to segregate.
Texas v Johnson- Its ok to burn the FLAG!
Just a few cases that were controversial. This is the way we founded our system. Thought it may not be the best we have 3 branches of government and none are more powerful than the other. We just have to live with it. Just think people will always not like a ruling they make. Just like a law congress makes, or a bill the president signs into law.

Something no one has mentioned or thought about in this landmark decision. Companies will now be able to reduce their TAX LIABILTY futher, by spending this money in the media to advance their own interest. What cost will the American Citizen now have to pay, to make up this difference, even as the business increases the cost of the product?

The lefties sure do hate free speech…… guess they all should move to Valenzuela… they would love living under Hugo Chivas….

Our Constitution does not say “Freedom of Speech” “except” for the people who work for unions and corporations…. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” Guess the left needs more money for education so they know what this means…..

Finally America will follow it’s very own Golden Rule….Them that has the gold makes the rules !

Oh, let the good times roll again: the best government money can buy. As it is, it is government of the corporations, by the corporations, and for the corporations.
To hell with the American people. Democracy is now at a dead end

The Obama/Pelosi/Reid train has wrecked!
Twelve months of Obama seems longer than eight years of President Bush.
Obama said what we wanted to hear and, SINCE the election, he has done as he pleased.
Obama is clueless as to what is happening around him and all he can do is look for a fall guy to blame it on. He is the man — the buck stops at his desk. He should man up and take responsibility for all of the foul ups in the last year.
He should have been working for Americans — not romancing foreigners and ignoring what “we the people” wanted.
NOW that his corrupt administration is in trouble, he is back-peddling and flip-flopping. He has betrayed the American people and simply cannot be trusted.
THEY CRAMMED IT DOWN OUR THROATS IN 2009 — WE’LL CRAM IT UP THEIR AR$E$ IN 2010!

If this decision is freedom of speech then Chinese corporations should have as many rights as global Exxon.

The amount of money that unions can bring to bear will be a drop in the bucket compared to oil companies, insurance companies, big banking systems and the like. Union members have been systematically forced out for years, and their numbers are ever dwindling.
The only hope for the american people is to start a backlash against political ads from either side. Tune them out, tune them off ; and listen to more reliable sources or read enough about the candidates to make up your own mind. We alre all spoon fed a lot of pap by both far Right haters and far left manipulaters. If we do not stop it, the decline of our our nation is our own fault.

It amazes me those who refer to this as “free speech” by corporations. There is nothing free about a billion dollar campaign paid by large corporations (which we will see in three years) This was a huge loss for democracy.

Republican’s biggest talking points to whip up hysteria with the tee bag crowd have been: “activist judges”, “state’s rights” and “will of the people”. In Colorado, we voted to limit corporate campaign contributions. Now, the Republican activist judges are trying to trample our state’s will of the people.
Republican hypocrites and liars, as always.

The constitution determined there be a separation of church and state. What are some who post here not getting?

Obama does not think twice about having one way communication in beating up on US businesses — but will blame them in a heart beat for not hiring! Remember, he has an ‘enemy a month’. Remember when he went after Big Pharma (until they sided with him); insurance companies (except for AARP who sided with him); even doctors (remember during the Professor Gates fiasco brief when he indicated doctors would perform the procedure producing the most money for their pockets — that changed once the AMA sided with him); and of course Wall Street and the banks (HOW DID GEITHNER EVER GET HIS JOB????)
Rather than pounding American business and banks, why does he not pay more attention to THE SECURITY OF THIS COUNTRY, and have a COME TO JESUS MEETING WITH ERIC HOLDER??
When will Holder be called to testify before the US Senate??
* Did he talk to anyone in the White House before he made this decision, and if so, WHO?
* Why did he elect NOT TO NOTIFY the Director of National Security, or the Director of Home Land Security? (What good are these agencies if there is ZERO COMMUNICATIONS WITHIN TEAM OBAMA?)
*Are we not back to the same pre 9-11 policies that led up to the bombing of the USS Cole and 9-11? If the answer is NO, then explain in DETAIL WHY NOT!
*Does Holder not feel that he personally usurped the power and responsibility from the Dir of National Security and Homeland Defense?
WHAT ACTION HAS THE WHITE HOUSE TAKEN TO PRECLUDE THIS NEAR DISASTER IN THE FUTURE?
BIGGER QUESTION: Why should we trust Team Obama with our National Security??
Just get the impression that Obama takes the population as a bunch of idiots, and he can scoot from one subject to another — play dictator one day, and a populist the next –without the stupid citizens knowing what he is up to!!
Well, his track record the past year was totally abysmal!!
*American automotive companies (now bankrupt!);
*Cash for Clunkers (look what that little jewel cost the tax payers!);
*Cabinet appointees who cannot even pay their taxes, and we are supposed to trust them??
*Eric Holder calling citizens ‘COWARDS’ for not addressing race in America;
*TARP (look at the number of bank failures and the limited loans they are making today!)..now up to 134 closed!!
*H1N1 vaccine shortage, (and short supplies going to special interest groups!), and now recalling 800,000 doses for little kids;
*Three dozen czars who create layering, and little else – the USA is not a dictatorship!
* The Professor Gates ‘teachable moment’ when the President jumped to a guilty conclusion before he even knew the facts – and should have kept his mouth shut!!!!
*consistent indecision on Afghanistan, and ultimately had to use West Point as a prop to announce a ‘muttled’ message
*the Olympic bid disaster;
*the Copenhagen junket that ended as a bust (thank God) – but was a nice vacation for ‘the ruling class and their family members at taxpayer’s expense!
*10% unemployment when the government plan was supposed to keep it below 8%;
*the GITMO goat ropin’ – know that the folks in Thomson, IL are real proud now;
*a government health care bill that appears to be making sausage with spoiled meat, but mandating – by law – that all citizens buy it at premium prices, but with reduced services;
*Special interests making public policies in the back rooms of the White House with ZERO transparency (i.e., unions)
*a standstill on international relations (Iran and north Korea as examples);
*.. and who can ever forget the underserved Nobel Peace Prize for NOTHING???
*Daily doses of arrogance from Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Barbara Boxer, et al, and the White House – especially Geithner, Orszag, Gibbs, Emanuel and Napolitono;
*Losses in New Jersey, Virginia, and even Ted Kennedy’s FORMER senate seat (bet few will be asking him for support in the future)!
*Serious concerns over the professionalism to secure the USA (to wit, the near airline bombing on Christmas Day) Testimony on Jan 20 was stunning! The DIRECTOR OF INTELLIGENCE DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON!! WHO WAS IN CHARGE THAT DAY? ERIC HOLDER??? He did not even advise the Intelligence community!! DO YOU FEEL SAFE??
* … and their ineptness in even conducting a secure State Dinner!!
THE REAL QUESTION IS TEAM OBAMA CAPABLE OF GOVERNING???????

Texas State Council Convention of 1995/ April 19,.

