This Is Democracy?! Billionaires Flooding Campaign Coffers of Greedy Virginia Politicians

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/democracy-billionaires-flooding-campaign-coffers-greedy-virginia-politicians



Money distorts democracy. Exhibit A: Virginia.


If you want to see how grossly money can distort democracy, just go to the state of Virginia, where there are no limits on how big a check can be written for statewide office. Groups and individuals from outside the Old Dominion are taking full advantage, pouring millions into a governor’s race they see as a dry run for the tactics they’ll use in the 2014 midterms and the 2016 presidential race – sort of the way the Spanish civil war turned out to be a testing ground for many of the deadly weapons of World War II.

Billionaires like environmentalist Tom Steyer on the left and the Koch Brothers on the right are placing their bets, but as they say at the track, the horses they’re backing are just a couple of hay burners. Once the home of Washington and Jefferson, James Madison and Patrick Henry, Virginia now has a choice between two mediocrities slavishly devoted to their wealthy contributors.

The Democrat, Terry McAuliffe, has been in training for years as courtier to the rich. He has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for the Democratic National Committee, which he chaired for four years and the campaigns of his – Best Friends Forever – Bill and Hillary Clinton, who now are shaking down donors for him. Along the way, according to The Washington Post, this gregarious bagman used government programs, his huge Rolodex of political connections and wealthy investors from both parties to enrich himself. He organized a company to build electric cars and promoted it to investors with a prospectus featuring photographs and ample references to his Clinton ties. He even got the former President to show up at the opening of the plant in Mississippi, along with that state’s former Republican governor, Haley Barbour, who made his fortune as a lobbyist in Washington for the tobacco industry.

Strange bedfellows, these crony capitalists – you may remember that Hillary Clinton’s brother, Tony Rodham was involved, too, searching out foreign investors for the electric cars. When the spotlight of scrutiny crossed their path, McAuliffe resigned from the company, which is now under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

[orpupilofnature57]

1. Thanks again, SCOTUS

[CoffeeCat]

2. I think the Republicans thought that they would win this money war...

That's why I believe Citizens United and all of the other campaign-fiance shennanigan laws were passed. Knowing that they are struggling to win elections, Republicans figured that they had money on their side and that this could carry them through in many elections. After all, their interests represent the moneyed and the elite.

Sometimes they forget that there are billionaires and millionaires on our side too.

However, this really is no consolation. Because, what we have now is a system where corrupt elites on both sides are almost ensured elections. How is the little guy--someone who is not in the system and corrupted beyond repair--supposed to break through?

McAuliffe has had plenty of shady dealings. Anyone else remember his ties to Gary Winnick of Global Crossing? McAulliffe was given stock in Winnick's company, in exchange for "consulting fees". He cashed in his stock before the company tanked (as did Winnick too). Both made out like bandits, but Global Crossing employees and small investors bit the big one.

Winnick did the same thing that Ken Lay did. However, Winnick (who was trained by Michael Milken) escaped all accountability. Winnick had his hands in both parties, greasing all politicians. He played golf with Bill Clinton and paid George Bush Sr in Global stock, for speeches. It appears that his political connections also gave him continued freedom.

Our entire system is corrupt. You know the system is bad when we root for our guy--who is just as cringeworthy as the Republicans.

[dotymed]

6. That is why I am so excited that Bernie Sanders has been so visible lately.

I hope he runs for and becomes our next POTUS. He would find a way to end citizens united and so many inequalities in our country.

IMO, he is our last hope before Americans finally take to the streets.

[madokie]

7. Bernie Sanders, Elizebeth Warren, Alan Grayson

any one of the three in the oval office would tickle my funny bone. I'd be one happy camper.

Bernie would be good though as would the others I mention too.

[fasttense]

3. Money and wealth hold such sway in elections

because in a capitalist economy everything can be bought, everything becomes a commodity.

Do away with capitalism and you do away with the power of money to corrupt.

In our economic system, money means power and freedom. If you have allot of it, you can do what you want, be free, and buy politicians to do what you want. But why should only the rich have freedom? Why should only the rich be able to influence our elected representatives? Don't we all have a right to freedom? Don't we all have a right to be heard by our elected representatives?

We need to change our economic system so we can have democracy back.

[Rain Mcloud]

4. Sadly,our hope lies in the Yellow Dogs

who appear to be on the endangered species list.
My take is that if the liberal side starts showing southern voters that they will be represented then they will win their votes.
Pork spending to improve the lives of the needy instead of the wealthy interests could open their eyes.
Small manufacturing job development would be a start(not the Bush administration's definition of hamburger manufacturing).
They are in a bind and do not know who to trust,lets earn their trust.
[link:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_dog_Democrat|

[mountain grammy]

5. ugh. damn the five Supreme Hacks!