Keith Olbermann on on "Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission"

http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/mus...

Today, the Supreme Court, of Chief Justice John Roberts, in a decision that might actually have more dire implications than "Dred Scott v Sandford," declared that because of the alchemy of its 19th Century predecessors in deciding that corporations had all the rights of people, any restrictions on how these corporate-beings spend their money on political advertising, are unconstitutional.

In short, the first amendment — free speech for persons — which went into affect in 1791, applies to corporations, which were not recognized as the equivalents of persons until 1886. In short, there are now no checks on the ability of corporations or unions or other giant aggregations of power to decide our elections.

None. They can spend all the money they want. And if they can spend all the money they want — sooner, rather than later — they will implant the legislators of their choice in every office from President to head of the Visiting Nurse Service. ...

Brushing up on how you amend the constitution at
http://www.michaelmoore.com

• Category

  News & Politics

[macgeek2004]

You know, I remember watching this the night it originally aired, and thinking "no...ok, I know it's BAD, but could it really be *THAT* bad???"

I keep rewatching this video every few months or so, because every time I do I'm always stunned at JUST HOW ACCURATE these predictions were.

[artisanrox]

OVERTURN CITIZENS UNITED!!!

[summerzzzzz55]

whynotzoidberg@ I live in North Little Rock , Ark. and there is a government charter school that is run by muslim Turks. The Koran teachings are taught to the elementary student under quote " world religious history " I think if the state of Arkansas is dong this it MIGHT be ok for people to plain a Christmas play at school. Relax , the separation thing quit about 15 years ago , chill out bubba . Haha!!

[callmeCAYLOR]

what the hell? non sequitur much?

[sjcpal]

come back to msnbc keith , we miss ya

[Toby Lee]

Keith is unbelievable. I'm Australian, but when he started his "be prepared" speech, I got genuinely scared as I began to picture a dystopia in my mind. This needs to be overturned, and Keith needs to come back.

[pozzitrev]

keeps very fking accurate to these day!

[s9z9s]

There were a lot of limits on advertising, spending this much within this many weeks of the election and so on. All Citizens United did was let you run whatever political ad you wish, whenever you wish, so long as you pay for it and there's a clear money trail. We've been feeling the affects of it for years now, and no, I don't think it's disproportionally benefited either party. As for 'sep. of church and state," that comes from a letter by Thomas Jefferson, not the Constitution.

[whynotzoidburg]

But were the commercial slots for corporations not free enough already? It seems pointless to make something legal that has been going on unpunished anyways. Corps. didn't the red tape to be lifted, they slid through easily enough before hand. Separation of church and state is not phony. It's a serious issue that needs to be upheld. Freedom of association is in the document, but so separation of church and state. Why chose to uphold one and not the other?

[s9z9s]

Citizens United only concerned television ads. All it did was free up the airwaves for these PACs. Money in this case, IS speech. You're communicating by way of your own financial resources, the fruits of your own labor, through the free medium known as television. As for churchs planning Christmas plays, why not? Why not let every school district do what it wants? If your schoolboard wants phony "separation of church and state," let them. "Freedom of association" is in the Constitution too.

[whynotzoidburg]

Well actually, when you think about it. and I'm speaking of your first comment. A government is made up of people, as are churches, and schools, and economies, and even whole damn countries. Despite that fact there are still certain things that these groups of persons do not have the right to do, or have set rules against their speech rights. Churches for example are not allowed to help plan a school Christmas play or function. You see where I'm going with this?

[s9z9s]

So the unions should have a voice but the market freedom groups shouldn't?