Obama denounced the supreme court’s decision on campaign finances;but refused to accept public finances during his presidental campaign.He speaks from both sides of his mouth depending on venue or subject matter.He is a man of many words but no action.(Health Reform C-Span, Veto Bills with Pork barrel Spending etc. )

Obama took $750 million in donations from corporations and Unions during the campaign. Now he is complaining? LOL

How hypocritical is this Administration? They criticize the Chinese for “information imperialism” (censoring the internet) and yet turnaround to criticize the US Supreme Court for allowing corporations to voice their opinions. McCain-Feingold campaign finance “reform” made it illegal for Citizens United, a nonprofit political advocacy group, to release a film called “Hillary: The Movie” in 2008. The Democrats were of course threatened by the film; but of course, no complaints from them when Michael Moore produced films about the Bush years. I’m not taking sides with either party (I’m disgusted with both of them), the point is this is an issue with freedom of speech – pure and simple. I would have to support the right for Michael Moore, Citizens United, or any other group to express their political views – even if I personally might disagree with them. I depend on the People to make up their own minds.

I smell 5 rats. The Republican appointed justices are attempting to make sure that the presidency of the U.S. will be held by a Republican thereby assuring that the Supreme Court will stay conservative. The richest industries..energy, finance, health, insurance..benefit from keeping Republicans in office. The Repubs are getting ready for 2012..God Help Us All.

what about yourself Mr. President? During your own campaign? Didn’t you refuse to join Mccain’s call to limit campaign fund raising? I had enough of your elegant words, you have no clue.

Obama is right. This is dangerous. Also, this couldn’t come at a worse time. Too much power has already been concentrated in the hands of a short number of wealthy interests in the US. Over-centralization of power has historically failed in all countries in which it occurred. Our capitalist democracy is not immune from this problem.

Posted by: wjksea | Actually McCain Feingold set out to reign in any collective voice be it profit or non profit from speaking out on political issues, it set out to limit issue oriented groups just as much as it did corporations.The US Supreme court ruled that Companies and Unions are no longer barred from the First Amendment right of free speech, with regards to promoting the election of a candidate instead of another candidate. This ruling wasn’t just about protecting corporations as you are claiming.

There is definitely two sides to this issue, but the hypocritical rhetoric coming from Obama is getting nauseous. We are all not stupid sir!

These comments are kinda funny. This ruling should be against everything Republicans and Conservatives stand for, but Obama doesn’t like it either, so it’s better to be against Obama. Now companies can drown out the piddling donations of the people durring elections…I wouldn’t be surprised to see Nascar-esque jackets covered in corporate logos on candidates. But Obama doesn’t like it, so it must be good, right?

When an anti-social individual or borderline personality type walks in the midst of a group, the tendancy is to split and divide the group. Corporations have no social conscience by design. They are non-human human created organized capital with limited objectives which are primarily kill or be killed, cut overhead and maximize profits. In this country corporations benefit from the bickering of left vs. right. Our resolve as a sovereign people organized under a democratic republic is being corroded by the corporate social pathology allowed to affect our political debate.

One person on here says those “on the left” should move to Venezuela to be with Chavez. Under this ruling none of should have to since global capital rightly should now be equally allowed to participate in the political debate of this nation. It would be hypocrisy to ban Chavez, Toyota or Siemens over Exxon. They are all global capital.

I hate Corporations. Sadly, they OWN all of us. We work for them, we buy our goods from them, and now they are allowed to give any amount of millions of dollars to BUY candidates. In return, they will expect the obedience of those they financed and helped get elected.
Ill say this, it doesn’t feel like America here anymore.

Someone said corporations are democracies because their shareholders vote. As one who holds stock, this is a false statement. Democracies allow one vote for all participating. Corporate plutocracies are one vote for every share held, guess whose votes count. An intellectually honest person can do the math. Those who support this decision should have had the opportunity to live in the old European World and live under the auspice of the Holy Roman Empire.

AnimusVir said: This ruling should be against everything Republicans and Conservatives stand for, but Obama doesn’t like it either, so it’s better to be against Obama.
Republicans will always be “party before people”. Corporations and big-money interests LOVE Republicans and tee baggers because they know how gullible they are. Yes, this Supreme Court ruling is bad for the average Joe American, but all you have to do is turn it into an anti-Obama rant, and the tee baggers are all on board. Like lemmimgs off the cliff.

THE TRUTH IS BOTH THE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ARE DESTROYING THIS NATION.

Democracy DOES NOT equal one vote for every share held. This ruling is an internal hit against a collapsing democratic republic.

Posted by: WeThePeople | I agree. While McCain Feingold may have had noble intentions the unintended consequences hurt individual non profit groups and therefore individuals more than it did what it intended to do. It was a bad law.

Ferrari5858: Thank you – the general principle is that rules or laws which are made to go after a minority wind up hurting the majority. McCain-Feingold was a rash generalization. So between censorship and freedom, I say 99.9% to lean on the side of freedom – and let the people make up their own minds.

I don’t know if this is treason by the Supreme Court – but it is close to a coup. While the Republican’ts may be celebrating now – when the third party, the Corporatocrats is established, we’ll all be left out in the cold. This is the end of the democracy as we knew it. What is fascinating is the repeated use of the word “chilling” by Roberts in the decision – to describe the effect on the First Ammendment of not letting corporations have free speech. That seems so ironic – because the chilling effect of this decision is to undermine the free speech of all other breathing persons in our country.

Ferrari said:…This act was a stupid law as it tried to reign in electioneering by restricting free speech, it should have been struck down.
I thought Republicans were all about “honoring the will of the people” and “supporting state’s rights”. Similar corporate campaign limits have been imposed by 24 states. In Colorado, it was voter approved. Now, thanks to the SC decision, there will be a lawsuit (at tax payer expense) to overturn the will of the people.
You might think this was a stupid law, but the will of the people should be honored–not the will of the increasingly powerful corporations.

“This is TREASON committed by the Supreme Court. No more, no less.”
————–
Since when is the support of free speech treason? Maybe under this administration it is.

The biggest Supreme Court ruling in my life time I believe was made yesterday. When the Supreme Court Ok Corporate Campaign Contributions. I wonder If the PRoC Corporation wants to spend money on campaign if the American public will know who they are. We are a country that tell the world about freedom of speech what would happen if the PRoC Corporation gives us an education on our own words . Then do you think we as Americans would care if Googols got censured in China. There are many corporations owned by the PRoC and you think this can’t happen someone need to get a life. If you don’t know who the PRoC corporation is I know you seen the name in WalMart it the People’ Republic of China. Maybe if you want to throw a election the way you want you support the one you hate. I think we got highly educated idiots running are country starting at the top at the Supreme Court. I am told all the time we are living in a global economy so guess it open to any corporation.

Since when is the support of free speech treason? Maybe under this administration it is.
_____________________________________
You get as much free speech as you can buy?

Our Founding Fathers warned about the ability of corporations to threaten our democracy. I hope Congress passes legislation to overrule this decision before the corporations totally take over.

The decades long growing influence of corporate plutocracy on our democratic republic is a serious threat. McCain, Obama which ever politician is appearing shockingly impotent upside the special non-democratic corporate plutocratic interests in Washington D.C. The supreme court has failed tremendously by not setting severe limits on this growing threat by instead extending this influence.

When free speech depends on how much money you have – it is no longer free speech – it is BOUGHT power.

