NewsTrust - Campaign Reform - Most Recent Stories: Opinion (Independent)

Take the Money and Run for Office

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0700

This American Life - By Ira Glass - Apr. 22 (Editorial) - For anyone who has ever heard the term "Washington insider" and felt outside — we are with you. So this week, we go inside the rooms where the deals get made, to the actual moment that the checks change hands — and we ask the people writing and receiving the checks what, exactly, is the money buying?

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Buddy Roemer: GOP Pres. Candidate Who Backs Occupy, Campaign Finance Reform, Excluded From Debates

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Democracy Now - By Amy Goodman, Juan Gonzalez - Jan. 06 (Interview) - We speak with Buddy Roemer, a candidate who is on the Republican ballot in New Hampshire, but has not been invited to this weekend’s two Republican debates — or any of the past 16 debates — even though he is a former governor of Louisiana and four-term member of Congress. Roemer's campaign is unusual in the Republican field: He has refused to accept campaign contributions more than $100, rejected all donations from political action committees, and has made campaign finance the key plank in his platform. He has also endorsed the Occupy Wall Street movement. "[President Obama] gets elected and he says he wants change, but he takes all his money from these same corporations who don't want change," Roemer says. "Special interests control Washington -- I've been there." [Rush transcript to come. Check back soon.]

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So You Want to Buy an Election?

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Mother Jones - By Tim Murphy - Dec. 06 (Opinion) - A short, shady history of how American elections are bought and paid for. The red giants and blue dwarfs spending millions to influence the 2012 election. Americans Elect says it wants to reform the political system. Campaign watchdogs say it should star

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Making Campaign Ads More Honest

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Huffington Post - By Ron Howard - Oct. 07 (Editorial) - Instead of candidates hiring people like yours truly, to create campaign media that works on both conscious and subconscious levels to sway the voting public, what if all TV ads were, by law, only allowed to feature the candidate, with, say, the American flag as the backdrop, alone, speaking directly to the camera?

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An Antidote to Corporate Lies: How to still pass the DISCLOSE Act

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Huffington Post - By Paul Loeb - Aug. 03 (Opinion) - persuasion or even bending-backwards compromise gets little traction with the Party of No. Even those who decried Citizens United, like Snowe, seem more intent on bringing the Democrats down than preventing American democracy from becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Exxon, Massey, BP, Goldman Sachs, and every other corporate interest willing to pay the cost.

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Maintaining the Undue Influence of Wealth

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0700

sensen-no-sen.blogspot.com - By Paul Belle Isle - Jul. 31 (Opinion) - One of the fundamental aims of campaign finance reform is to encourage large numbers of small donations from a broad spectrum of donors, while diminishing the undue influence of wealth. This is not - or at least it shouldn't be - an ideological proposition.

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The Moment

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Huffington Post - By Lawrence Lessig - Mar. 22 (Opinion) - President Obama will savor, and rightly so, his extraordinary achievement in enacting fundamental health care reform. He has done something few thought possible, and he may well have revived the enormous faith that his election gave millions. But we should not miss the lesson in this fight. Nor the opportunity to rally this rebounded presidency to its real potential for reform.

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Conservative Dems Are Killing the Consumer Protection We All Need

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

TruthOut - By Zach Carter - Oct. 01 (Opinion) - The standard partisan conflict between Democrats and Republicans doesn't capture the main source of tension on the panel. The real contest is between bankers and citizens. And if you include the 17 Democrats who are card-carrying members of the conservative Blue Dog and New Democrat coalitions, the banks hold a four-seat majority. If you add in the otherwise centrist or progressive members who routinely vote with the bank lobby, then the advantage increases to seven or eight seats. Big Finance wins.

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Ron Paul Press Conference Unifies Third Party and Independent Candidates

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Op Ed News - Sep. 10 (Opinion) - Ron Paul held what he described as a "very important" press conference on September 10th in Washington, DC. The event brought four third party and independent candidates "together in unity" around a statement of principles. The event came as polls showed the presidential race tightening and third party/independent candidates getting combined votes of over 10% in swing states.The four candidates - Independent Ralph Nader, the Green nominee Cynthia McKinney, the Constitution Party's Chuck Baldwin and the Libertarian Party's Bob Barr along with Ron Paul agreed on the following four key principles:

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Change We Can Believe In

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

The Nation - Jul. 30 (Editorial) - Only a grassroots base as broad and as energized as the one that is behind you can counteract the forces of money and established power that are a dead weight on those seeking real change in American politics. We urge you, then, to listen to the voices of the people who can lift you to the presidency and beyond.

