John Edwards, MoveOn, MediaMatters Work For George Soros-2

[vechorik]

- In 1992, Soros made a billion profit by selling the British pound short, badly damaging that country.

- In 1999, the president of China banned Soros from doing business in his country.

- In 2002, Soros was convicted of insider trading in France and fined $2.3 million.

[JohnnyPolitico]

"If you are a moderate, responsible Democrat who happens to take a different point of view than George Soros, you are just as much of a target." That quote from the video really says it all, doesn't it?

[DemianThomas]

Ah, the language says it all. There "responsible Democrats" are the ones who agree with republicans. That's a nice sentiment. By that Standard the only responsible Democrats are Fox News Correspondents. No, I'd prefer to be irresponsible by these standards. So in a sense the quote is accurate. If you claim to be a Democrat, but you position on the issues is in direct contradiction to the political philosophy progressive liberalism, then you will be called out as a PHONY.

[JohnnyPolitico]

It's laughable to see you supporting Soros and thinking that you know why he's doing what he is. Personally, I think he's decided that buying influence on the far left side is easier than trying this on the far right. I don't believe for a second that he is doing this for ideology, but rather for business purposes. Soros has bought the Democrats and they seem content with this even though it completely violates their professed beliefs.

[DemianThomas]

I don't think you have any real grounds for your suspicion. I take him at his word. He's successful, respectable, and compassionate. Essentially the opposite of the public appearance of Murdoch. Btw, who is murdoch funding? He's contributing way more to the right-wing than anybody on the left. Hell, he's got an entire global news network dedicated to the right. I'd say Soros' influence pales by comparison.

[JohnnyPolitico]

No grounds for suspicion? That's funny. You point to Murdoch and say he's contributing to the right-wing. He's running a business with his media interests just like all the liberal media owners are. Did he contribute $23,450,000 to special 527 political organizations in 2004 as Soros did? You're setting yourself up if you take Soros at his word.

[DemianThomas]

I didn't get a research grant to investigate Murdoch's business and philanthropic dealings. I suspect he'd prefer to keep them quiet. And murdoch is the right. He provides ample material and ideological support. Soros is nothing to be feared. This is S.O.P. Republicans start grasping at straws to try to prove corruption. It's their only card. The Democratic policies are better for the people, so you can't really argue the facts. You've gotta start slinging mud. Crooks and Liars

[JohnnyPolitico]

Murdoch isn't with the right. He's a profiteer and a pornographer. Soros is everybit the profiteer that Murdoch is. To show this I'll quote a liberal columnist for The Nation, David Corn, who asked Soros why he purchased Bush's own oil firm, Spectrum 7 in 1986. Soros answered "He was supposed to bring in the Gulf connection. But it didn't come to anything. We were buying political influence. That was it." There you have it from the horses mouth.

[JohnnyPolitico]

I'm interested in your progressive view on Global Warming. Can you briefly tell me what you think of it?

[DemianThomas]

I don't have a progressive view on Global Warming. I'm not a scientist. As a progressive pragmatist I find it beneficial to listen to the scientific community. They are in almost unanimous agreement about the crisis of climate change. So the question is what should I do. Read Internal Combustion by Edwin Black.

[JohnnyPolitico]

"They are in almost unanimous agreement about the crisis of climate change." Not true in the least. If anything, scientists have been uniting against Al Gore's claims that there is consensous on this issue. Go to google videos and look up "The Great Global Warming Swindle". It's about 1 1/4 hrs long, but it's packed with the latest science by the most impeccable scientists in the field. The Nuclear Energy industry has pushed this issue, and political leftists have made it their religion.

[JohnnyPolitico]

"Moveon is relatively benign progressive group... They are a grassroots political advocacy group" They were organized, funded, and controlled by George Soros. If they are so grass roots then you shouldn't have any problem with regulations limiting their funding to smaller donations by regular people. The maximum you can donate to politicians is currently about $2300. How much has George Soros donated (invested) to MoveOn?

[DemianThomas]

MoveOn isn't a political candidate. It is an advocacy group for progressivism, which will then support any candidate who promotes progressive measures. Grassroots movements depend on donations, what you're asking me to do is damn my own movement to failure. I cannot accept that. No grassroots movement wishes to remain at the margins. Soros is helping us to do that. There will be others.

[JohnnyPolitico]

"what you're asking me to do is damn my own movement to failure." If it's so grassroots driven then why won't these people fund it? Here's what the liberal Jane Meyer of The New Yorker says about Soros: "Money is just a tool for him. It's how he manipulates a lot of things in his life."

Here is Soros: "These aren't normal times. The ends justify every legal means possible. I want my ideas to be heard".

[DemianThomas]

I agree with him, why is that so wrong. These are desperate times. Lies, War, torture, the degradation of the sciences, the corruption of journalism, the loss of our civil liberties. I mean c'mon, we aren't even living in America anymore. And do you mean to tell me that if you had that kindof money, you'd let some boobtube idiot tell you how to spend it? And by the way, we do fund it. I've personally given money to MoveOn as well as other charitable organizations like AmnestyInt'l and Oxfam.