The argument that corporations have the same right to free speech as individuals is foolish – corporations don’t have a body to be kicked, nor a soul to be damned.
To argue corporations also have the right to BUY more free speech than individuals could ever afford is simply wrong. With every additional dollar you have, you are able to DOMINATE free speech.

This decision isn’t about free speech. its about money. Corporations are now allowed to spend unlimited amounts of money on any campaign.
Let’s say they want to open a toxic dump in a small, rural town. All they have to do is spend 100 million to unseat the mayor and the whole city council. Then they will have puppets in office who will what whatever they tell them.

With the “record” contributions Obama took from unions (and corporations) in 2008 his rhetoric rings hollow with me.

I note with gloating joy that no less than Barney Frank has now been afflicted with what Bubbles calls the right-wing obsession with Fannie and Freddie. I also note that together they hold or guarantee 31 million mortgages, many of them bad, totalling $5.5 Trillion, so it’s nice to see Barney getting obsessed.
As to Bubbles’s contention that banks aren’t lnding, I just closed a $1.1 million loan from Union Bank on Dcember 23. But the bank knows that I can and will pay it back.
They’re lending; they’re just being more careful. And Obama will cause them to lend less, keepng the unemployment numbers high.

Remember how, a few short months ago, the serfs were eagerly awaiting the “public option?”

Are wwe as a people so weak minded we can not discern between commercials fact and fiction? Are we devoid of the ability to find information out for ourselves. Companies being able to by air time does not garuntee that someone else wont be heard does it? Unions can buy air time. So can Acorn. What Obama is saying is YOU ARE ALL TO STUPID to know who is lying to you and I want to be the only one in control of the LIES.
ROFL what a clown Obama is.

“Anybody can buy a truck,” says our elite populist president.
Today’s Rasmussen numbers are a thing of beauty. And as Democrat pollsters Caddell and Schoen say, he has an “unchallenged reputation for integrity and accuracy.”
Heckuva job, Barry.

I can just see it now, corporations getting a flunkie to run for office, spending tons of dollars bankrolling his election with new and clever ways of promoting their candidate. Then you’ll see legislation enacted for all corporations relieving them of paying taxes, not being held liable or responsible for anything, including false and misleading ads, faulty and defective products, food, devices, and anything consumers would use. Yes, death trap cars, tainted food, dangerous drugs, the list goes on an on. The flunkies they put in office will be beholden to them, not to voters. Congress will be made of our representative of corporations, doing their bidding. Might as well do away with consumer protection laws, safety laws, OSHA, the FDA, the USDA, and any other agency with oversigt and regulatory powers since they will get laws passed that will abolish them anyway. You think special interest run this country now, wait till they go to work now, you ain’t seen anything yet.

He is devasting to the economy. He has ruined this country quicker than anyone could have ever imagined. Nov 4th 2012 can not come fast enough.

Someday when 99.9% of the several hundred million people begin tiring of eating the cake of this un-american, non-democratic decision there will be 99.9% of an outraged disenfranchised populous gasping for freedom under the oppression. The French revolution could be rewritten on american soil.

He is devasting to the economy. He has ruined this country quicker than anyone could have ever imagined.
______________________________________
Yes, thank God he and his party were voted out of office in November 2008.

Someone attempted to trivalize this situation. The statement was made that Obama is telling people their too stupid and can be influenced.
To that intellectually dishonest person I say. Since it shouldn’t have much effect on an intelligent populous then what are the corporations saying when they spend hundreds of millions of dollars buying politicians and propagandizing the media.
There has to be justice lined up for commentary of this level of ethical depravity.

the”O” don’t want to stop spending he wants to keep the private sector from donating big to his rivals , that way he can out spend them and maybe get reelected

So let me make sure I fully understand the liberal argument. It is okay for a union, which is comprised of hundreds of thousands of individuals, to spend as much money as they want on a political canidate. But it is NOT okay for a corporation, comprised of hundreds of thousands of employees, to spend as much money as they choose.
_________________________________
Please, do some research.
For the right wingers who don’t bother to read or research, this ruling applies to unions as much as corporations.

To the comment which was Posted by: Greg Maragos | Jan 23, 2010 3:24:56 PM
Time will tell how this will play out but I don’t see how allowing big money controlled by a few to have most of the influence over the political debate is going to provide a sense of being represented on the part of the people. The system has turned deaf on the majority. There is a strong sense of disenfranchisement when hearing anecdotals like the following:
A 63 year old retired woman’s bank goes under and the CD is transferred to another institution. In this process her locked rate, a contract, was broken and she then immediately received a dropped percentage rate on her investment. Meanwhile Goldman Sachs is saved from bankruptcy, gets bigger and makes record profits. Who in their right mind can believe in this system?

Another example of how the President is out of touch with the people. The majority support free speach for Unions, Corporations and everyone else when it’s political speech.
Mr. President, you admitted to George Stehpanopolous that you lost touch with the people. Now, please, (respectfully sir) shut up for a minute and listen to us!

“Whoever dominates the airwaves does so because they produce content that gets ratings”
Since when has advertising been subject to ratings?

We can all breathe a sigh of relief now… I was worried that the Exxons of world were not getting their fair shake with the Obama Administration.
Now corporations of the world have even and level playing field to buy the United States House of Representative along with us regular Joe Pickups. Grand Old Party back!

The liberal and corporate MSM have been free to “shape public opinion” for DECADES, being in COMPLETE CONTROL of the airwaves
______________________________________
You’ve already been duped!
The main stream media is owned and operated by BIG CORPORATIONS! Corporate entities control what goes on the air waves. Your ‘liberals’ control the air waves is a joke – a joke on you.

“The supression of political thought is the first step to facism.”
It’s not about thought of course, it’s about selling the media to the highest bidder. Controlling the media is something fascists love.

To answer the question raised by one who might not care about the answer here goes.
Corporations are non-democratic. Corporations are plutocracies who are answerable to those who hold the greatest number of shares in them. The role is not to represent employees. Employee talent is used in order to do the following: Eliminate the competition, reduce overhead and maximize profits. They do this in part by cutting healthcare, retirement plans and wages for their employees.
While labor unions might need more guidlines to paricpate in political debates, the function of them is to advocate for fair representation on behalf of labor both white collar and blue collar when working for corporations. Basically they are non-profit and have democratically elected representatives. Labor Unions are not owned by an individual nor are they represented on wall street.
Those who hold the most shares in corporations don’t like labor unions because quite to the point, they’d be happy running cotton plantations and having slave labor make them incredibly rich and powerful. This descripton is not the hallmark of a moral and just society nor a democratic republic.

wake up hypocrites.. this country is going no where fast and by the time Obama is out of the office and any republican gets elected it will be a hell of a lot worse!
__________________________________
The payback will be if Republicans and the right wing succeed in bullying the Democrats out of office, they’ll have to take over fixing the mess they played a huge role in creating – and have been pretending they can fix. Payback.
The sad part would be – once again the Republicans in control of the country. We saw that already.

And what do you mean by “free speach for the rich”? Is your right to free speach limited by any entity that advertises on the radio or television? Of course not.
______________________________________
Okay, I’m glad you support unions being able to ‘buy an election’.