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McCain campaign adopts Bush's respect for free expression

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Salon - By Glenn Greenwald - Jul. 21 (Opinion) - One of the hallmarks of events at which George Bush appeared was the complete elimination of any dissent. In one of the most notorious cases, three individuals who arrived at a 2005 Bush town hall meeting in Denver with an anti-war bumper sticker on their car and anti-Bush t-shirts underneath their clothing were first threatened with removal before they sat down and then, 20 minutes later, were forcibly removed despite not having uttered a word.

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Afterword: the Ralph Nader lesson

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Daily Kos - By Mike Stark - Jul. 09 (Opinion) - So why did I create the group? Why risk damaging Barack Obama's candidacy and hard-earned image of change-agent? After all, if I was convinced the prospects of success were zero, why bother organizing 22,000 people? If no good can come from the venture, why venture? I think the questions are fair and I'm going to do my best to answer them. And I'm going to answer the question by invoking Ralph Nader.

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Are Campaign-Finance Laws Inherently Incumbent Protecting? Are All Election Laws?

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Balkinization - By Rick Pildes - Jun. 30 (Opinion) - He suggests that all campaign-finance laws are likely to be pro-incumbent. There are two different reasons this might be so. One is that it is inherent in campaign-finance regulation that it will necessarily favor incumbents; on this view, a laissez-faire, privately-financed system is inherently the kind of regime that will enable challengers to be most effective in competing against incumbents. The other possible reason is that, as a matter of realpolitick, the only kind of campaign-finance regime incumbents are likely to enact will be one that favors incumbents, that is, themselves. Somin seems to be making the second argument more than the first, which is an argument about the political economy of these laws. So that's the argument I want to address.

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AMcCain's Campaign Funding Hypocrisy: Why Are the Media Looking the Other Way?

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Huffington Post - By Arianna Huffington - Jun. 23 (Opinion) - Isn't it interesting how, after largely ignoring the issue for the last 30 years, during which the GOP consistently outfundraised and outspent Democrats in election after election, the media are suddenly all atwitter about whether the campaign finance system is "basically fair"? How dare Obama inspire 1.5 million donors, giving an average of $197 apiece, to help him raise more money than McCain?

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TV SoundOff: Sunday Talking Heads

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Huffington Post - By Jason Linkins - Jun. 22 (Opinion) - Ugh. Now they're talking about David Brooks' column. "Did we learn something about Barack Obama?" I think we re-learned something about David Brooks. I mean, the idea that David Brooks could have been alive and on this earth for the past decade and a half, and it's Obama's decision to opt out of public financing is the matter that's finally crushed his precious innocence?

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News Flash: Anchor Stands Against "Unfair" Campaign Spending

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Huffington Post - By Jeff Cohen - Jun. 21 (Opinion) - There was real emotion in his voice when ABC News anchor Charles Gibson used Friday night's newscast to stand up for little-guy McCain against online-fundraising powerhouse Barack Obama. By opting out of public financing, Gibson intoned, the Democrat could obtain "two times, three times, four times, as much money as John McCain." "Let me ask you a question about basic fairness," Gibson implored of his top D.C. correspondent George Stephanopoulos. "People in this country like to believe that people play on a level playing field and that a campaign will be about ideas and personality; if you start with that much more money, is it basically fair?" It was more a statement than a question, like Brit Hume anchoring at Fox. (ABC has gone Fox-like in crusading over "Obama's Switch" and "Back Flip" and "Flip-Flop" on public financing.) Gibson's egalitarian "fretting" about fairness was too much for right-wing media critic Brent Baker, who belittled the anchor and McCain: "If Obama can raise more than his opponent, it just reflects greater enthusiasm for him. And there's hardly any nobility in taking taxpayer money when you know you'll be challenged to raise a larger amount voluntarily."

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ABC "Exclusive" On McCain and the Anti-Islam Pastor: Was MoJo Robbed?

Sat, 24 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Mother Jones - By David Corn - May. 24 (Opinion) - I'm glad that Good Morning America covered the connection between John McCain and Rod Parsley, the Ohio megachurch pastor who...

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Too Much: A Commentary on Excess and Inequality

Fri, 02 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Too Much - By Sam Pizzigati - May. 02 (Opinion) - What consultants may lack in strategic originality they make up for in shameless profiteering. Top consultants typically take a cut -- usually from 5 to 15 percent -- of whatever the candidate spends on the services they convince their candidate to buy.

