Trump handed Bernie a plum last night...

[mak3cats]

...with his declarations that his money has bought influence from politicians. I assume that it would be illegal to lift the actual footage from the debates, but it certainly isn't illegal to quote him verbatim.

From the actual debate transcript:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/08/06/annotated-transcript-the-aug-6-gop-debate/

"BAIER: Mr. Trump, it's not just your past support for single- payer health care. You've also supported a host of other liberal policies. Use -- you've also donated to several Democratic candidates, Hillary Clinton included, Nancy Pelosi.

You explained away those donations saying you did that to get business-related favors.

And you said recently, quote, "When you give, they do whatever the hell you want them to do."

TRUMP: You'd better believe it."

and

"TRUMP: Sounds good. Sounds good to me, Governor.

I will tell you that our system is broken. I gave to many people, before this, before two months ago, I was a businessman. I give to everybody. When they call, I give.

And do you know what?

When I need something from them two years later, three years later, I call them, they are there for me.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So what did you get?

TRUMP: And that's a broken system."

[retrowire]

1. just to find reason in all this nonsense

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/08/06/donald-trump-says-he-gave-most-of-his-debate-opponents-campaign-money-he-didnt/

does anyone believe this? does it have any weight?

[bluedigger]

6. Pish posh.

That's just his "on the record" "donations".

[retrowire]

7. good point.

[bluedigger]

8. I know, and I barely had a sip of my first coffee.

[retrowire]

9. its gonna be a good day for you! :)

[merrily]

2. Americans are fed up with the broken political system.

The fact that a majority of those entitled to vote don't bother to vote is evidence of that, more so than any Gallup poll.

So are the ratings they give Congress when polled, sometimes in the single digits. Sometimes, I think more people work for Congress than rate Congress well in the polls.


Urgently Needed: Reform of the Broken American Political System

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frank-vogl/urgently-needed-reform-of_b_3653781.html


(This post not paid for by the billionaires, and I wouldn't even dream of charging Bernie. Not that he'd pay anyway.)

[MannyGoldstein]

10. Sorry, Putin counts as a billionaire.

You're not fooling anyone.

[sabrina 1]

11. Lol!

[HFRN]

14. If a President Trump went to war with Putin

it would be from an argument about which of them is richer

[merrily]

16. Neither are you

and seventeen DUers have alerted on your post.

[Smarmie Doofus]

3. The real takeaway there is that no one on the stage even thought there was anything *wrong* with it.

That is: making payments ( ok: "campaign donations&quot to politicians in order to get favors.

Let's hear what Clinton and Biden have to say.

[global1]

12. In Fact - Didn't One Of The Candidates Say Something To The Effect That Trump Never Gave Him Money..

was this candidate actually saying - Hey Donald - I'm buyable too.

We have to rid ourselves of Citizens United and have a system in place for publicly funded elections. This would allow any of those elected to actually do their job instead of having to grovel for money most of their days in office.

Years ago a contingent of my university teaching colleagues went on a junket to Nigeria. They came back with stories of how corrupted the system was there as everyone was on the take and basically one could buy influence.

I remembered that and how surprised and offended my colleagues were that this the norm in Nigeria.

Well - it looks to me that we've come to that place right here in our own country. The Donald admitted that last night at the debate that he pays politicians to buy influence. His example of using it to invite the Clinton's to his wedding was just a dodge. I wonder what he actually asked them for?

If the American Public don't wake-up and see what a candidate for the presidency just admitted on live TV - we're going to fall further into this abyss. The book that comes out after the 2016 election for President should be titled - "The Buying Of The President 2016".

A sad commentary - folks!!!!!

[Fuddnik]

13. And about half of all Americans will say,

"Aw, hell, they all do that".

The point that they're in a position to maybe change it, flies right over their head.

[erronis]

15. And didn't Bill.C and T.Rump have a little a little confab a few days ago?

Wonder what pearls of wisdom these two passed. Any bets there were some dirty jokes?

[Live and Learn]

22. +1 It is simply a given these days that is to be expected.

I was thrilled that Trump brought it out in the open.

[6chars]

4. why would it be illegal to lift actual footage from the debate?

is there still such a thing as "fair use" in copyright law?

[mopinko]

5. yes there is.

[KoKo]

17. I watched the "debate" and saw Trump say that and the response....

It was very revealing.

Thank you for posting from the transcript.

Recommend!

[SoapBox]

18. The "system" is rotten to it's core...

That's why I whole-heartedly support Bernie.

[grahamhgreen]

19. That's an admission of illegal activity, no?

[pacalo]

21. I thought it was called bribery.

[KoKo]

20. ...1