[JohnnyPolitico]

And for all we know you are him. Why is it wrong for one gazillionaire to buy political influence? Because we value democracy in this country. If not, John Rockefeller would've had his way with it an age ago. Did you ever watch Citizen Kane? When did any good ever come from giving powerbrokers more power? The phrase "We the people..." was written as a response to a monarchy. If Soros has his way it will be "Me the people".

[DemianThomas]

Okay, agreed. But let's investigate the Cheney/Halliburton deals. Let's place strictures on corporate Lobbyists. Let's remove all the undue influence from non-citizen political action. If that can be done, then I will condeed that George Soros should be limited in his funding. And again, let me reemphasize. George Soros donates money to MoveOn. He does not own it. MoveOn regularly asks for input from its members. We exert the political influence, Not solely Soros.

[DemianThomas]

Moveon is relatively benign progressive group, yet Conservatives treat them as though they were agents of the Anti-christ. They are a grassroots political advocacy group. How is that different from the Southern Baptist Christian Coalition? Should they stop taking collection?

[CARSONB43]

this could only be a problem if you believe a word that comes out of bill o'reilly. he is a walking liar, and hates to be quoted correctly.

[rabahoba]

Appeal to the poor, and you're appealing to the most ignorant and atavistic of America. Bill O'Reilly, like all pundits, does this to get ratings, but the sad thing is, when he urges these uneducated peasants to come together and protest economic progress, he is impeding on the very ideals that make this nation great and, fundamentally, bringing us more in line with the disgusting socialists than he would like to admit.

[JohnnyPolitico]

Uneducated peasants? Wow, I don't know where you get the idea that you're better than everyone else. Soros isn't left wing? I suppose his organizations like "moveOn" are mainstream then? Ha, no they're hard left.

[rabahoba]

Soros is not "left wing." In fact , I would say his support for economic liberalization is much more beneficial for business than the isolationist and protectionist agendas hawked by people like Bill. Conservative? Try populist. Not understanding the fact that temporary job displacement (of mostly uneducated, unwashed masses) means ultimately more benefits in the long run is doing America a disservice.

[JohnnyPolitico]

Uneducated, unwashed masses? Wow, can you please be more condescending, I'm not sure the average American can catch the subtlety of your arrogance.

[JohnnyPolitico]

This is subversion of the laws meant to stop this kind of political influence buying. Soros is an America hater, and is even anti-human in many ways. But this is also true of many hard left groups. Rather than say "why does Fox News say that when Soros does it its because he hates the country", you ought to look into the evidence that has been gathered against him on this very point.

[HopefullyUnexpected]

I dont see why conservatives act like this is something that should be illegal. He's simply following the law. I hate it when conservatives do it, but why does Fox News say that when Soros does it its because he hates the country. He's a political activist. I didn't know that was against the law. You can hate them Fox, but dont blame Soros for following the law and doing what he thinks is right for the country. Hate the law. This is an attempted character assassination for ideological reasons.

[JohnnyPolitico]

"He's simply following the law." I suppose that you supported Swiftboatsfortruth in their adds against Kerry in 2004? Soros is exploiting a loophole in the campaign finance legislation that congress passed to stop this kind of influence procurement. This is subverting the law rather than endorsing it. If this is character assassination, then Soros could sue Fox, but it's not, and any lawsuit to this effect would be tossed/laughed out of court.

[DemianThomas]

It's not a loophole in the legislation. The legislation specifically did not cover this sort of activity. This is legal. And commendable.

[JohnnyPolitico]

"It's not a loophole in the legislation... This is legal and commendable." The fact that these organizations were not anticipated does not mean that this is acceptable or commendable. Political campaigns should be managed by political candidates and the general public. Private individuals with billions of dollars should not be able to shift public opinion for their own purposes.

[DemianThomas]

Oh, Soros didn't shift my opinions, he just got the politicians to finally listen to them. A vast number of americans have felt ignored and disenfranchised by their political system. Soros and MoveOn are working to correct this flawed democracy. Good for them.

[JohnnyPolitico]

"It's not a loophole in the legislation... This is legal and commendable." Soros is buying influence to further his own agenda. You don't know him, so you also don't that this is commendable. Billions are at stake in politicizing things like illegal immigration, global warming, social issues, etc. Groups of people are being used as pawns by big business who have no interest in their causes.

[DemianThomas]

Okay, so what's new. It's not a matter of politicizing an issue. The issue arises, politics then attempts to address the issue. Any politician who refuses to acknowledge these issues is ignoring crisis. Soros and others, such as myself, recognize real problems and we also know that no progress can be achieved solely at the local or purely social level. There are political hurdles that must be overcome before progress can begin.