Maybe I missed the memo on the spending restrictions that SEIU had during Obama’s election, roughly 30 million.
_____________________________________
The Supreme Court just said they have every right to do this. So do you support the Supreme Court ruling or not? Obama does not.

The real question here is do you belive that Corporations should be treated, by law and the constitution, like individuals? If the justice had ruled that corporation had a right to reasonable speech that would be one thing. It is this perversion of 200 years of leagal doctrine that is the most disturbing. This is an assult on the constitution no doubt about it. It sounds like our former VP who belives in unitary gov’t (Executive branch trumps Legis. and Judicial branch). This justice is unfit to serve on the bench and should be removed by impeachment.

The real question here is do you belive that Corporations should be treated, by law and the constitution, like individuals?
____________________________________
I believe you are correct. That is the issue.

The Supreme Court just said they have every right to do this. So do you support the Supreme Court ruling or not? Obama does not.
————————————–
I am in favor of corporations and unions having to abide by the same laws when it comes to spending money on political campaigns. I would be just fine if both had a dollar amount limit on what they can spend on ads, but the supreme court has just ruled that groups of individuals have the same protection under the 1st ammendment as an every day person.
Tierra, at least you were not wise enough to blame all of the economic situation on GOP. It was the Democrats who pushed to force banks to lend subprime mortgages to those who wouldn’t be able to buy homes normally. AND in 2005 the Democrats in the senate stopped an attempt by the GOP to pass an oversight bill that would have most likely detected the potential disaster ahead. Both parties are to blame, unforunately thats not what our fearless leader has been spouting.

*Edit* Were wise enough not to blame

left wing vs right wing, conservative vs. liberal, Carter vs. Reagan. Fine divisive bickering well suited for the little people in order to distract them from the true game. Our democratic republic has been in the process of being eliminated by plutocratic special interests that have been buying elected politicians for years and propagandizing the media.
Can it get worse? Go to a third world country and a first hand view can be had. Such countries are characterized by a few extremely wealthy people and masses of poverty. There is no equal justice under the law in such places and frankly, inequality in our justice exists between extreme wealth and poverty. The U.S. in some respects has already collapsed.

There is no real functioning constitution. This nation is controlled by corporate leveraged capital. The people of this nation live in the midst of a lie. Corporations are non-democratic plutocracies at best answerable to the few who hold the most shares in them. Our elected politicians are impotent on both sides. Those who appear strong and in power are those who are answerable to the plutocracy.

While I am not pleased with the Ruling, it is hardly the crisis that Mr. Obama is pretending. I suspect his outrage has much more to do with the fact that he is no longer free to Bully Businesses or use them as scapegoats to hide his failures, without them being able to striking back by airing their side of what ever charge he makes.
It is sad that this man who had the Appearance of integrity has proven to be little more than than an empty suite that couldn’t find Integrity in a room full of dictionaries with a dozen graduate students helping him.

Are we not a nation of laws? The President seems to only accept laws favorable to his agenda.
_____________________________________
Hogwash. This Supreme Court ruling would allow unions to buy as much advertising as they want. Unions SUPPORTED Obama last time.
Obama does not think freedom of speech for individuals allows corporations or unions to dominate the air waves with political propaganda with no limits.

Write a new law which doesn’t deny someone else their Constitutional rights or change the Constitution. Don’t blame the Supreme Court for declaring the law Unconstitutional when it is!

It’s because of the women judges. Last thing we need is women sittin in a court

Most Americans are sick of political advertising and most, if not all, can see through the falsehoods the special political interest groups perpetrate during campaign season. For those who think Obama is going to be an one term President, do not count on it. Despite some of the negativism that is being perpetuated.
The Obama administration has worked wonders in turning the economy around, the equity markets are getting stronger by every quarter, which mean people retirement investment funds are recovering, public companies’s last quarter earnings that are now being reported, by far are on the positive side. All auto industry experts now say the Obama administration’s task force made all the correct decisions. The fear is over about the economy. Jobs are always the last to recovery during a depression but by 2012 the job market will be well on its way on recovering with new markets and technology.
A healthcare bill will be passed because we cannot continue to have the current healthcare cost eat way 16% of the U.S. GNP and both political parties understand this as fact. The two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are managed much better under the Democrats. Obama so far has proven to be a far better executive than his predecessor.
We Americans will be far better off in 2012 than we were in 2008. No lie or advertising required.

Socialism is a healthy moral component of a democratic republic. The opposite is anti-socialism which is like a large scale personality disorder.
A healthy functioning United States would have been one based on a wise mind effect. One in which both capitalism and socialism could co-exist for the benefit of all. Instead a harsh anti-social callous is leading to a collapse.

If only it could be one vote for every dollar held…that would be a right-wing dream come true.

Most Americans are sick of negative political advertising, if not all, can see through the falsehoods the special political interest groups perpetrate during campaign season. For those who think Obama is going to be an one term President, do not count on it. Despite some of the negativism that is being perpetuated.
The Obama administration has worked wonders in turning the economy around, the equity markets are getting stronger by every quarter, which mean people’s retirement investment funds are recovering, public companies’s last quarter earnings that are now being reported, by far are on the positive side. All auto industry experts now say the Obama administration’s task force made all the correct decisions. The fear is over about the economy. Jobs are always the last to recovery during a depression but by 2012 the job market will be well on its way on recovering with new markets and technology.
A healthcare bill will be passed because we cannot continue to have the current healthcare cost eat way 16% of the U.S. GNP and both political parties understand this as fact. The two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are managed much better under the Democrats. Obama so far has proven to be a far better executive than his predecessor.
We Americans will be far better off economically in 2012 than we were in 2008. No lies or advertising required.

An ironic statement from SCROTUS “This ruling strikes at our democracy itself.” Considering his agenda has nothing to do with democracy. Now that the smoke has cleared and the mirrors are cracking he is being seen for what he is, or more like what he isn’t.

Democracy is gone. It doesn’t matter who gets elected, the greedy run the country. The middle class is being erased. The poor are growing in numbers, and more desperate, while the wealth continue to steal.

Irony, upon irony, upon irony. John McCain sponsors the bill. Soros, Acorn and their ilk take advantage of the bill to defeat McCain and get Obama elected. The Supreme Court then rules the McCain bill unconstitutional, and Obama says the ruling is devastating to democracy.

This is the most serious threat to American democracy in decades and decades. The CORRUPT high court is sicken ing. Now if a large oil company wants to spend $1 million defeating an environmentalist running for city council, it can now do so. SHAME ON OUR COURT. THEY DON’T REPRESENT AMERICAN PEOPLE ANYMORE…

I can’t believe some of the posts here! Unless you’re one of the uber wealthy or a top executive in a major company or union, you now have no real (and meaningful) vote in this country. This ruling was unbelievably shameful. These five Supreme Court Members don’t deserve the title of Justice.

BO, who feels that we will vote for whoever spends the most money for advertisment. Thanks for thinking we are morons, BO! I am scared of your EGO!

