BREAKING NEWS 1/21/10: Supreme Court Gives U.S. Government to Corporations, Unions Next In Line

WASHINGTON - In a landmark ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday struck down laws that banned corporations from using their own money to support or oppose candidates for public office.

By 5-4 vote, the court overturned federal laws, in effect for decades, that prevented corporations from using their profits to buy political campaign ads. The decision, which almost certainly will also allow labor unions to participate more freely in campaigns, threatens similar limits imposed by 24 states.

It leaves in place a ban prohibiting corporations and unions from directly contributing funds to candidates for any use.
In a statement, President Barack Obama said that the decision gives 'a green light to a new stampede of special interest money in our politics.' The president pledged to work with Congress to 'develop a forceful response' to the court's ruling.
Critics of the stricter limits have argued that they amount to an unconstitutional restraint of free speech, and the court majority agreed.
"The censorship we now confront is vast in its reach," Justice Anthony Kennedy said in his majority opinion, joined by his four more conservative colleagues.

Strongly disagreeing, Justice John Paul Stevens said in his dissent, "The court's ruling threatens to undermine the integrity of elected institutions around the nation."
Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor joined Stevens' dissent, parts of which he read aloud in the courtroom.
The justices also struck down part of the landmark McCain-Feingold campaign finance bill that barred union- and corporate-paid issue ads in the closing days of election campaigns.

Advocates of strong campaign finance regulations have predicted that a court ruling against the limits would lead to a flood of corporate and union money in federal campaigns as early as November's congressional elections.
The decision removes limits on independent expenditures that are not coordinated with candidates' campaigns.

The case does not affect political action committees, which mushroomed after post-Watergate laws set the first limits on contributions by individuals to candidates. Corporations, unions and others may create PACs to contribute directly to candidates, but they must be funded with voluntary contributions from employees, members and other individuals, not by corporate or union treasuries.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34822247/...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnXLTF...

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[DeepElem90]

What have the Republicans done for America lately? Or in the past couple decades?

That's what Chris Matthews pressed Republican strategist Todd Harris about during Hardball on 1-06-10.

"Tell me what the Republican party has done for this country in the last 10 to 20 years."

Harris stayed silent.

"Thank you," Matthews said to his recurring GOP guest as he closed the segment.

Harris couldn't answer the question...Can YOU?

[Drealist87]

Wow thats insane.

[wakeupscreaming]

omg, i can't believe the U.S. made this law -- and there was no resistance.

I guess no one cares anymore?

[MrSpreadeagle]

Oh here is the start of the fall of rome, oh i meant America. Coming soon The Empire of America, controlled By CEO's. WAKE UP AMERICA!

[Magcomplex]

Power....Corrupts...

Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely...

[Shadownian]

Hey though...on the bright side...maybe we'll get lucky and we'll start seeing tv campaign ads where they end with something like..."This advertisement brought to you by Doritos brand snack chips "...lol. Or maybe we might see..."This bill was proudly killed by you're friends at Exxon Mobil, killing the planet one pump at a time" lmao.....ya that should be nice.

[Shadownian]

This is amazing to me. Tell corporations they can spend whatever they want to help out a candidate for elected office but yet at the same time limit the amount of actual money given directly to a candidate. This is exactly why government is corrupt and I wouldnt be surprised if some of the Supreme courts judges were on somebodies pay roll. Don't they think..they can just as easily say...hey ill get ya this much tv time if you help us out on this bill. Its the same as giving money. WTF?

[larry1369]

No shit corporations can drown out the peoples voice.Why are so many people on YT trying to get some measure of truth? It's because they've given up on corporate media where the news and reasons for things don't mesh with reality. Corporate News is all about influencing what we think and oft times we can tell we are being lied to without even further investigations as the lies are getting more shallow and transparent. Although many of us can see thru this there are 1000 times more peoplewhocant.

[meadbert]

If congress can regulate the speech of corporations, then it can regulate the speech of New York Times, MSNBC and even YouTube. Every newspaper article, televsion show or add, and every youtube video or comment would have to be vetted by government censors. THAT is fascism. Fascim is when the government controls business. Neither Nazi Germany, nor Fascist Italy nor Communist Russia had its government taken over by big business. In all cases it was usiness that was taken over by government.

[DackBev]

Anyone have the video of Judge Napolitano on Fox praising this ruling?

[Crzykjn]

Next stop: Fascism Avenue. Corporatism + corrupt government officials = FASCISM. That is a proven formula.

[rullau]

Corporate workers already have the right to elect their representatives, just like any other American citizen. Unions and Corporation are not People. This Opens our democracy to be Bought by any Union or Corp. with special interest. You should re-think your standpoint, our Nation is moving from Corrupted to Super Corrupted.