Please start by reading this excerpt from Stephen Dinan\’s article in today\’s Washington Times:
Democrats announced that they would take the first steps early next month to try to change the First Amendment\’s free speech protections, overturning Supreme Court precedent and giving Congress the right to limit who can spend money in elections and how much they are allowed to spend.
Republicans have grown increasingly frustrated by strict control of the Senate floor by Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat. Using complex parliamentary maneuvers, Mr. Reid has blocked the chance to offer amendments on a bipartisan energy efficiency bill and now on tax cuts.
Mr. Reid said Republicans want unlimited debate on amendments that have little to do with tax policy, such as withdrawing Obamacare subsidies from congressional staffers.
He accused Republicans of blockading the Senate in order to reward the Koch brothers – wealthy businessmen who support conservative causes. To combat their influence, he said, a constitutional amendment is necessary.
“Amending our Constitution is not something any of us should take lightly, but the flood of special interest money in our American democracy is one of the glaring threats our system of government has ever faced,” he said.
He added that his hand was forced by heavy spending, reportedly more than $100 million planned, by Koch-related organizations this year.
“There is absolutely no question the Koch brothers are in a category of their own,” Mr. Reid said. “No one else is pumping money into the shadowy campaign organizations and campaigns like they are. There isn\’t even a close second. They are doing this to promote issues that make themselves even richer.”
Democrats\’ proposal would overturn a number of Supreme Court precedents dating back to the landmark 1976 Buckley v. Valeo decision that declared spending on political campaigns to be free speech protected by the First Amendment.
That\’s pretty interesting, wouldn\’t you say? Certainly newsworthy.
So, other than here, where else have you read about it? What major newspaper? Have you seen any stories aboutit on the network news shows? The morning shows?
WHY NOT?
If proposing a constitutional amendment that would overturn a series of Supreme Court rulings is not enough to get these jokes posing as journalists to tell the public about it, what would?
We have the Majority Leader of the United States Senate using is office to continue this irrational vendetta against Charles and David Koch – whose crime is not that they spend more money on political causes than anyone else (has Harry Reid ever heard of George Soros? Tom Steyer? And so many other hugely rich Democrat moneybags). It is that the Koch brothers contribute to Republicans/conservatives/the right, rather than Democrats/liberals/the left – which, the last time I checked, was legal.
So what would Reid, along with at least some of his Democrat cohorts, try to do? Incredibly, the answer is that they would try to change the constitution to protect us all from the dreaded scourge of Charles and David Koch.
And – again, as usual – our wonderful “neutral” media are making good and damn sure that the public knows little or nothing about it.
If ever there were a reason to root for Republicans to take over the Senate, this would be it. And if that happens, I can assure you, these same media clowns will then be happy to report every controversial action that takes place, with no prodding at all.
Let me end by once again addressing Reid\’s BS claim that Charles and David Koch, who obsess and consume him, blow everyone else away with their money contributions. The next blog will consist of a table, provided by opensecrets.org, of the largest corporate and union contributors of the past 25 years. Take a good look. See who they really are, and which party the big money is actually going to.
