It was refreshing to see a Republican, especially one as prominent as our own Sen. John McCain come out and call the Supreme Court's "Citizens United" decision as, "one of the worst decisions I have ever seen."
He went on to say, "I predict to you that there will be huge scandals associated with this huge flood of money."
Newspapers and editorialists across the nation are speaking out in increasing numbers, calling for something to be done to end the potential for corruption that is inevitable when unlimited money is simply "thrown" at candidates for political office.
Froma Harrop, a member of the editorial board at the Providence Journal in Rhode Island, and president of the Association of Opinion Journalists recently noted, "Every day we go into our offices and write prescriptive editorials trying to solve problems. We've been writing about these same problems year after year after year, and you're wondering why they're not being solved. And very often the reason they're not being solved is because someone is basically being paid off."
The Raleigh News and Observer editorial board noted it's concern when it wrote, "What possible chance will reformers and regulators have when industries that want to eliminate regulation or enjoy big tax breaks are like ATM machines with no limits on withdrawals? The answer: no chance."
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch recently called on Obama to, "wake up the sleeping watchdog that is the Federal Election Commission. There are few issues facing the country more important than the integrity of elections."
Rod Livdahl
Mesa
Leon Ceniceros posted at 2:09 pm on Sat, Jan 14, 2012.
Boy...how the "worm had turned over".
Now that big money is going to the Republicans...the Democrats, Liberals and Progressives are screaming...."Foul....Foul on the Field" = what a bunch of "Who-ie" (family newspaper here Folks....got to keep it clean...lol).
1. Calling Senator John McCain a "Republican"...give me a break...he is a "R.I.N.O." (Republican In Name Only" .......Poster Boy.
2. Senator John McCain doesn't need money from a "P.A.C." (Political Action Committee)........because his wife is worth $300 Million to $400 Million dollars...they have so many homes scattered across America...he didn't even know where some of them were).
3. One thing I will "give" to the Letter writer...if anybody knows about "huge political scandals" ....Senator John McCain is your man (go into Wikipedia and search "Keating Five Scandal".....McCain figures prominently in that...."huge scandal").
4. "Newspapers and Editorialist across the Nation are speaking out....".....are you talking about all the Left-Wing Liberal Newspapers, Editors that we have seen take over most if not all the Newspapers in America....and you wonder why all of these Newspapers are shrinking faster than the Artic Glaciers ???
5. "some one is basically being paid off"...you don't need money to do that.....a few well-placed sermons from the pulpits can make a politician lose his "ethics" in a "New York Minute"....we have seen that in Arizona first hand.....lol.
6. P.A.C.'s can be set up by ....Teachers' Unions, Police Unions, Fire Fighters' Unions, Public Service Workers Unions, Postal Workers Unions, Hotel Workers Unions.....they "throw money" at the candidates and politicians too.
Are you saying that all of these Union-subsidized P.A.C.'s...are corrupting politics too ???
7. Lastly...you mention..."the sleeping watchdog that is the Federal Elections Commission".........I hate to bring this up...buy your man....Senator John McCain called the F.E.C......"the little agency that can't".
YOU DON'T NEED "HUGE SUMS OF MONEY" TO CORRUPT THE ELECTION PROCESS......JUST LOOK AT THE ............".A.C.O.R.N. SCANDAL"........ TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FORGED VOTER REGISTRATION DOCUMENTS TO AID IN OBAMA'S ELECTION.
truth posted at 3:33 pm on Sat, Jan 14, 2012.
You can thank the Republican appointed U.S. Supreme Court
Arizona Willie posted at 10:22 pm on Sat, Jan 14, 2012.
Big money ALWAYS went to the Republicans.
wdgnas posted at 6:44 am on Sun, Jan 15, 2012.
wait till the general election. the democrats will outspend the republicans and the republicans will whine about it.
Arizona Willie posted at 9:55 am on Sun, Jan 15, 2012.
It's possible the Dems might outspend the Repubs ... but if they do the money will MOSTLY come from small(er) contributors.
The bulk of corporate money will go to Repubs.
And when it comes to buying .... errrrr .... supporting Congressmen with campaign contributions ... no one holds a candle to corporations / industries.
Slabside posted at 2:45 pm on Sun, Jan 15, 2012.
"Big money ALWAYS went to the Republicans."
Yeah sure. How about Obama and GE?
truth posted at 4:35 pm on Sun, Jan 15, 2012.
GE donated $1,861,464. to the Republicans and $1,610,837. to The Democrates his way GE controlled both parties. This is why we need to get money out of politics and back to working for the peope, GE pays no federal taxes.[wink]
onerebel posted at 7:50 pm on Sun, Jan 15, 2012.
I agree with Rod, the Politician's are being bought and paid for by special interests, and if anyone thinks it's just one side your a fool. Politician's are only interested in money and power. Do you really think it's a coincidence the parties vote together as a block ? They want to keep all the power and money in their court, simple as that !