This ruling is absolutely insane. The five supreme court judges that voted to relax the campaign funding laws must’ve been smoking crack. What were they thinking of? I am still in complete shock by the implications of this ruling. Paradoxically, I actually feel that this ruling will benefit the Dems more than GOP. Reason being that any independent who values democracy and hates big business will rally around the party that sincerely fights this ruling the most. GOP have already come out to say that they are in support. Obama has seized the initiative by immediately countering this.

vancav | Jan 23, 2010 6:28:13 PM
Movies that have either a left or right discourse have nothing to do with corporations or unions or PACs buyin TV time to influence people during campaigns without any limit. What people take exception to is that part of any and all purchase they make can and will be used to promote a political agenda over which they have no control. And that, I believe, is an infringment on individual freedom of speech.

It would be nice if people — including our Harvard Law-educated President — would read the bloody decision before they stomp all over it. Stevens logic is impeccable, not the rantings of a right-wing ideologue (remember, he is the critical swing vote). Under US law , a corporation is a “person”; as such, a denial of basic rights to that person can lead to a denial of rights to any other person. In any event, it boils down to simple politics: Obama and the Dems are terrified that the spending balance might be rectified. Remember, they overwhelmingly outspent McCain. Where were the cries about all the money spent on elections then?

What people take exception to is that part of any and all purchase they make can and will be used to promote a political agenda over which they have no control. And that, I believe, is an infringment on individual freedom of speech.
Posted by: treblig56 | Jan 23, 2010 6:50:29 PM
===============
Wow, what twisted logic. So what you’re saying is some organization’s right to free speech is infringing on another individual’s right to free speech? The Constitution protects all free speech but its very existence spawned from the need to protect POLITICAL free speech. Tell me, who should be the arbiter of which political opinions should be heard and which ones shouldn’t? And don’t forget, we’re all adults here. You’re free to ignore whatever speech you don’t care for. More speech, more discourse = good, censorship = bad. Got it?

Doesn’t matter if you’re worried about WalMart buying seats or unions buying seats, this is NOT good news and needs to be fixed.
Posted by: jhw539 | Jan 23, 2010 7:04:42 PM
=============
Hey, we finally agree on something. It needs to be fixed. We need to get all this money out of the electoral process. All Congress needs to do is pass some legislation that doesn’t violate the First Amendment. When they get to that point I believe they could ask for an advisory opinion from SCOTUS before calling for a vote.

“I hope we shall… crush in its birth the aristocracy of our moneyed corporations which dare already to challenge our government in a trial of strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country.”
–Thomas Jefferson

“Tell me, who should be the arbiter of which political opinions should be heard and which ones shouldn’t?”
I can tell you who shouldn’t be the arbiter: a cash register. If speech costs money only those with money will be heard.

Freedom!!!!

All that changed is that corporations and unions are now allowed the same right.
Bigshott | Jan 23, 2010 7:20:06 PM
Corporations and unions are not breathing citizens and there is no reason they should have the same rights (they do not have the same responsibilities nor risks – a corporation does not fear imprisonment, nor does even it’s CEO in practice). And they already had pretty broad rights – its not like they were muzzled.

Thats all folks! This is the end of America once and forever. I am thankfull my life is close to ending, the ressesion will put me down in the next couple of months, I will miss when the citezens rise up and finish the course of things to come.

jwh539:”Corporations and unions are not breathing citizens and there is no reason they should have the same rights”
According the Kennedy’s majority opinion any organization of citizens is afforded the same rights as the citizens themselves, which to me makes sense. Certainly a corporation or union has the right to assemble, to publish, etc. Government of course reserves the right to regulate their operations as they see fit without violating their rights. That’s all that needs to happen

ummm..barry… a majority of americans recently polled feel the supreme court decision was correct…careful taking on the electorate again (remember obamacare goin up in flames??). MAN, you got a big ego

When are the Stupid and Ignorant people of our country Stop being So Stupid! The Fact of the matter is that CORPORATIONS HAS BEEN A PART OF ONE PARTY FOR DECADES…AND THAT PARTY HAS CRIED ABOUT THE UNIONS, WHICH SOLE PURPOSE WAS TO REPRESENT THE WORKING, YES WORKING MEN AND WOMEN OF THIS NATION. Ok, then it’s going to be BLOODY each election, and the Non-Americans will have to say finally Who has bought them. It’s never been a secret that the Democratic Party has been on the side of the “people” of this nation, and “people” are the driving force in this nation…you can continue to be decieved , name call whoever you want, but the sad thing is You are in the same boat as EVERYONE and don’t EVEN know it!

This and many other ruleings, noteably giving George W Busch his first election win, is why the american people should demand that supream court justices should be elected. They are totaly out of touch with the american people. Our constitution says WE THE PEOPLE, not we the money. Fellow Americans, it’s time to wake up and demand real democracy.

spacerook:”First of all, this give the green light allowing newspapers and other media to be extremely biased, in that they could refuse to let the competitor place their adds with them because it does not share the companies views.”
No kidding. What do you think has been happening for the past few decades?
BTW, when print was king almost every major and mid-major city had more than one newspaper, a liberal one and a conservative one. You still have it to some degree in Boston, D.C., NYC, Chicago. No one in their right mind would say the Washington Post or the Washington Times plays it straight down the middle. The Boston Globe is completely out the closet as the house organ for the state Democrat party. The Boston Herald is a conservative tabloid. The notion of the “unbiased” media has long been a myth.

- if we can’t throw it in prison, it doesn’t deserve the same level of protection). Posted by: jhw539 ******
***************************************************
Good Point, and since the Corporation, or I should
say “person” is a tax abiding citizen then they cannot
hid their tax exemptions, in the “Corporation”!!!!

In the business world a corporation is
a “person” that is made up of a group of people or company. This opens up a can of worms to say that
anyone who forms a business, lets say NAZI’s for
America could place adds for their new Hilter, and
it would be perfectly legal.
Posted by: spacerook1 | Jan 23, 2010 10:34:42 PM
======================
Yes, one of the wonderful things about our Constitution is you have the right to be an idiot. If you’re a National Socialist (your example) you are still afforded the same rights as every other citizen as long as you don’t infringe upon the rights of others. That’s the way it works. And if you wish to place an advertisement to proclaim your ignorance with a media company that will take your money, knock yourself out.

Mr President. Do you really believe that Chinese monks that had taken a vow of poverty gave their own money to Al Gore? Do you really believe you raised a billion dollars from ordinary citizens giving their own money for your campaign? Sir, you were funded by special interests. They find ways to skirt the campaign laws & they do it knowing there will never be prosecuted. Al Gore was correct when he said there was “no legal controlling authority”. This new ruling just makes the process more transparent (I hope) … there’s no need to launder the money anymore.

The Supreme Court made the right decision. For too many years, free speech has been unfairly biased toward liberal interests like unions and lawyers. In any case, more ads, books, and movies on political candidates is good for a free America. Limiting free speech and the flow of money into politics mostly benefited liberal Democrats.

The Boston Herald is a conservative tabloid. The notion of the “unbiased” media has long been a myth.
Posted by: Woody******************************
Ha! Boston Herald, owned by Murdock himself,
has become a tabloid. The way it’s going I’m
surprised it didn’t run Senate elect Browns
COSMOS nude centerfold picture in it.

