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Loading...Foreign Money Funding Republican Campaigns
In the wake of the Citizens United decision, and during the State of the Union address, President Obama created some controversy when he warned of the possibility of foreign funds finding their way into the American electoral process. Justice Samuel Alito visibly disagreed with the President’s claim as did the Chief Justice when later asked about the exchange.
Perhaps the Justices would like an opportunity to revise those thoughts.
As first reported by Think Progress, the US Chamber of Commerce has spent an unprecedented $75 million in efforts to defeat Democrats and to lobby against health care reform and financial services reform. That’s not the scandalous part. The scandalous part is where that money is coming from.
By its own admission the Chamber is receiving foreign sources of funding, including from foreign companies in India and Bahrain. Some of those companies include foreign state-owned companies such as the State Bank of India and the Bahrain Petroleum Company. That money goes directly into the Chamber’s political arm and is spent on political advertising and contributions.
In the wake of the report Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) wrote to the FEC to launch an investigation into the practice and insist that foreign companies prove whether or not their funds had been used in campaign activities.
The further out we get from the Citizens United decision, the worse its effects. Perhaps, if there is a silver lining in all this money and corruption, it is that corporate interests have shown once again their willingness to overreach, even so far as to not bat an eye when foreign money comes in to influence Congressional races. Usually it is that kind of overreach that leads to systemic change. Here’s hoping for the sake of our democracy that’s the case.
Read more: 2010 election, chamber of commerce, citizens united, politics
photo courtesy of Tracy O via Flickr
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Recent Comments from Causes
Squiggles has quite a personality. Great story, thanx!
thanks
This is a awesome idea & I do hope the U.S. decides to do this just imagine the jobs the money for…
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+ add your own"Interesting. Virtually all major media sources have debunked the claims in this attack by the DNC. From Politico: "When the New York Times, Washington Post, and CBS News all declare the attacks to be without merit, something, somewhere, has gone very, very, wrong in Democratic Party Land."
But you will never see this information on Huffington, MoveOn or in any other blog. In fact they are likely to continue the claim!
Well, this is one reason I hate elections. I will vote this year but only for those with good track records of doing what is right. Figuring out which ones actually fulfill that-yeah, that is going to be tough.
Interesting. Virtually all major media sources have debunked the claims in this attack by the DNC. From Politico: "When the New York Times, Washington Post, and CBS News all declare the attacks to be without merit, something, somewhere, has gone very, very, wrong in Democratic Party Land."
The DNC is showing absolute panic.
I posted this information from http://www.liberalslikechrist.org/about/gopcorruption-1.html on another post. The authors series of articles is about corruption in government in the family values movement. So it is not hard to imagine some greed filled politicians, possibly selling influence to foreign governments for political gain!
http://www.liberalslikechrist.org/about/gopcorruption-1.html
Japan was ruled by a "conservative" class before and during WW II.
I don't watch political ads anymore, period. I watch C-Span and the debates that is all.
How about making it so NO ads till 30 days before election. At least that would concentrate the whole Bozo crap.
I'm not worried about foreign money being used for Congressional elections, they are all eady bought and paid. I'm more worried about those states who elect the judiciary! Imagine if you will a judge elected by BP funds sitting in judgement over the oil spill. Or deciding an action regarding environment.
Two wrongs don't make a right, thus the Chamber useing foreign money should be stopped
Notice that France for the first time have made it possible to strip a citizen of citizenship. Thus: they would be creating a person without a country. Good idea? or do we have enough non-citizens living here already?
"Deport those receiving them to the country of origin..."
Does that include Democrats??
Deport those receiving them to the country of origin...
To CollieGirl cg: If anyone doubted your obvious, racism in the past, they can no longer.
To Paul Baioni: Unfortulnately, we don't take care of our NEEDY, very successfully. Any nation that does not protect their children and their elderly, should feel great shame. American, has not done a good enough job of it.
On the other hand, you are totally correct, about entitlements for the able-bodied. Welfare, as we know it, is exceedingly abused and in fact, does enslave our citizens. This program should be significantly adjusted, but I fear there is not the will , to make changes.
I guess you could logically say that, any one has the right to contribute to any campaign, up to a specified limit, as long as it is not done in secret. Now, that SHOULD BE against the law.
"The Roberts court is probably busy right now figuring out how to decide that foreign corporations are individuals, just like American corporations. And as such, are entitled to buy the candidates they want an office.
What you need to make note of -- and never forget -- is who these foreign corporations WANT IN OFFICE. Because those candidates will be the very ones most likely to serve the interests of foreign corporations, and least likely to serve the interests of working-class Americans.
These are not the small contributions of individuals. These are big bucks from big business, and they are meant to serve not the people, but the bottom line. The very fact that they're being funneled through another entity shows that the contributions are not kosher. The US Chamber of Commerce needs to be investigated for money laundering."
The Liar in Chief Clinton!?!?
"I find it interesting how the left is wining about the foreign funds, which of course should not be happening, yet it was ok when Bill Clinton received campaign funds from the chinese."
WOW1 You beat me to the obvious comment!
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