Bill Moyers/Michael Winship: Buying What’s Left of Democracy

[marmar]

from Consortium News:



Buying What’s Left of Democracy
July 11, 2012

Under the cloak of “free speech,” rich Americans — especially on the Right — are buying what’s left of U.S. “democracy” and doing much of it in secret, insisting their sponsorship of TV attack ads be hidden. Some of their handmaidens even boast about their impending victories, note Bill Moyers and Michael Winship.

By Bill Moyers and Michael Winship


In all the hullabaloo over the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on health care, another of its rulings quickly fell off the public radar. Before deciding the fate of the Affordable Care Act, the Court announced it would not reconsider Citizens United, the odious 5-4 decision two years ago that opened our elections to unlimited contributions.

Within minutes of that announcement, right-wing partisans were crowing about the advantage they now own, an advantage not due to ideas or personalities but to the sheer force of money. They were remarkably candid and specific. Here’s what Fred Barnes wrote in The Weekly Standard about the Senate race in Missouri:

“For three weeks in May, Republican super-PACs took turns attacking Democratic senator Claire McCaskill in TV ads. Republicans hadn’t held their primary — it’s not until August 7 — but McCaskill wound up trailing all three of the GOP candidates in polls. Now McCaskill, unnerved, is struggling to recover. … That’s what super-PACs can do. When they emerged in 2010 and worked in tandem, they were a critical force in the Republican landslide in the congressional elections. This year they’re playing an even bigger role. The size and reach of their efforts dwarf what they did two years ago.”

Attaboy, Fred, for telling it like it is, for exposing the hoax that the Court’s original decision was about “free” speech. No, it’s about carpet bombing elections with all the tonnage your rich paymasters want to buy. ................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://consortiumnews.com/2012/07/11/buying-whats-left-of-democracy/

[xchrom]

1. du rec. nt

[Bill USA]

2. Bill Moyers, somebody should create a "Paul Revere" award for alerting the citizenry to assaults on

our democracy.... just so they can award to to Moyers!

..............."it’s about carpet bombing elections with all the tonnage your rich paymasters want to buy."


thanks for posting this, I missed it!


recommended!

[Uncle Joe]

3. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, marmar.