A SPACE ROCK IS VERY VALUABLE , SPACE ROCK1, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO BUY A JUDGE.
SO WHY ARE YOU WORRIED.

Its funny that Obama is complaining about unfair campaign contributions.
Didn’t Obama bypass public funding off the elections so that he can raise 800 million from dubious sources.
Obama’s 2008 campaign fund raising has not been fully audited, he raised money from all kinds of dubious and shady influences and even with out the basic checks.
Yet Obama has the nerve to complain about campaign contributions.
This guy is a joke.

This is just terrible!
Now companies will be able to offset ACORN and the SEIU in influencing elections?
Oh the horror!

GOP wants big business to controll our government, and now they have it.
And all of you are so happy.
Business controlled governments are not By the people, for the people.
Business controlled governments are By the corporate, for the corporate.
Pat yourselves on the back. You, the GOP, just sold our rights to corporations.

By the way, the NY Times is a corporation.
So is ABC News.

This is one of the “boogies man” scare tactics the left has been using for years to get votes….. Demonizing the people who own and work for corporations….

“The 30,000 to one ratio of corporate profits to Moveon contributions is barely enough to give corporations a level playing field.”
SEIU and ACORN.
Not Moveon.org.

Hey lefties what part of “SHALL NOT MAKE NO LAW” do you NOT understand…
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Vet1973,
Just like Obama’s claim that he averted another “Great Depression,” or “saved” hundreds of thousands of jobs that would have been lost.
None of it can be proven, and none of it has been substantiated by ANYONE outside of HIS political influence.
I think Obama will go down in history as the “Chicken Little” President. All of his “accomplishments” will be unmeasurable, but he’ll claim them nonetheless, and the Demo_rats will believe him as a result of the Kool-aid they mindlessly consume from the MSM.

REPUBLICANS CAN’T WIN ANYTHING WITHOUT THE “SUPREME” COURT……

Hey Vet1973, what part of “screw the people” don’t you understand??

“Corporations make jobs.”
Yeah..in India and Brazil while keeping most of their earnings off-shore..I am not anti-business since I work for a very large and successful world-wide corporation…but be real…Corporations care about one thing: Profit, not keeping jobs in the U.S. or anything else..They will use whatever power they have politically to that end..
It is this sloganism and simplistic view of the world, usually from folks on the right, that I find most distasteful as an Independent voter…Think beyond the slogans will you?

Obama:
a.) Was the first candidate to turn down public campaign financing (in doing so broke a promise to work with McCain on a mutually agreeable approach)
b.) Spent more on his campaign than Bush and Kerry spent COMBINED in 2008
More hypocrisy from, as Paul Krugman describes, “The One We Haven’t Been Waiting For”. He whines because this ruling does not necessarily favor him.
OT – While I get that The One is now “pivoting” towards populism, his stumping without a tie reminds me of Ahmedinejad – Is it just me?

I find it odd that Obama decries this ruling when he received more from Wall Street and big banks than did McCain.
Obama should be pleased with this ruling – Now his buddies on Wall Street and the Unions can provide unlimited support!
Perhaps Obama welcomes this ruling, but now that he has “pivoted” towards his role as a “populist” he has to publicly denounce this ruling. Makes sense.

Why aren’t all of the right wingers outraged about an “activist” Supreme Court decision? Where in the Constitution does it say that global corporations are entitled to all of the same rights as a person?

You’re right. Fox News is technically a global corporation, based in Australia. They can say whatever they want, no restrictions whatsoever. So, why shouldn’t Exxon, Bank of America, GE, etc.? Good point. I guess these corporations should have the right to promote their interests too.

Matt,
You mentioned Fox, but there’s also ABC, CBS, MSNBC, CNN, and a slew of other wannabes.
ALL are multinational corporations, and ALL have been completely free to “shape public opinion” in the total absence of any corporations in any other media area, at least until the Supreme Court’s ruling. Now THEY have a little competition, during the short commercial breaks.

I love the comment posted earlier that the Republicans “can’t win anything without the Supreme Court”. An astute observer would see that our (yours and mine, not just “republicans”)Constitutional rights and freedoms are being challenged at every turn in the modern day, and to be fair it certainly didn’t start with Obama. That’s why we have a Supreme Court. As my dad used to say, you should put your brain in gear before running your mouth.

Financial bubbles are similar to Ponzi schemes as they finance long-term debt with short-term deposits. I think it was the infamous Greenspan who said “the human race has never found a way to confront bubbles.” The government, especially the Fed, should warn against financial bubbles such as stock, housing and other markets as they arise. Hedge fund managers might then fear personal liability for mismanagement of funds if the public was more aware.
Instead we have a grossly incompetent government and a Fed that is kowtowing to government spending. The current bubble is the government which now borrows 40 cents of every dollar spent. Obama and his congress spend with impunity TARP, stimulus and cash for clunkers are all losers and add to long term debt. Democrats resist using TARP repayment to pay down the deficit, they see it as off budget funds like the social security trust fund.
In the midst of such governmental fiscal responsibility Obama is doing what? He is glibly campaigning for healthcare even suggesting that it will somehow control long-term debt. But is there any truth to this suggestion? Senator Harkin has openly admitted that the bill is but a foundation to build on and we well know how politicians can build public debt.
There are others that say pass any kind of healthcare reform that anything is better than nothing, but is that true? To pass any healthcare bill at all is but to invite an incompetent congress to spend and spend in attempt to fix or add pork to a limited bill. The only reasonable solution would be to pass no healthcare bill at all and address the real problem the government spending bubble.
Current attempts are in progress to raise the debt ceiling another two trillion dollars. It was just raised to $12.4 trillion so this would mean a new ceiling of $14.4 trillion. The CBO warned the $12 trillion level to be unsustainable so what would Obama and his congress do, raise it even more. Such action is incomprehensible but what should we expect from officials that choose to ignore their constituency. Ignore it even after the rebellion in Massachusetts!
When the government bubble bursts the dollar will be trashed and retirement and savings accounts worthless. There will be unrest in the streets. In a Newsmax column that has since been pulled John L. Perry suggests, “ There is a remote, although gaining, possibility America’s military will intervene as a last resort to resolve the ‘Obama problem.’ Don’t dismiss it as unrealistic.” Perry also wrote, ‘Military intervention is what Obama’s exponentially accelerating agenda for “fundamental change” toward a Marxist state is inviting upon America. A coup is not an ideal option, but Obama’s radical ideal is not acceptable or reversible.’
This is serious talk but how much longer can the government continue to spend, even going beyond borrowing 40 cents of every dollar spent? What happens when we cross borrowing 50% of every dollar spent, in the end all Ponzi schemes fail. When this Ponzi scheme fails healthcare will be a moot point indeed! GOOOH has a plan worthy of supporting to clean the House in the midterm elections this fall, but will the bubble hold that long?

Thank God we have a supreme court to keep balance against politicans that think they are ointed ones. Now he comes out and blasts Supreme Court Rulings and free speech. He’ll have to shut down free speech on the radio next.
And he took an oath to uphold the constituion? Maybe he did swear the ooath under the Koran.

