The GOP's contradictory claims on John Kerry's 'special interest' money

[feistydem]

It has been bothering me that the GOP's contradictory claims on John Kerry's 'special interest' money are even getting played out here on DU.

Here's an interesting article on the topic for those with an open mind...

Special K, by Peter Beinart, The New Republic.(http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=20040301&s=trb030104)


Excerpted from the NR article:

"By defining special interest influence so broadly that it encompasses any person who could realistically seek the presidency, Bush's defenders erase any distinction between the president and his critics. But some politicians serve special interests more than others. And there are ways, however crude, to measure that. For most industries seeking subsidies, tax loopholes, or regulatory exemptions, there are watchdog groups trying to stop them. For example, when politicians do favors for oil, mining, or timber companies, environmental organizations usually object. When they do favors for pharmaceutical or telecommunication companies, consumer groups object. These organizations may not always espouse the right policies, but they are a good barometer of how beholden a politician is to corporate special interests."

"As it happens, they don't consider Bush and Kerry to be equally corrupted. Kerry's lifetime rating from the League of Conservation Voters is 96 percent. By contrast, the League gave Bush its first ever "F." Gene Kimmelman, senior director of public policy and advocacy for the nonpartisan Consumers Union, chides Kerry for not aggressively supporting competition between cable companies (telecommunication firms are among Kerry's biggest funders). But he says that, 'overall, he's been a strong consumer champion.' The nonpartisan Consumer Federation gave Kerry a lifetime rating of 85. As for Bush, Kimmelman says his 'administration has bestowed enormous benefits on the largest corporate entities at the expense of consumers' safety and pocketbooks.'"

"
"You can argue that Kerry's selective use of the term is fair. After all, if an interest is 'special' because it is narrow, then Bush's backers deserve the term more than Kerry's, since big companies represent a narrower group of people than labor, environmental, or consumer groups. (There are exceptions: The GOP-leaning National Rifle Association and Christian Coalition have broader memberships than the Democratic-leaning trial lawyers.)"

[Feanorcurufinwe]

1. Kerry IS in bed with special interests.

Special interests like working people, environmentalists, consumers, etc...

[feistydem]

2. Yes, that is my point... thank you.

Sierra Club is a 'special interest' to which I donate. The oil & gas industries are a vastly different kind of special interest, with very different lobbyists and 'donors" --so to speak.