3. It represents a caving in to the worst Republican Instincts and a betrayal of the best Republican ones
Today's Washington Post has an article by Warren Rudman, an old school Republican, who was for good government and also for campaign finance reform. And he quotes Teddy Roosevelt:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/04/AR2010020403624.html
He writes: 'in his 1905 message to Congress, President Roosevelt proposed that "contributions by corporations to any political committee or for any political purpose should be forbidden by law."'
His logic was straightforward enough:
"If [legislators] are extorted by any kind of pressure or promise, express or implied, direct or indirect, in the way of favor or immunity, then the giving or receiving becomes not only improper but criminal."
Full Text:http://www.infoplease.com/t/hist/state-of-the-union/117.html
The resulting Tillman Act of 1907 and Federal Corrupt Practices Act of 1910 were the first laws limiting corporate money in federal elections and requiring strict disclosure of campaign funds. With the rise of organized labor in the 1930s, Republican Sen. Robert Taft and Republican Rep. Fred Hartley extended the ban on corporate contributions to unions. Those laws were dealt a serious blow by last month's Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. That such a rash and immoderate ruling could come from a chief justice once committed to respecting precedent, and win praise from leaders of my party, is beyond my comprehension.
Need I say more....
Posted by cholte at February 5, 2010 04:45 PM