Public Employee Unions Are Sinking California
Months after closing its last budget gap, the Golden State is $20 billion in the red.
- WSJ

I’m a Libertarian and don’t have a problem at all with it (along with 57% of the American people, according to a Gallup poll).

Now there’s a kettle calling the pot black. Obama and his cronies, bribe members of Congress with our tax dollars to get what he wants. Guess he can’t stand the competition. Since these guys are going to do what they planned all along, let’s modify their oath to state that they will be the smallest crook they can be.

Obama complaining ? Where did he get the $750 million on donations for his campaign? $20 donations? Please! Obama is a joke!!

Corporations should have freedom of speech and should be treated as humans? I thought freedom of speech was for humans and corporations and other entities can be legislated? Now can drug, cigarette, guns, porn and alcohol companies have no restrictions anymore? Can foreign corporations have no restrictions placed on them? Can these and other companies not be regulated anymore as this will be a violation of their freedom of speech? Wow, this is a biased right-wing court. This is one thing that President Bush will be known for; far biased activist judges on the Supreme Court.

When a movie star supports a political candidate they could be donating millions of dollars worth of their time and their good name. Why should a corporation be prevented to pays that same movie star to say a few words in support of a candidate sympathetic to the corporation?

The expense of buying the government will be fully justified, I can guarantee that. Even a tiny investment will be way beyond the scope of non-corporate competition.
Posted by: Skip |
This isn’t about whether corporations have undue influence, it’s just about negotiating a price with the influence peddlers.

So much for democracy. Corruption wins, America loses….

How much personal worth has the GOP destroyed? How many businesses, families and individuals have gone down the drain?? I hope you’re all proud of yourselves for all the destroyed lives. The Republicans crashed the economy, sabotaged the recovery and blame the Democrats: Corruption wins!! – AMERICA LOSES…….

Semtenial1943 I agree.
The payed off Judges were:
Roberts and Alito joined Kennedy and Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas.
A bill should be passed to limit the terms of Judges(even the president has a 8 year term limit), Judges should be elected to serve the best interest of the people who elected them (not a party or president), Judges should not have immunity to the LAW.
There should be an impeachment of the Judges.

Think of it:
1. You have a job for life and no one can fire you. (which means at age 90 you can make decisions that will affect future generations)
2. You can retire and keep your salary and still make money at speeches.
3. You are immune from the LAW.

Its VERY interesting to note that the lefties had NO problem with the media corporations, CBS, CNN, ABC, MSNBC, NBC and FOX, who have TOTAL control of the airwaves, being EXEMPT from this law…………

Wrong: the definition of a corp. is not a person who have the right to vote.
DEF,.
The most common form of business organization, and one which is chartered by a state and given many legal rights as an entity separate from its owners.
ORGANIZATION IS THE KEY.

I wonder if any of these idiots who are bad mouthing the decision have actually read it, and can give some intelligent arguments why it is wrong……. other than the fact they hate people who create jobs….. and dont GIVE them money….. all I see are idiots using the Democrat tactic of making “Boogiemen” out of corporations

If Obama hates this decision… It must be good for America.

I think it’s GRRRRRREAT. Now we will know who not to vote for.

this is comming from a president who pledge to accept government funding for his presidential election , then broke his promise, got almost 1 billions dollars of outside special interest money.
here is the top obama election donors
University of California $1,591,395
Goldman Sachs $994,795
Harvard University $854,747
Microsoft Corp $833,617
Google Inc $803,436
Citigroup Inc $701,290
JPMorgan Chase & Co $695,132
Time Warner $590,084
Sidley Austin LLP $588,598
Stanford University $586,557
National Amusements Inc $551,683
UBS AG $543,219
Wilmerhale Llp $542,618
Skadden, Arps et al $530,839
IBM Corp $528,822
Columbia University $528,302
Morgan Stanley $514,881
General Electric $499,130
US Government $494,820
Latham & Watkins $493,835
Who is talking about corporation influences here.
HOW HYPOCRITE !

How much personal worth has the GOP destroyed? How many businesses, families and individuals have gone down the drain?? I hope you’re all proud of yourselves for all the destroyed lives. The Republicans crashed the economy, sabotaged the recovery and blame the Democrats: Corruption wins!! – AMERICA LOSES…….
Posted by: Sentinel1946 | Jan 24, 2010 1:38:09 PM
Did you notice when Bush-Cheney were in power, they, the GOP and the right wing dispised the US Constitution? Now they are all for it. Wonder why….
Posted by: Sentinel1946 | Jan 24, 2010 1:34:23 PM
So much for democracy. Corruption wins, America loses….
Posted by: Sentinel1946 | Jan 24, 2010 1:32:40 PM
______________________________________
You can bet your ass, the Republicans and the top 5% bailed out of the stock market in time to ensure their power and their money – leaving the rest of America to sink.

Corporations were limited to certain extent, but still managed to give to candidates they liked through various legal loopholes. Now it will be a free for all where legislators are even more tied to the corporate money. Nonprofits with partisan political ties launder corporate money to candidates at present, so lots of corporate money is still getting to candidates. In future if candidates don’t vote the way corporations like no support or candidate will be crucified with TV ads during relection campaign. Corporations are controlling both parties way too much at present. I see this ruling strengthening rule by, for corporation only. Yes, and it all is a money issue. Eveyone, all political parties, these elected officials are politicians who try to sell themselves.

Republican corruption wins – AMERICA LOSES….

You might have noticed that the economy crashed under Republican supervision. If there were serious problems with the financial system when the Republicans took over, any competent manager or CEO would have recognized it – and fixed it before a crisis erupted. Republican management of our government either 1) Did not recognize any problems 2) Saw the problems but did nothing 3) Purposely eliminated any remaining regulation and encouraged the greed and corruption. The answer is #3…..

I cringed when Bush-Cheney were elected in 2000, I puked on the ground when they were reelected in 2004 – because I knew more bad things were going to happen with those two and the GOP in power – and I was right. My worst fears came true. They took our economy down and launched chaos around the planet. Corruption put them in power and corruption brought our country down. And can you believe it – these same people have been sabotaging the recovery that Obama has been trying to launch. Even with the sabotage, he is gaining ground. But the lies, sabotage and slander have taken their toll. Corruption has won another round – and AMERICA HAS LOST ANOTHER ROUND! The Republicans weakened our country in every way possible. By overseeing the crash of our economy – once America’s strength that fueled all our other strengths – the Republicans have put our nation is jeopardy like it has never been before; weakened education of our kids, weakened competitiveness in all areas, weakened our ability to protect ourselves, weakened our science, weakened our hope for the future, destroyed the lives and futures of families, businesses and individuals. Yet the Republicans during the Bush-Cheney era did not “own” any of the problems they caused. The right wing blames Clinton before them and Obama after them. If there were serious problems with the financial system when the Republicans took over, any competent manager would have recognized it – and fixed it before a crisis erupted. Republican management of our government either 1) Did not recognize any problems 2) Saw the problems but did nothing 3) Purposely eliminated any remaining regulation and encouraged the greed and corruption. The answer is #3.