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Putting a Check on Corporate Power

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700

AlterNet - By Charlie Cray - Apr. 23 (Opinion) - Business has a right to argue its case, but it shouldn't be able to use its wealth to dominate the discourse. One of the ways we can restore some balance and seed the ground for a more expansive policymaking process is to liberate candidates from the pull of corporate money by pushing for public funding of elections. There is much potential for progressives and conservatives to share some ground here. Regardless of where they stand along the political spectrum, members of Congress are tired of the fundraising rat race and spending their time dialing for dollars instead of debating the issues.

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Obama, Clinton Fill Superdelegates' Wallets

Sat, 23 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Huffington Post - By Christine Escobar - Feb. 23 (Opinion) - Obama is listed as having given $16,000 to Rep. Bruce Braley of Iowa. But, Braley endorsed John Edwards prior to the Iowa caucuses. Sen. Tom Harkin, also of Iowa received a cool $10,000 but hasn't endorsed a soul, yet. However, he has been very vocal about his opposition to seating the Michigan and Florida delegates Clinton is counting on.

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Teflon John

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Talking Points Memo - By Joshua Micah Marshall - Feb. 21 (Opinion) - One example is the current tussle between McCain and Obama over a pledge to opt in to the public financing system for the general election. McCain is insisting Obama honor his 'pledge' to opt in to the public financing system if his Republican opponent (McCain) agrees to do the same. Now, Obama's going to have to deal with the pledge issue on his own. But it's impossible to report on this gambit of McCain without at least one spit take. And probably a few more.

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Public Campaign Finance Roundup

Sun, 13 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800

The Moderate Voice - By Paul Silver - Jan. 13 (Opinion) - Here are a few recent items related to Campaign Finance Reform -- From Public Campaign Action Fund: Connecticut -- A new survey in Connecticut shows that experienced candidates are likely to use the state's new Clean Elections law this year in their races. Eighty-six percent of incumbents and 76 percent of returning 2006 candidates say they will participate, or are inclined to participate, in the Clean Elections full public financing program.

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Immigration and Social Issues, Not Iraq, Dominate Among Iowa Republican Voters

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800

Huffington Post - By Chase Martyn - Dec. 18 (Opinion) - While the war in Iraq might loom large in the minds of Democratic caucus-goers, Iowa Republicans are much more focused on immigration and cultural issues, according to a new survey of state GOP chairs. The local Republican officials, like the leading GOP presidential candidates with the exception of Ron Paul, mostly agree that a stable Iraq is key to U.S. national security and the war on terror. But the Iraq war itself is not playing out as a stand-alone voting issue.

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As the Media Merges With Politics, Can We Resist 'Electotainment?'

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 11:01:29 -0800

Media Channel - By Danny Schechter - Nov. 19 (Opinion) - Our politicians are turning into brands to choose between in the great mall of electronic "democracy." Unfortunately, you can't return them or upgrade later.

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von Spakovsky: an "extraordinarily inappropriate" nominee

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 07:47:39 -0700

Common Cause - By Bob Edgar - Oct. 03 (Press Release) - Common Cause urges you to reject an extraordinarily inappropriate nominee for a seat on the Federal Election Commission. Hans von Spakovsky, both in his current role as an FEC commissioner and in his former job at the Department of Justice, has demonstrated contempt for the rule of law and acted in an extreme partisan manner during his time in government.

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NewsTrust - Campaign Reform - Most Recent Stories: Opinion (Independent)

Take the Money and Run for Office

Buddy Roemer: GOP Pres. Candidate Who Backs Occupy, Campaign Finance Reform, Excluded From Debates

So You Want to Buy an Election?

Making Campaign Ads More Honest

An Antidote to Corporate Lies: How to still pass the DISCLOSE Act

Maintaining the Undue Influence of Wealth

The Moment

Conservative Dems Are Killing the Consumer Protection We All Need

Ron Paul Press Conference Unifies Third Party and Independent Candidates

Change *We* Can Believe In

McCain campaign adopts Bush's respect for free expression

Afterword: the Ralph Nader lesson

Are Campaign-Finance Laws Inherently Incumbent Protecting? Are All Election Laws?

AMcCain's Campaign Funding Hypocrisy: Why Are the Media Looking the Other Way?

TV SoundOff: Sunday Talking Heads

News Flash: Anchor Stands Against "Unfair" Campaign Spending

ABC "Exclusive" On McCain and the Anti-Islam Pastor: Was MoJo Robbed?

Too Much: A Commentary on Excess and Inequality

Putting a Check on Corporate Power

Obama, Clinton Fill Superdelegates' Wallets

Teflon John

Public Campaign Finance Roundup

Immigration and Social Issues, Not Iraq, Dominate Among Iowa Republican Voters

As the Media Merges With Politics, Can We Resist 'Electotainment?'

von Spakovsky: an "extraordinarily inappropriate" nominee

Change We Can Believe In