Update: See Dave Lindorff's The Supreme Court's Right-Wing Clique has Given Us a Great Opportunity.
If he has the brains I think he has, President Obama will make a hard political charge against the titanic moneyed interests that dominate our country as the bubble-shaped storm clouds gather again.
Consider the political Supreme Court case of the last 15 years, its hypocrisy and its catering to big money.
''Ballots serve primarily to elect candidates, not as fora for political expression.''
- Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist in Timmons v. Twin Cities Area New Party (951608) (1997), joined by Justices Antonin Scalia, Anthony M. Kennedy, and Clarence Thomas.
"Because the FEC’s 'business is to censor, there inheres the danger that [it] may well be less responsive than a court ... to the constitutionally protected interests in free expression.'" ...
"The First Amendment underwrites the freedom to experiment and to create in the realm of thought and speech. Citizens must be free to use new forms, and new forums, for the expression of ideas. The civic discourse belongs to the people, and the Government may not prescribe the means used to conduct it." McConnell, supra, at 341 (opinion of KENNEDY, J.)."
- Justices Anthony M. Kennedy, Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and two Bush appointees in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (08-205).
One step is to announce legislative initiatives to mitigate the effects of the U.S. Supreme Court decision, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (08-205), that effectively vitiated [without striking down] the specific campaign finance reforms (Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA)) championed for years by Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI), joined by an ethically challenged Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) out to rehabilitate his name.
The exercise in hypocrisy and partisan favoritism in Citizens United is revealed by examining another landmark election law case animated by First Amendment claims used in the fight against colossal wealth dominating the political process, Timmons v. Twin Cities Area New Party (95-1608) (1997).
The stakes are high. President Obama's populist initiatives outlined tonight will define his presidency and our country for decades to come because the American people will be watching.
In Citizens United the GOP has now been caught, finally, on the wrong side of financial reform; look for much more of this branding of Republicans in the weeks to come.
- via mal contends
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