Bush-Cheney and the GOP neutralized all regulatory agencies – and actually encouraged the greed and corruption. That’s right, they corrupted every Federal agency and department – including the Department of Justice….

tierra, you’re right. Also, how about the wealthy who were hiding money overseas so they wouldn’t have pay taxes on it? Enough is never enough for the greedy….

There is no hypocrite like a Republican hypocrite. There is no crook like a Republican crook. There is no liar like a Republican liar. Mismanagement of our government, incompetence, abuse of power, corruption – all Republican “specialties”….

Those of you beating up just the republican or just the democrats are part of the problem. Both parties put themselves first, their corporate backers second, and the needs of Americans third. It would be my wish to vote out the 20 most powerful republicans and the 20 most powerful democrats in the next election. Then they might pay attention to the people. Neither party is going to change as long as they can convince voters that the other party is the cause of our incompetent government.

“I puked on the ground when they were reelected in 2004 ”
I hope you were thoughtful and cleaned up your mess.

Sigmonde-As far as Unions and all other groups included in the decision. They are to be blamed for distortions in election campaigning too. But it is the Corporations that run government. I favor no contributions for elections. There should be a large number of debates in various formats that the parties do not have a say. They show up to debate or leave their chair empty during debates.

“But it is the Corporations that run government.”
Which corporation runs Massachusetts?

Gee a lot of people think they can blame this mess on a president. Where was Congress ? Many people believe the present financial problems and unemployment problems were caused crooks in the financial and the real estate markets selling homes to people that could not afford them and then allowing these Wall Street Ponzi crooks to package the worthless paper and sell it all around the world. Actions and lack of actions by congress caused the biggest real estate bubble (inflation) that has ever occurred over a short period of time. Like all Ponzi schemes the triangle grows until there are too many people at the bottom of the triangle and many of those at the bottom were unable to sell the house that they just paid 500,000 dollar for more then 275,000 dollars… So this giant Real Estate Ponzi scheme made many of the people that worked for financial institutions, appraisal companies, Wall Street traders and Real Estate firms millions of dollars and when the bubble burst it left those that invested in the worthless paper holding an empty sack. So how do we fix this problem which was really caused by Wall Street taking money from retirement funds, cities, counties, foreign countries and ultimately the tax payers of the United States? This is neither Obama’s or Bush’s fault but it was our Congresses fault because they allowed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to loan money to people without jobs or the ability to pay the money back … And at the same time our financial institutions loaned money to people that were speculators but said they were buying the homes as their primary residence .. record keeping was so poor that often several houses were sold to the same person who said he was going to live in all of them, he did this so he could obtain a low interest loan. First we try and stop the deflation by not printing any more money and we stop deficit spending. We stop giving money to people and companies that caused the problem. We put regulations on loans that will stabilize the home market and not encourage speculation because the last bubble was caused by speculation. How do you stop speculation? You stop speculation by not allowing people to buy houses and relist them for thousands of dollars more than they paid for them. You stop speculation by selling homes to people that work for a living and want a primary residence. You stop speculation by making it a crime punishable by jail time for individuals paying people to fill out loan documents or purchase a home. You do not fuel the real estate market by rewarding people to buy houses this will only cause another bubble. In the last few years there were so few regulations on buying a house that people would work together getting new financing on a home that no one intended to keep or make payments on. Appraiser were a big part of the problem I have seen houses appraise for twice as much as what they were worth and the banks made the loans. I have known of people that paid people to take out loans and move into houses but no one ever made payments on the loans. The government can not help the housing market by creating another bubble. But then there is another problem which is there are millions of houses that have been foreclosed or being foreclosed on and the banks would go under if they wrote off all of these loans. So how do you fix that problem ? At present the government is dealing with this problem by trying to inflate the prices of homes and by giving people money to purchase homes…. How many taxpayer dollars will be spent rewarding the Real Estate professionals that are part of the problem ? It seems that our government is intent on rewarding those that were major actors in the creation of this financial crisis. What other positive actions can government take to solve these problems besides regulating home loans and speculation and how do they solve the problem of the foreclosed homes ? Foreclosed homes need to be carried on the books at the value of the loan against them or many of our financial institutions would go under and at the same time the those holding a property have to pay property taxes which are set by the value of the property…. If it isn’t one thing it is another. If they don’t have the property reappraised they pay more taxes and if the property’s book value goes down they have to go out of business. I went to a bank auction where the high bids on 700 homes (80%) were turned down and I believe that was because the bank could not afford to take the loss on it’s books as the bids were about 50 percent of the foreclosed loan. This problem with banks failing might not have an easy answer because as the housing prices fall people that have jobs and owe large amounts on their houses will purchase a similar home at a much lower price and rent out their home or walk away from their present loan causing another foreclosure. So after 5000 Characters there is only one answer to saving many banks and it is contrary to all I have written and believe and that is “Inflation”.. What else ?

“Therefore, huge numbers of votes are made not on who the best candidate for the country, but is based on distortions of a campaign marketing plan.”
So, assume that 50% of voters (Dem, Rep,and Ind) are persuaded by marketing, how would that change the election outcome? And if there were no marketing of candidates, how would you know they are telling the truth with their promises?

This is neither Obama’s or Bush’s fault but it was our Congresses fault because they allowed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to loan money to people without jobs or the ability to pay the money back …
___________________________________
I don’t think this you’re entirely accurate.
Date: Monday, July 1 2002
“President Bush announced an Administration effort to increase home ownership rates among African Americans and Hispanics by 5.5 million by 2010.
“The plan would provide down payment
assistance to 40,000 minority homebuyers each year . . .
“Bush’s plan would be closely tied to some $440 million in minority loan programs offered by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. President Bush commended Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s . . .”
—————————
Bush attempted to create 5.5 million new African American and Hispanic home owners by providing DOWNPAYMENT assistance!
That is Bush, not Congress.

“Sigmonde-How old are you?”
Old enough to understand that both parties use marketing tactics to persuade uninformed voters to a particular point of view. This is one reason we have an electoral system and not a one person, one vote system. The will of the people is generally determined by the voters who are smart enough to see through the marketing. Those persuaded by misleading ads of both parties cancel one another out. Voter fraud such as in ACORN is another matter altogether.

Really nice to see Obama not wanting all Americans to have freedom of speech, just the ones he choses. Whats next, censorship of the press, or brain washing of elementary school kids?

For once, I will agree. This decision, allows corporations, to influence the public vote, which is a travesty of democracy.
Exactly why I have said, and will continue to say, that the judiciary is ruining not only the country, but the world as a whole, with their own corruption.

Judicial activism at its worst.

This decision has nothing to do with liberal or conservative. It has nothing to do with democrats or republicans. My reason to oppose this is that the rich and powerful (which includes unions)have access to our government officials with lobbyists, special trips for officials, assisting them to write the bills introduced, and a lot more money donated for elections. This ruling says that limiting how much money the rich and power can spend on elections prevents them from expressing their freedom of speech. These groups have much more influence on government than any of us real individuals. This deminishes the importance of our free speech. Who are government officials going to listen to, the billionaire running a huge corporation with corporate jets to transport them to meetings or to the average guy that has a pickup truck for transportation.

What kind of statement is “Devastating to Democarcy” out of him? He’s been pushing socialism since he started his political path.