Biting the hand that elected you

Gallup has a poll out reflecting the attitude of the American people on the recent Supreme Court decision on corporate political spending:

Americans' broad views about corporate spending in elections generally accord with the Supreme Court's decision Thursday that abolished some decades-old restrictions on corporate political activity. Fifty-seven percent of Americans consider campaign donations to be a protected form of free speech, and 55% say corporate and union donations should be treated the same way under the law as donations from individuals are.

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The free-speech question elicits uncommon agreement across party lines. More than 6 in 10 Republicans and Democrats believe campaign donations are a protected form of free speech, but fewer than half of independents (48%) agree.

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Public attitudes about the issues involved in the court's Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision come from a nationwide Gallup survey sponsored by the nonpartisan First Amendment Center. The poll was conducted Oct. 1-2, 2009, shortly after the high court heard concluding arguments in the case.

So you'd think that Obama, being a man of the people (or so he says), would be listening.

You'd be wrong:

President Obama Saturday lashed out at the Supreme Court for a dramatic ruling that gives corporate cash newfound reach in elections.

Obama said the decision "strikes at our democracy itself."

"It gives the special interest lobbyists new leverage to spend millions on advertising to persuade elected officials to vote their way - or to punish those who don't," Obama said, calling the ruling "devastating."

The President promised a "forceful, bipartisan response" in Congress to "repair the damage that has been done" by the ruling, which Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) Saturday called "one of the worst decisions I have seen in a hundred years."

Fresh off a groundshaking victory by Massachusetts Republican Scott Brown in the race to fill the late Sen. Ted Kennedy's seat, the GOP used its weekly address to glory in Brown's win - and get out ahead of Obama's first State of the Union address on Wednesday.

"We'll listen to what the President has to say," said House Minority Leader John Boehner, of Ohio. "But make no mistake, if the powers that be in Washington keep turning their backs on the people, Republicans will continue to challenge the status quo and offer better solutions."

There's a part of me that wants him to continue to flip the bird at the American people... something he's been doing all along but too many were distracted by his blackness to see it... but the other part of me wonders if the country can survive it all.

Let's hope she can.

Comments

[Locutisprime]

Take every argument that Obama raised to attack the supreme court ruling? And apply those same arguments to the McCain Feingold campaign reform act, and you have the real truth of the matter concerning what is worse for America.

You also have a very good idea why the Supreme court ruled the way that they did on this case.

The American political process was thwarted and stolen from the people, the minute McCain Feingold took affect and it was the single most reason for the election of Barack Obama. Which caused more than a palpable sweetness as it concerned McCain's loss IMO.

Now the supreme court has done what the founding fathers designed and intended when this nation was founded. The court has brought forth and returned a balance to the Legislative branch that erred by ever passing McCain Feingold. And they have further pushed back an executive branch that is acting more like like a gathering of petulant children who want all the cake, than servants of the people.

This is a supreme court ruling that I support and applaud.

It's about damn time they reasoned some sense at the court.

[Non Boehner]

John Boehner is one to talk about turning backs on the American people. For 18 years, he's supported NAFTA and free trade policies that have all but destroyed the conservative working middle class in his own district while waving the pro-business banner. He's pro business, but it's not pro small business. Vote Manfred Schreyer for Ohio 8th Congressional District in the Ohio Republican Primary. Send a true representative to DC.

[Gary]

"Non Boehner" - if Schreyer is anti-free trade why is he running in the GOP primary?

[Non Boehner]

Because free trade isn't a partisan issue. It's an economic issue - and one that hurts the middle class. Less than 1% of all businesses in the US actually export. But nearly 100% of all small businesses rely upon the working middle class as a customer base in some fashion. So this idea that the GOP represents business is garbage. The GOP represents multinational corporate interests that are engaged in import/export. If the GOP was in support of ALL business, then they wouldn't represent trade policies that shrink the customer base for the majority of business owners.

It's time that the GOP faces the reality of who they are - the party that does not represent the conservative middle class. If you believe this, you're not paying close attention.